Composites

Composite product maker Bedford Reinforced Plastics Inc. has opened a transportation management division, Reinforced Logistics, which over the past two years has grown and began to operate independently.

Michigan-based Plasan North America Inc. is winding down its automotive carbon fiber manufacturing operations to focus its business on the defense industry.

RS Technologies Inc. will open a new manufacturing facility in Houston to make composite utility structure products such as poles, cross arms and structures for electricity transmission and distribution.

Shawcor Ltd. of Toronto plans to take a new name by midyear: Mattr, because: "What we do matters, to our employees, our customers, our communities and all of our stakeholders."

The Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation said it's getting its funding renewed by the federal government.

Vixen Composites has moved into a new, larger facility in Elkhart, Ind.

BASF, L&L Products, Flex-N-Gate and Toyota won the Altair Enlighten Award for a composite seatback for the second-row seat structure of the Tundra pickup truck.

The firm makes preforms and fabrics for aerospace, defense and other markets. The expansion will include carbon composites derived from Textum's product line of woven broad goods, officials said in a release from state agency JobsOhio.

Davies Molding LLC has made one acquisition so far this year and is keeping an eye open for others.