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Category Archive: Bally Ribbon News

Bally Ribbon Mills Highlight 3-D Weaving Capabilities at JEC World 2024

Booth #6M38 will display film-infused 3-D woven joints, Woven Thermal Protection Systems (TPS) and woven composite 3-D structures

Bally Ribbon Mills (BRM), an industry leader in the design, development, and manufacture of highly specialized engineered woven fabrics, announces it will highlight its 3-D weaving capabilities at JEC World 2024, which will be held on March 5-7, 2024, in Paris-Nord Villepinte, France, Booth #6M38. BRM will highlight its film infusion capabilities for 3-D woven joints; woven thermal protection systems (TPS); and advanced woven composite 3-D structures, including 3-D near-net shapes.

In BRM’s film infusion process, a frozen sheet or film of resin is infused onto the custom 3-D woven joint. Film-infused 3-D woven joints ship as pre-made assemblies, ensuring consistent quality control from the industry-leading experts in fabrication and saving customers the cost of infusing the resin themselves. BRM has perfected the science and art of 3-D continuous weaving to fabricate such structures as “Pi – π,” double “T,” “H,” and other complex shapes. Offering the optimal blend of strength, durability, and structural integrity, these complex woven structures are used primarily in aerospace applications, often in airframe structural components and subassemblies including stiffeners and joints.

Those who visit the booth will see lightweight materials like 3-D woven fabrics and learn about our multifunctional thermal protection systems (TPS) for atmospheric re-entry. BRM has implemented innovative weaving technologies to develop complex webbing for aerospace products. The woven TPS billet to be showcased at the booth is part of a line of products that was selected as the critical component of the heat shield on the Orion Crew Capsule, which helps protect against the extreme temperatures of atmospheric re-entry.

In partnership with NASA, BRM developed the 3D Orthogonally woven 3DMAT Quartz Material for the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) compression pads. The 3DMAT Quartz Material was recently named the 2023 NASA Government Invention of the Year.

Also on display are lightweight, cost-effective, advanced woven 2-D and 3-D composite structures. Using a multi-dimensional continuous weaving method, BRM produces textiles that can be fabricated into near net-shape structures. These advanced weaving capabilities offer customers new solutions that reduce weight and cost. The technology weaves complex shapes automatically, eliminating many costly, time-consuming, and labor-intensive processes.

JEC World is the global trade show for composite materials and their applications. Held in Paris, JEC World is the industry’s leading event, hosting all the major players in a spirit of innovation, business, and networking. Please visit our booth if you are attending and talk to one of our experts!

 

By: Sarah Minhas, Bally Ribbon Mills 

 

Bally Ribbon Mills to Display High Performance 3-D Woven Composites at CAMX 2023

CAMX banner

Bally Ribbon Mills (BRM) announces that it will showcase its high-quality, high-performance products at CAMX 2023, taking place October 30-November 2, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. BRM experts will be on hand in booth K46 to discuss the company’s 3-D woven joints, thermal protection systems (TPS), and other 3-D structures.

In partnership with NASA, BRM recently developed the 3D Orthogonally woven 3DMAT Quartz Material for the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) compression pads. BRM and NASA efforts are a great example of NASA partnering with an American small business with a unique specialized technological capability that will further current and future exploration plans. The 3DMAT Quartz Material was recently named the 2023 NASA Government Invention of the Year.

BRM uses 3-D continuous weaving to create new joint structures and improve existing joints. Delivering the optimal blend of strength, durability, and structural integrity, BRM’s 3-D woven joints are available in “Pi – π,” double “T,” “H,” and other complex net shapes. 3-D woven joints from BRM lower weight and cost without sacrificing integrity and performance. Because of the nature of the 3-D weave, strength and support is translated in all 3 dimensions, thus enabling the join to reinforce the strength along the load paths of the sub-structures being joined together. These 3-D woven shapes for joining can be tailored to suit the architecture of the structure itself, as well as the sub-components being joined.

3-D woven composites by BRM are particularly successful in aviation heat shield applications such as thermal protection systems. These systems are mission-critical components, particularly in space exploration vehicles, and 3-D woven composites reduce weight and cost while maintaining excellent performance in TPS systems. The ability to vary yarn types, density, thickness, and width, as well as resin type, allows BRM to create fully customizable TPS to fit each specific mission or application’s needs.

Along with TPS systems, 3-D woven components also function well as engine parts in aircraft. Replacing traditional titanium engine components with 3-D woven carbon fiber composites serves to reduce weight and therefore lifetime cost, all while meeting the rigorous demands of manufacturing and use.

For more information, speak with BRM experts in booth K46 (Building C, Level 1) at CAMX 2023.

Bally Ribbon Mills to Showcase High-Performance Webbing at the 2023 Advanced Textile Expo

Bally Ribbon Mills Orion

Bally Ribbon Mills (BRM) announces that it will showcase new high-quality, high-performance webbing designs at the Advanced Textiles Expo 2023 taking place November 1-3, 2023. Meet with BRM experts to discuss the company’s award-winning materials, tapes, webbings and specialty textiles, including high-performance webbings, e-webbings and other narrow fabrics at booth E308.

In partnership with NASA, BRM recently developed the 3D Orthogonally woven 3DMAT Quartz Material for the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) compression pads. BRM and NASA efforts are a great example of NASA partnering with an American small business with a unique specialized technological capability that will further current and future exploration plans. The 3DMAT Quartz Material was recently named the 2023 NASA Government Invention of the Year.

BRM’s new fabrics utilize custom weave designs and high-performance fibers or combinations of fibers. BRM has created these patterns specific to end-use applications and can customize  innovative patterns for new applications. Come see materials in the following categories:

  • E-WEBBINGS® – woven fabrics of traditional fibers in conjunction with “functional” elements: conductivity, light transmission, and sensors.
  • Composites – fabrics that contain more than one unique fiber for the purpose of utilizing different and inherent properties of each component fiber.
  • Tapes and Webbing with Superior Properties – high strength to weight ratio, chemical resistance, low elongation, and many more.
  • Materials on Planet Mars – engineered fibers and fabrics utilized by NASA, ESA, and commercial near and deep space contractors for mission success and to keep our astronauts and pilots safe.

For a century, Advanced Textiles Expo has been the industrial fabrics industry’s flagship show. As the premier textiles event, Expo is the place where industry stakeholders and leaders connect, learn, and make purchases in order to grow their businesses.

For more information, connect with experts at BRM booth E308 at Advanced Textiles Expo or visit https://www.ballyribbon.com/.

Bally Ribbon Mills Features Highly Specialized Engineered Woven Fabrics at SAFE Association Symposium

SAFE Symposium BRM 2023

Bally Ribbon Mills (BRM) announces it will highlight its creative solutions for product design and development at the SAFE Association 61st Annual Symposium, which will be held October 10-12 at the Virginia Beach Convention Center, Virginia Beach, VA, Booth #132. On display will be a selection of the company’s high-performance webbings, including safety webbings and tapes, ideal for military, aerospace, fire, law enforcement, industrial, and commercial fall protection personal protective equipment (PPE) as well as specialty items to showcase BRM’s capabilities.

Using its decades of weaving expertise, BRM designs, engineers, and manufactures materials that maximize the end products’ performance characteristics and properties – including strength, durability, resistance to abrasion, chemicals, heat and weather. BRM enjoys the challenge of assisting customers in problem resolution and innovation creation regarding material selection in their design and development phases. BRM’s services include development of customized innovations, complete engineering and solutions, sample preparation, and full-scale and specialty manufacturing.

Recently, BRM participated in an exciting project with Sierra Space in which embedded fiber optic sensors were woven into Vectran ® webbing and then later integrated into an inflatable test article that was tested at NASA Johnson Space Center for potential use in future inflatable habitat structures for NASA Lunar Gateway and Mars missions.

Experts will be on hand at booth #132 to show how BRM can design, develop and manufacture specialized, engineered, woven safety webbings and tapes. Made from Nylon, Polyester, Nomex®, Kevlar®, Vectran®, PBI®, Nextel®, and other specialty fibers, BRM’s safety webbing and tapes are ideal for applications requiring high tenacity, abrasion resistance and flame and heat resistance. They are also a good choice for controlled elongation applications as well as those requiring chemical resistance in specific environments, and can be used for shoulder straps, harness webbing, and chin straps, as well as helmet suspension, binding tapes, loop tapes, lap belts, shock absorbing webbing, flotation device webbings, parachute assemblies, and other aerospace safety applications.

Bally Ribbon Mills Supplies E-WEBBINGS® E-textiles to Best Aviation Services, Inc. for Torabhaig Atlantic Explorer Gas Balloon

Best Aviation Services

Bally Ribbon Mills (BRM) announces it provided E-WEBBINGS® e-textiles to Best Aviation Services. Inc., the balloon manufacturing and repair company supplying a tension system to support the Torabhaig Atlantic Explorer gas balloon’s open basket as it takes the first flight across the Atlantic in an open basket gas balloon. The innovative design incorporates electronic components used to dissipate static electricity. The balloon will take off from Maine and then fly over Newfoundland before crossing the Atlantic and landing in Europe.

The new design was critical to meeting the very tight manufacturing timeline by reducing the project’s Bill of Materials and saving Best Aviation hundreds of hours of additional sewing. Bert Padelt, owner of the Bally, Pennsylvania-based balloon manufacturing and repair company, said, “Because of your design and quick turn-around on this R&D work, we were able to meet our tight deadline and launch window schedule.”

Torabhaig Atlantic Explorer gas balloon open basket

The Torabhaig Atlantic Explorer, piloted by UK-based Sir David Hempleman-Adams, will collect air samples to look for new scientific discoveries. Sir Hempleman-Adams will be accompanied by Bert Padelt and Swiss explorer, scientist and entrepreneur, Dr Frederik Paulsen. The journey is expected to take four to five days, flying at an altitude of 6,000 to 8,000 feet. It would be the first Atlantic crossing in a hydrogen balloon and may also mark the longest distance covered in this type of balloon.

For more information on the Torabhaig Atlantic Explorer visit this link and this link.

3D Orthogonally Woven 3DMAT Quartz Materials Named NASA Government Invention of the Year

Bally Ribbon Mills Orion

Bally Ribbon Mills (BRM) announces the 3D Orthogonally woven 3DMAT Quartz Material for the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) compression pads, developed through their partnership with NASA, has been named the 2023 NASA Government Invention of the Year. The award demonstrates NASA Ames Research Center’s commitment to cutting edge leadership and technology development for the nation. BRM and NASA efforts are a great example of NASA partnering with an American small business with a unique specialized technological capability that will further current and future exploration plans.

Compression pads serve as the interface between the crew module and service module of the Orion MPCV and carry the structural loads generated during launch, space operation, pyroshock separation of the two modules. The compression pads also serve as ablative TPS withstanding the high heating of earth reentry. 3DMAT leverages NASA’s investment in woven materials for the Orion compression pads that combines the weaving of quartz yarns with resin transfer molding.

The 3DMAT technology has helped BRM introduce 3D orthogonal woven materials to a range of new applications. Learn more about the award winning 3DMAT material here.

Bally Ribbon Mills to Highlight Custom Designed Tapes and Webbings at Techtextil North America 2023

Bally Ribbon Mills at Textil America

Visit Booth #2103 as BRM celebrates its 100th Anniversary

Bally Ribbon Mills (BRM) announces its participation and celebration of its 100th Anniversary at Techtextil North America, which will be held May 10-12, 2023 at the Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, GA. Visit BRM at booth 2103 to see its standard and custom designed tapes and webbings for a wide range of applications.

Since BRM’s founding in 1923 as a custom textile manufacturer in Bally, PA, the company has provided products for aerospace, defense, medical, safety, automotive, commercial, and industrial applications used around the world.

In booth 2103, see BRM’s range of products:

  • E-WEBBINGS® – woven fabrics of traditional fibers combined with “functional” elements: conductivity, light transmission, and sensors.
  • Composites – fabrics that contain more than one unique fiber for the purpose of utilizing different but inherent properties of each component fiber.
  • Tapes and Webbing with Superior Properties – high strength to weight ratio, , abrasion resistance, low elongation, and many more critical design characteristics.
  • Materials on Mars – engineered fibers and fabrics utilized by NASA, ESA, and commercial contractors for mission success in applications for near and deep space applications.

Techtextil North America is the largest showcase of trendsetting technical textiles and nonwoven products in the Americas. The show assembles all vertical aspects of the technical textile industry: from research and development, through raw materials and production processes and finally ending in conversion, further treatment, and recycling.

For more information on Bally Ribbon Mills highly specialized engineered woven fabrics visit www.ballyribbon.com.

Bally Ribbon Mills Highlights 3-D Weaving Capabilities at JEC World 2023

Film-infused 3-D woven joints

Visit Booth #M73 in Hall 6 to see film-infused 3-D woven joints, Woven Thermal Protection Systems (TPS) and woven composite 3-D structures

BRM will highlight its film infusion capabilities for 3-D woven joints; woven thermal protection systems (TPS); and advanced woven composite 3-D structures, including 3-D near-net shapes.

In BRM’s film infusion process, a frozen sheet or film of resin is infused onto the custom 3-D woven joint. Film-infused 3-D woven joints ship as pre-made assemblies, ensuring consistent quality control from the industry-leading experts in fabrication and saving customers the cost of infusing the resin themselves. BRM has perfected the science and art of 3-D continuous weaving to fabricate such structures as “Pi – π,” double “T,” “H,” and other complex shapes. Offering the optimal blend of strength, durability, and structural integrity, these complex woven structures are used primarily in aerospace applications, often in airframe structural components and subassemblies including stiffeners and joints.

Drop by the booth to see lightweight materials like 3-D woven fabrics and learn about our multifunctional thermal protection systems (TPS) for atmospheric re-entry. BRM has implemented innovative weaving technologies to develop complex webbing for aerospace products. The woven TPS billet to be showcased at the booth is part of a line of products that was selected as the critical component of the heat shield on the Orion Crew Capsule, which helps protect against the extreme temperatures of atmospheric re-entry.

Also on display are lightweight, cost-effective, advanced woven 2-D and 3-D composite structures. Using a multi-dimensional continuous weaving method, BRM produces textiles that can be fabricated into near net-shape structures. These advanced weaving capabilities offer customers new solutions that reduce weight and cost. The technology weaves complex shapes automatically, eliminating many costly, time-consuming, and labor-intensive processes.

Bally Ribbon Mills to Exhibit at the 2023 Parachute Industry Symposium!

Visit booths 817/819 to see new webbing designs for the parachute industry

Bally Ribbon Mills (BRM) will showcase its high-quality, high-performance webbing designs at the Parachute Industry Symposium ( PIA) taking place February 27 – March 3, 2023 in Reno, Nevada. BRM experts, Joe Melcher, Ted Fetterman, and Jerome Richards, will discuss the company’s new tapes, webbings and specialty textiles, including high-performance webbings, e-webbings and other narrow fabrics for the parachute industry in booth 817 and 819.

As pandemic supply chain issues subside, BRM is seeing signs of production returning to normal in the near future. Stop by the booth to learn about the initiatives that are making a difference. Also, please come to see standard and custom designed tapes and webbings produced for all of the industry groups BRM services:

E-WEBBINGS® – woven fabrics of traditional fibers combined with “functional” elements: conductivity, light transmission, and sensors.

Composites – fabrics that contain more than one unique fiber for the purpose of utilizing different but inherent properties of each component fiber.

Tapes and Webbing with Superior Properties – high strength to weight ratio, ,abrasion resistance, low elongation, and many more critical design characteristics.

Materials on Mars – engineered fibers and fabrics utilized by NASA, ESA, and commercial contractors for mission success in applications for near and deep space applications. .

Known for bringing together the best and brightest minds in parachuting, the PIA Symposium is the most comprehensive trade show and conference there is. With informative seminars and presentations from key speakers, a wealth of industry contacts, and an exhibition hall filled with interactive displays from the top skydiving manufacturers, the PIA Symposium is the event to attend for skydiving enthusiasts and professionals alike.

For more information, connect with BRM experts in booths 817/819 at the 2023 PIA Symposium. Learn more about the PIA Symposium on their website.

By: Sarah Minhas, Bally Ribbon Mills

Bally Ribbon Mills Celebrates a Century of Textile Innovation

Bally Ribbon Mills 100th Anniversary 2023

Bally Ribbon Mills (BRM)is proud to announce a century of textile innovation with its 100 Year Anniversary. Since BRM’s founding in 1923 as a custom textile manufacturer in Bally, PA, the company has provided products for aerospace, defense, medical, safety, automotive, commercial, and industrial applications used around the world.

A small representation of BRM’s accomplishments over the past century include the production of goods for the war effort in World War 2, maintaining a continuous ISO quality program for close to 30 years, and numerous contracts, including with the U.S. Military, Department of Defense and NASA. BRM’s work with NASA includes using composite material in the construction of the heat shield used on NASA’s Orion spacecraft. BRM has been praised by NASA for its ability to answer every specification and challenge.

“As a family business, Bally Ribbon Mills is extremely proud to be a trusted partner by some of the largest, well-known companies and agencies from around the world,” said Mark Harries, Vice President, at Bally Ribbon Mills. “Our success has been based on a long-term vision of growth, built around our high-quality engineered fabrics manufactured in America, our skilled employees, and our reputation as a trusted advisor to customers. We will continue to stay at the forefront of technology for all of the industries we serve, just as we have over the past 100 years.”

BRM continues to expand and innovate at its Bally, PA facility through the addition of new equipment, departments, and employees.

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Inside, we highlight topics such as:

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  • Fabrication Methods: (Braiding, Jacquard Loom, Shuttle Loom, etc.)
  • Weave Types: (Basket, Plain, Satin, Twill)

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