vdL Composites returns to METS in 2024
ATL Composites will exhibit with joint venture partners M.u.H. von der Linden GmbH based in Wesel as vdL Composites GmbH at the 36th METSTRADE Show, running 19 to 21 November 2024 in Amsterdam.
The world’s largest B2B marine event, showcasing the products and services of more than 1,540 exhibitors from 53 countries, will occupy 11 halls at RAI Amsterdam, attracting more than 18,630 visitors representing 130 nationalities (2023 stats).
For 12 years ATL Composites and M.u.H. von der Linden have worked together to supply customers across Europe in a range of different industries.
In addition to the DuFLEX and DuraKore panels, vdL Composites will display COOSA panels – fibreglass-reinforced polyurethane foam panels that are suited for boat and caravan construction. The advantage is COOSA can be easily machined like plywood. Coosa Panels can be used for structural parts that need to be bolted or screwed, such as decks and transoms. It is a high-density core that doesn’t rot or compress and you can bolt right through it.
With superior rigidity, at a fraction of the weight of plywood, depending on the location, it doesn’t need to be laminated to seal the underneath or top. It can simply be taped into position, saving on time as well as making the job easier.
Nicholas Cossich and Lorraine Duckworth, Directors at ATL Composites are looking forward to attending METS 2024 to reconnect with customers and inspect innovations in marine technology and materials.
“METS is the largest event in the marine industry and the opportunity to meet with our partners and customers to see how we can collaborate on their projects,” said Nic.
Helge von der Linden General Manager of MuH von der Linden GmbH and also partner in vdL Composites GmbH added, “Since 1995, we have exhibited at METS as M.u.H. von der Linden GmbH, visiting the show to meet existing clients and introduce our products to new customers,” he said.
“It is a great place to learn, see innovative products from around the world and discuss solutions for our customers.”
The vdL Composites stand will be located in the Construction Material Pavilion Hall 12.803.
Lightweight Wonder
An expertly custom-crafted Schionning will sail the world with ease, thanks to the strong, durable DuFLEX Building System.
A highly-customised Schionning Solitaire 1520 cruising catamaran is taking shape on the Gold Coast, in the talented hands of the team at Mahi Boats, specialists in custom boat building, particularly multihulls and game fishing boats to commercial standards.
Founder and director, Dan Williams began the business 17 years ago as Hybrid Composites, before demand propelled the business into custom boat building. Dan’s background includes international experience crafting carbon fibre racing yachts.
Now, ensconced in a supershed at the Gold Coast City Marina & Shipyard within the thriving boat building hub of Coomera, Mahi Boats is working on several major projects, including the 50-foot (15.25-metre) Schionning Solitaire 1520.
Described as “a serious bluewater cruiser capable of sailing the world with high mileage daily runs in comfort and safety with minimal slamming”, the Solitaire 1520 offers similar internal comfort and space to a similarly sized production boat, but is far lighter, stiffer and stronger with better waterline beam values and higher power to weight ratio.
As Dan explains, “The owners chose this model as they loved the design and the ability to customise head heights and cabins to suit their specific needs.”
There are dozens of custom features throughout the boat, starting with the entire layout.
“The clients designed the layout of the boat and we are continuing to customise everything along the way,” says Dan.
“We have raised the headroom inside. We are running a hybrid electric motor system and the boat is packed with custom electronics.
“The boat is designed to sail two-handed around the world. They owners are planning to cruise the east coast and around Australia initially, but this is the catamaran they can rely on for long-range cruising once they’re ready.”
The owners’ sailing ambitions are to be on the water within 14 months, and the team at Mahi Boats are well underway, with six boat builders engaged on the project.
Crucial to keeping the weight down and keeping to the tight construction schedule is the use of DuFLEX panels from ATL Composites, as specified by Schionning Designs.
“There are many benefits of using DuFLEX panels,” Dan states. “They are easily assembled, CNC-cut, pre-laminated panels that enable fast construction.
“They’re easy to join using ATL’s Z-Press which applies heat and pressure to cure the epoxy adhesive on the Z-Joints. Joins are fully cured in seven to 20 minutes, depending on the ambient temperature.”
Other composite products from ATL include Divinycell Structural Foam, KINETIX R246TX Thixotropic Laminating Epoxy, WEST SYSTEM 105 resin and associated hardeners and powder modifiers, TECHINGLUE R60 Structural Adhesive in easily dispensed cartridge form, and TECHINIFILL R1160 pre-blended Fairing Compound.c
“ATL offers a large range of composite products, all of which we are happy to use,” Dan continues.
“All ATL products are high quality and are competitive in price across the board. The ATL team go above and beyond to make sure we have everything we need, when we need it.”
vdL Composites at METS 2023
The METSTRADE Show in Amsterdam, 15 to 17 November 2023, is the world’s largest B2B exhibition of marine equipment, systems and materials.
This year, organisers confirm there will be 1,300 exhibitors from 49 countries, estimated to attract around 17,000 visitors.
ATL Composites, Australia and M.u.H. von der Linden GmbH based in Wesel, Germany will again attend in partnership to showcase the DuFLEX, DuraKore and Featherlight panels range, manufactured by their joint venture company, vdL Composites GmbH.
vdL Composites GmbH offers lightweight construction solutions to many of Europe’s leading boat builders and design houses, and during the past 11 years, has also supplied customers in a range of different industries, including architecture and construction.
Inga Von Der Linden General Manager of MuH von der Linden GmbH and also partner in vdL Composites GmbH said, “We are looking forward to meeting customers from all over Europe, especially the technicians from France from Gunboat and Outremer, and our Italian customers from Itacat, to discuss new and upcoming projects, as well as evaluating our recent deliveries.
“From Finland, we expect to see our contacts from Baltic Yachts and Nautor Swan, as well as Schionning Design catamaran builders from Greece and Bulgaria and Grainger Design builders from other parts of Europe. It will be interesting to hear about the diverse Dutch projects for special designs of extendable platforms, and an interior designer specialising in outdoor superyacht furniture.
“Of special note and attracting a lot of interest is our range of sustainable products under the DuraKore brand of planks and panels. DuraKore products are manufactured with Diab ProBalsa® cores and laminated with a hardwood veneer providing a stiffer structure with less weight than conventional timber materials.
End grain balsa offers extremely high strength-to-weight ratio, exceptional shear and compressive strength, high impact and fatigue resistance, high thermal and sound insulation properties, good moisture resistance and low FST properties
The DuraKore planks is easier to form into shape, better to handle, and more durable.
“We welcome all interested brands and builders to speak with us about their unique needs.”
The vdL Composites stand will be located at CMP 12.803 at METSTRADE SHOW, 15 to 17 November in Amsterdam.
ATL Composites heads to METS 2023
The METSTRADE Show in Amsterdam, 15 to 17 November 2023, unites the world’s leisure marine brands and businesses in the world’s largest B2B exhibition of marine equipment, systems and materials.
This year, organisers confirm there will be 1,300 exhibitors from 49 countries, estimated to attract around 17,000 visitors.
ATL Composites, Australia and M.u.H. von der Linden GmbH based in Wesel, Germany will again attend in partnership to showcase the DuFLEX, DuraKore and Featherlight panels range, manufactured by their joint venture company, vdL Composites GmbH.
vdL Composites GmbH offers lightweight construction solutions to many of Europe’s leading boat builders and design houses.
For 11 years ATL Composites and M.u.H. von der Linden have worked together to supply customers across Europe in a range of different industries, including architecture and construction.
Nicholas Cossich and Lorraine Duckworth, Directors at ATL Composites are looking forward to METS 2023, saying “It’s the opportunity to see the innovations and ingenuity from around the world as well as meeting with our partners and customers to see how we can collaborate on their projects.
“Seeing what’s on offer from new and established brands, enjoying the informative presentations are important parts of METS.”
Helge Von Der Linden General Manager of MuH von der Linden GmbH and also partner in vdL Composites GmbH said they have been exhibiting at METS for 28 years.
“Since 1995, we have been exhibiting at METS as M.u.H. von der Linden GmbH, visiting the show to meet friends and foster business relations,” he said.
“Exhibiting products designed for customers in the marine market has resulted in success especially for vdL Composites. Having been to Amsterdam for the show over so many years, we feel very connected not only to the city but to our business friends, many of whom we only meet once a year. It is a great place to meet and discuss innovations and solutions for our customers.”
At METSTRADE 2023, the vdL Composites stand will be located at CMP 12.803.
Red Car Marine resto relies on DuFLEX
A classic Sydney trawler that operated for 30 years in Tasmania as Marconi’s Cross out of Hobart is being given a new lease on life by the experts at Red Car Marine in the fortuitously named suburb, Goodwood in Hobart.
James Watson runs Red Car Marine and he and his team are meticulously restoring the 14.75-metre timber fishing vessel for its Sydney owners.
Built in 1948, the historic vessel is a veteran of tuna fishing, trawling and towing fish pens, before going up for sale.
As James explains, “Her new owners have commissioned a total refit, including the wheelhouse, aft lounge, sliding doors and interiors to turn it into a pleasure boat for cruising the Hawkesbury River, and eventually some passage making to Whitsundays.”
The design brief has expanded over time to include the aft lounge with covered awning, and below decks, berths in the foc’s’le, and two additional berths in the fish hold.
James, a shipwright, drew up the plans, and with his two assistants, Dean and Paul, have set to work on the refit project.
“The bridgedeck is the first part,” he says. “Mark Richards, who is acting as the owner’s representative, and I chose to use composite board from ATL. The DuFLEX panels cored with 40mm Divinycell H80 Structural Foam are ideal for use on top for their lightweight and strength. They weight 50 or 60kg lighter than plywood and lining. Plus, the added advantage of ease of installation, cutting down labour time.”
Custom built to meet the specific size and shape for the bridge deck, the DuFLEX panels will be shipped in eight parts and joined on site at Red Car Marine for optimum freight efficiency and handling. 
“We simply install the panel, fabricated with a specialty finish on the underside which results in no pinholes, and then go direct to sand and paint. It cuts down prep time by a truckload of hours. We are using exposed wooden beams underneath with the modern top for a really beautiful look.”
James is a loyal advocate of WEST SYSTEM products, which he describes as “our go to products”. He swears by 105 epoxy resin and 206 slow hardener, as well as Techniglue R15, a toughened, thixotropic epoxy paste with increased peel strength.
“ATL products are great quality, and the team at ATL provides good support and communication to tailor advice for each project. I’ve always found them very helpful. Tasmanian Marine Distributors – Distributors for ATL products – introduced us to Lorraine. We met her at the Australian Wooden Boat Festival and she’s very personable.”
The Marconi’s Cross restoration is on track to be delivered back to her owners in January 2024 in time for summer cruising on Sydney Harbour.
Follow the progress over the coming months: news.atlcomposites.com.au
Marconi’s Cross on Instagram @marconi_trawler
Composite Panels for Speed and Efficiency in Boat Racing
Boat racing is a thrilling sport that requires exceptional speed and performance. To be successful in this sport, each component of a racing boat must be optimised for maximum efficiency. The use of composite panels, which offer a variety of benefits that help to improve speed and performance, is an important aspect of the design of a boat.
In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at composite panels and how they help improve the performance of a racing boat.
What are composite panels?
Composite panels are created by bonding two or more different materials together to form a single, lightweight, and strong material. Some of the most common materials used in boat racing include carbon fibre, Kevlar and fibreglass. These materials are known for their high strength-to-weight ratio, which makes them ideal for use in applications where weight is a critical factor, such as boat racing.
How do composite panels improve speed and performance?
- 1. Reduced weight: One of the most significant benefits of composite panels is their lightweight nature. Boats that are constructed using composite panels are much lighter than those made from traditional materials like wood or metal. This reduced weight means that boats can achieve higher speeds with less power, allowing racers to push their boats to the limit without sacrificing performance.
- Increased stiffness: Composite panels are also known for their high stiffness, which allows boats to maintain their shape and resist flexing. This stiffness improves boat handling, making it easier to control the boat and maintain speed around corners and in rough water conditions.
- Enhanced durability: Composite panels are incredibly durable and can withstand the high stresses and strains that occur during boat racing. Unlike traditional materials, composite panels do not rot, warp, or corrode, ensuring that the boat remains in top condition for longer periods.
- Improved aesthetics: Finally, composite panels offer a sleek, modern look that is ideal for boat racing. Their smooth surface finish and ability to be moulded into intricate shapes allow boat designers to create unique and aerodynamic designs that can improve the boat’s speed and performance.
Conclusion
Composite panels are an essential component of modern boat design and help improve speed and performance in boat racing. Composite panels enable racers to push their boats to their limits and achieve the highest levels of performance possible by reducing weight, increasing stiffness, improving durability and enhancing aesthetics. As boat racing continues to evolve, we can expect to see even more innovative uses of composite panels that will enhance the sport and its competitive nature.
ATL Composites is a leading supplier in Australia of advanced composite boards, materials and engineering for the construction of high-performance, lightweight structures for the marine, automotive, architectural, civil and industrial tooling markets. Get in touch with us today to learn more about our products and services!
Composite Panels: Benefits in Marine Industry
ATL Composites has been supplying the marine industry for over 35 years and has the experience and materials technology to provide practical solutions to optimise structures for weight, strength, and stiffness. Our experience includes CE/ISO, Lloyds Register, ABS, DNV, Germanischer Lloyd, BV and Australian Standard compliance for racing yachts, catamarans, ferries, patrol craft and pleasure vessels.
The team of structural engineers at ATL Composites understand all aspects of composite technology, with a focus on engineering to allow for practical fabrication solutions and to optimise structures for weight, strength, stiffness and affordability for marine applications. Keep reading to learn more about the benefits of composite panels for your vessel.
Weight
Weight is essential in marine applications for achieving performance, stability, and safety. The large panel-forming capabilities of ATL Composites provide the ideal solution for weight reduction. Our lightweight marine panels are a premier composite material that performs exceptionally well in a wide range of applications ensuring cost-effective, lightweight solutions.
Strength
Composite panels are designed to meet the toughest marine standards and have a higher strength-to-weight ratio than traditional materials. Our engineer’s design, fabricate and manufacture composite panel solutions ideal for a wide range of maritime applications including boats, yachts and other vessels. Our end products are lightweight, durable and corrosion-resistant.
Stiffness
The combination of lightweight materials, such as carbon fibre and fibreglass, with our proprietary composite technology, ensures that each panel is stiffer than aluminium or steel panels of the same size. Our advanced solutions are designed to provide maximum structural stiffness for applications requiring a high strength-to-weight ratio.
Durability
ATL Composites takes pride in the superior quality and durability of our panels, which are designed to withstand the rigours of harsh marine environments. Our composite panels are water, UV, and corrosion-resistant, ensuring a long service life even in harsh conditions. This provides a more cost-effective solution for marine and industrial applications, as the panels do not need to be replaced as often. Additionally, our materials provide excellent resistance to vibrations and shock, making them ideal for use in high-performance vessels.
Cost-savings
Due to their lightweight construction, our panel solutions offer significant cost savings over traditional aluminium or steel panels. Composite panels’ lighter weight results in lower fuel costs and improved vessel performance, making them an ideal choice for boat owners looking to maximise efficiency while minimising expense.
ATL Composites is a leading supplier in Australia of advanced composite boards, materials and engineering for the construction of high-performance, lightweight structures for the marine, automotive, architectural, civil and industrial tooling markets. Get in touch with us today to learn more about our products and services!
Composite Panels: Improving Automotive Efficiency
As technologies evolve to meet the constant demand for higher productivity, autoclave curing is progressively being replaced by alternative processing solutions such as compression moulding, standard infusion and high-pressure, fast-injection RTM. Epoxy resins, speciality core materials and high-performance reinforcements are now providing new structural solutions that will radically alter the way cars and other vehicles are designed and built.
Our in-mould coatings are used in the high-performance motor-sport industry, specifically V8 Supercars, to meet the high strength and toughness requirements. Manufacturers are increasingly focusing on alternative technologies and materials to optimise and adapt to the automotive industry’s requirements. That is where our expertise in the development of new and innovative composite processes comes into play.
The benefits of these new composite panels materials mean that cars can be made lighter, more efficient and with greater reliable than ever before. The possibilities are virtually endless as these composites can reduce weight, increase strength and durability, improve crash safety performance, reduce production costs and enable a wide range of vehicle configurations. In addition to this, our in-mould coatings allow us to create a range of finishes on the vehicle components that are both aesthetic and durable.
Our team of experienced engineers is dedicated to finding new and innovative solutions for automotive OEMs and their suppliers while working closely with them to ensure their needs in terms of quality, performance and cost are met. Our commitment to research, development and innovation has enabled us to stay at the forefront of the industry, delivering quality components that meet or exceed OEM requirements.
The automotive industry is constantly evolving and we are proud to be part of this evolution. We strive to remain ahead of the curve in our industry, offering the latest technology, materials and production processes to ensure that OEMs can get the best possible outcomes for their product. Our experienced team is dedicated to providing quality products and services, with a focus on customer service and satisfaction.
We have experience in the design and manufacture of composite panels material for refrigerated cars and trucks, emergency vehicles, utility vehicles and even campervans. Our dedication to quality materials, production processes and customer service has earned us the reputation of being a leader in our field.
ATL Composites is a leading supplier in Australia of advanced composite boards, materials and engineering for the construction of high-performance, lightweight structures for the marine, automotive, architectural, civil and industrial tooling markets. Get in touch with us today to learn more about our products and services!
TANK Rolls out for Double Duty
A compact coastal cruiser and a fast, efficient charter vessel, TANK is the custom-built boat of her owners’ dreams. After 11 months in construction at Noosa Marine, the Roger Hill-designed 13.9-metre (46-feet) monohull motor yacht known as TANK blitzed her sea trials and has been delivered to her ecstatic owners.
Looking imposing as she left the shed on the first day of summer, coincidentally, the coldest start to the season ever, TANK was trucked to Lawrie’s Boat Services marina at Mooloolaba to be lifted into the water.
“She looks even better on the water,” says proud builder and Director at Noosa Marine, Julian Griffiths. “On her first day of sea trials she achieved a top speed of 47 knots. She was cruising at 40 knots against a 20-knot breeze in a metre of chop, and on board it was so smooth and dry.”
TANK is powered by twin Mercury V12 Verado engines, with 600 hp each which are hailed as “game changing” for their extraordinary range and performance, as well as the outboard segment’s first steerable gearcase and industry-first two-speed transmission.
The compact cruiser was an exceptionally technical boat to build, involving four craftspeople and several contractors for windows, upholstery, engines, electrical and flooring, Julian reports.
“It was built to AMSA Survey so there were strict parameters to follow. It all flowed very smoothly from concept to completion with no changes. We built the owners’ previous boat – the 63-foot power cat, Bajaca so we had a great relationship with the client. When they wanted to downsize, they worked hand in hand with Roger to design a fast, spacious motor yacht that is more like a luxurious super tender than a day boat.”
TANK will now be used around the Sunshine Coast until March, when she will relocate to Hamilton Island.
The 1,900 Litre fuel capacity will provide approximately 700 nautical miles of range at a cruising speed of 25 knots, and 500 nautical miles at 40 knots.
TANK also boasts a shallow draft of just 600cm, so TANK can approach the beach wherever she roams.
“In March, TANK will head north to Hamilton Island where the owners have built a home and TANK will be part of the offering, with a skipper. TANK is rated for up to 12 guests plus two crew. She will be ideal for day trips to the Reef and Whitsunday Islands.”
TANK can also be used by the owners for weekends on the water, with her large double berth and loads of outdoor seating, including a day bed that converts to an alfresco night berth.
Engineering to meet NCSV Compliance under AMSA, was undertaken by the ATL Engineering team, and the boat was constructed using DuFLEX Composite Panels cored with of varying densities; DuFLEX Panels cored with Divinycell H130 in the Hull Bottoms to provide structural performance at high speed performance, and H80 for Topsides were supplied is DuFLEX Strip Panel format.
The cabin DuFLEX panels were also cored with H80 and were reinforced with carbon fibre to meet stiffness and weight considerations.
The transom was built with Coosa Bluewater 26 – a high density, closed-cell polyurethane foam reinforced with woven roving and continuous strand fiberglass, used to provide additional flexural strength for demanding applications where greater span lengths are required – was fabricated at ATL Composites, along with the 3D routed Nose Cone, made from Divinycell H130 core, optimising material useage and fabrication time.
“DuFLEX is a light-weight, economical product that makes construction efficient and waste-free,” says Julian. “The lightweight construction optimises the vessel’s performance and the installation of a Quick MC2 anti-roll gyro will provide added stability.
“TANK’S owners are thrilled with their new boat and plan to spend every second day out on the water enjoying island hopping – Moreton Island, Noosa, the Gold Coast, Double Island. They are over the moon!”
Meet us at METS 2022
Running 15 to 17 November 2022, the METSTRADE Show in Amsterdam is the world’s largest B2B trade exhibition of marine equipment, materials and systems attracting 1,300 exhibitors and around 15,000 visitors.
ATL Composites, Australia and M.u.H. von der Linden GmbH based in Wesel, Germany, will attend METS 2022, show casing the DuFLEX, DuraKore and Featherlight panels range, manufactured by their joint venture company vdL Composites GmbH, which offers lightweight construction solutions and are preferred by some of Europe’s leading boat builders and design houses.
vdL Composites GmbH have supplied composite products to brands including Schionning, Gunboat, Outremer, Nautor Swan, Baltic Yachts, Judel Vrolijk Designs, Itacat from Italy, Twans in the Netherlands, Lütje, Michael Schmidt Yachtbau and Shiptec AG, as well as various superyachts, production boats, sea ferries and commercial craft.
In 2022, ATL and Von Der Linden commemorate 10 years of successful partnership, working together to supply customers across Europe in a range of different industries, including architecture and construction.
Nicholas Cossich and Lorraine Duckworth, Directors at ATL Composites will travel from their headquarters on Queensland’s Gold Coast in mid-summer to a frosty Amsterdam for METS 2022.
“After three years of travel restrictions, it will be wonderful to return to METS,” said Nic. “We are looking forward to returning to METS this year and renewing ties with our partners in vdL and their customers.”
The team from MuH von der Linden has attended METS for many years and considers the show a valuable means of networking and demonstrating the DuFLEX range of products to all levels of industry.
“METS is a very valuable networking and showcase opportunity for us,” said Director, Inga von der Linden.
“Over the years, since 2012, we have enjoyed exhibiting at METS with Lorraine, Nick and representatives from ATL Composites. We have become great friends as well as great partners.
“This year, we are eager to catch up with clients and to work with them on their requirements for their new projects in 2023.”
Since 1988, METS has been the place where the global leisure marine industry meets to do business, catering to three specialist sectors: Superyachts, Marinas and Yards and Construction materials. In three specialised pavilions, exhibitors display products and services and visitors to the show, including trade delegations from around the world, can meet and learn about innovations in technology, componentry, materials and equipment.
Visit vdL Composites at 12 803 in the RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre.
