General Plastics Manufacturing Company will introduce its new impact-resistant, load-bearing panel at the 2013 SAMPE conference May 6-9 in Long Beach, California – the premier international event for the advanced materials and processes industry. In addition to its cutting-edge composite panel products, the company will highlight its aerospace-grade LAST-A-FOAMFR-3700 Performance Core boards at Booth O12 in the Long Beach Convention Center.

These innovative panel products unite General Plastics’ LAST-A-FOAM FR-3740 rigid polyurethane core material with carbon and Kevlar woven fabrics to create a very strong and stiff sandwich panel. The panel is resin-infused using the BASF Baxxodur resin system.

“We’ve been very excited about collaborating with our partners to develop these impact-resistant, load-bearing panels in response to customers looking for an alternative, nearly indestructible product,” said General Plastics President Bruce Lind. “The composite material provides a significantly lighter, stronger, longer-lasting and cost-effective replacement for panels made with metal or other conventional materials.”

General Plastics’ entire LAST-A-FOAM FR-3700 Performance Core series will also be spotlighted at SAMPE. The CFC-free, flame-retardant product line is optimal for aerospace, automotive and other applications that require a high-performance composite core. It can be used in many different combinations with composites to form a hard shell or “sandwich core” between other components. The FR-3700 product series is also a superb choice for models and design prototypes; vacuum-form dies and mold patterns; and honeycomb edge closeout used in overhead stow bins, passenger cabin class dividers, galleys and lavatories.

“With their low weight, exceptional strength and durability, these leading-edge composite panels can be a game-changer in many markets,” added Lind. SAMPE is a great venue for inventive design engineers to see them, share feedback, and discuss ideas on potential ways they could support their own applications.”

About General Plastics Manufacturing Company   

Tacoma, Washington-based General Plastics has been a leading innovator in the plastics industry for more than 70 years. The company develops and manufactures rigid and flexible polyurethane foam products, which include its signature LAST-A-FOAM brand series and build-to-print composite parts. Through its network of distributors, General Plastics exports products to 25-plus countries for the aerospace and defense, nuclear containment, composite core, prototype and modeling, construction, dimensional signage, testing, marine and renewable energy industries.