Brunswick, Maine: Advanced Composites Training Center

Making a one-shot infusion picnic table?

No problem!

But infusing THIS???

Come enjoy summer in Maine with us!

A series of summer courses are scheduled at the MATC, basically to give you an excuse to enjoy the glorious weather, the lobsters and all the other good stuff that makes Maine a prime destination...and learn the newest techniques in closed molding while living in the slow lane.

Many of you have by now some -or lots- of infusion experience under your belt, and we have changed the format of the Advanced course: it is more focused on addressing issues that you've encountered in either try-outs or production. Plus, if you were trained more than a year ago, you are already behind the curve and will need to catch up with all the new evolutions in Vacuum Infusion Processes.

Not only that, but you can actually send in/bring with you pictures or parts and pieces (exception made for Danny: the 23 foot structural liner he towed in was a bit larger than I expected...) and we'll integrate that in the course.

And no, the second picture on the right is not a mistake: you didn't end up on a wooden boat site...but you are looking at a glorious 1962 Jonesport lobster boat hull with the great lineage of the Frosts, Lowells and Beals quite visible in her lines....I found her sitting in a field, ready to be cut up. The question is: can she be saved? Now here's a crazy idea: how about we straighten her up a bit, take all those sistered knees etc. out, seal her up somehow and infuse the whole thing, including new structure, in one shot? Can't be done?...just watch us!

Opinions, suggestions, or simple curiosity: get in touch! E-mail me at GRPguru@yahoo.com. If we get enough feedback we'll make it into an on-line seminar about state-of-the-art ways for glassing wooden hulls, using this cedar planked hull shell and infusion technology to put her back on the water as a Down East lobster boat.

Enjoy the summer, and see you at one of our upcoming courses or at the Fall and Winter Conventions.

Andre Cocquyt, President
GRPguru
GRPguru@Yahoo.com


All in a day's work: while the speakers speak, the JBM skiff infuses in the background without any human intervention.	Maine House Representative Stan Gerzofsky, (D-Brunswick) pushes the button for the first automated infusion.


Course attendees focus on their projects during the lab sessions in the advanced course.

Announcements:

* Don't miss the sessions about closed molding at the Composites World Expo, happening in Chicago, September 3-5, 2008, link: http://www.compositesworldexpo.com/

* IBEX will be there before you know it: October 6-8. Plus a special note for Educators, there is a full day of MITEC seminars on Sunday October 5, link: http://www.ibexshow.com/

*The ACMA CCT-VIP curriculum development is progressing well, and will be launched at Composites & Polycon 2009 in Tampa, Florida, January 15-17, 2009, link: http://www.acmashow.org/home.cfm

Training DVDs

Closed Molding Technology DVD - NEW!

Andre is proud to announce the release of his latest training DVD, entitled CMT: Closed Molding Technology. More info.

VIP DVDs

Master the techniques of the Vacuum Infusion Process with Andre's VIP DVDs. More info.

Purchasing for an Academic Institution? Email jamie[at]vat19.com for more info.

Customer Testimonials

Andre and Lydia,

I wanted to let you know how much my students and I appreciated the Workshop you held at Seattle Central Community College . The program was very understandable and contained just the right amount of information to encourage us to try a few things out. We have viewed the CD, again and are considering ways to approach some small projects, here in our shop. I will keep my eyes on your website (wonderful links, also) in anticipation of attending one of the more comprehensive workshops.

Thank you,

CG, Tacoma , WA

Andre,

I attended your technical session last week at CFA and I still had a Couple of questions after viewing your paper. By the way I thought your session was terrific; I wish there were more university professors with your teaching ability.

TB, Los Angeles , CA

Andre,

Thanks for the quick response and the leads. It's nice to know there are people like you in the industry who are willing to share their experiences and their valuable time with others.

Regards, BT, Oskosh, MN

Andre,

I just wanted to start out by saying that me and Danny really enjoyed your class on VIP. We learned a lot from it.

Thank you for your time, WM, Vonore, TN

Thank you for such an enlightening seminar.... I really took away a lot of insight from your class. I am very much excited about the coming Seminars. My knowledge base is limited, but I am extremely interested in going to a process such as this for the near future. I liked the open atmosphere in the class, being able to converse verses just sit and listen. Again, Thank you for such a great class.

Thanks for the demonstrations and information regarding the infusion processes. They were very informative and concise. The open format lent itself for discussion of the processes and I thought that was a nice change from a more structured, no question asked till after the demonstration format style.

FS, New Bern , NC

Andre,

I thank you and everybody that footed the bill for the seminar. We did gain more knowledge that will help us lighten the learning curve. I thought you were quite thorough. Thanks.

RB, Edenton, NC
RF, Charleston, SC