Composites Industry Gathers at Hall

BRISTOL, RI USA - The Rhode Island Composites Alliance, in conjunction with the Rhode Island Marine Trades Association, hosted a Composites Manufacturing Forum, "The Future of Rhode Island's Economy," at Hall, Inc. Wednesday.

Government officials and industry experts held a roundtable discussion focusing on economic growth and job creation in the Ocean State and throughout the country. Welcoming the guests, President Eric Hall noted that with over three decades of composites expertise, Hall was proud to provide such an ideal venue for the event, showcasing the latest in composite technology and manufacturing.

U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse hosted the head of the federal Economic Development Administration (EDA), U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Jay Williams, on a day-long tour of Rhode Island, beginning with the forum at Hall.  They went on to meet with additional Rhode Island businesses and discussed ways that the EDA could support economic growth and job creation in the state. 

“EDA funding is giving Rhode Island employers the tools they need to grow and hire,” said Senator Whitehouse, “and it’s helping to build infrastructure that makes our state a more attractive place to do business.  As our state’s economy continues to rebound we’ll need more investments like this, and I believe today’s visit helped Assistant Secretary Williams and his team at EDA see that sending federal dollars to our Ocean State will continue to pay off.”

“As the Rhode Island economy continues to recover, it’s important that we take advantage of every available opportunity to leverage federal funding that will get Rhode Islanders back to work and grow our economy,” said Cicilline. “I thank Assistant Secretary of Commerce Jay Williams for joining us in Rhode Island today and highlighting the importance of investing in local infrastructure projects, as well as new opportunities for our manufacturers and small business owners to expand their operations and compete in a global marketplace.”

“I was honored to see first-hand how Rhode Island is working collaboratively to build on its impressive history as a manufacturing and maritime engine,” said Assistant Secretary Williams.  “Through the coordinated efforts of the congressional delegation, and with solid buy-in from civic and business leaders, Rhode Island is capitalizing on its assets and innovating today to build the next generation of job-creating businesses.  EDA has been, and will continue to be, a proud partner.”

Joining Williams and the congressional delegation at Hall were Governor Gina Raimondo, Rhode Island Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor, Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training Director Scott Jensen and Rhode Island Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattiello.

“My jobs plan is designed to help businesses make it in Rhode Island,” said Raimondo. “I look forward to partnering with marine and composite manufacturing companies to grow our economy and get Rhode Islanders back to work.”

Moderated by Senator Whitehouse and Rich O'Maera of Core Composites, the panel discussed how the state’s composites industry is leveraging a long tradition of excellence in marine manufacturing to expand into fast-growing and dynamic new industries, such as aerospace and defense.  Hall recognized and seized this opportunity, expanding from its world-renowned marine Spars & Rigging company to create Hall Composites - a division providing the same technology and expertise in non-marine applications.

"Hall was proud to host the Composites Manufacturing Forum, as we were selected for our impressive advanced composites skills and facilities," President Eric Hall noted. "It was a privilege to give a factory tour to Assistant Secretary Williams, who was visibly interested and impressed with our factory and people." He added, "It was a great day for Hall and Rhode Island. It’s clear Mr. Williams will return to Washington impressed and willing to put a high priority on the federal investment that Rhode Island has truly earned.”

State Rep. Kenneth Marshall, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Assistant Secretary Jay Williams, President Eric Hall, Governor Gina Raimondo, Congressman David Cicilline

Hall Components Flying High with Aurora

Check out the latest on the Orion UAS (with components by Hall Composites), as seen in Aviation Week magazine - click here:

Aurora Claims Endurance Record For Orion UAS

Hall's Recent Launch Underwater

World class composite manufacturing firm Hall Composites, whose parent company Hall Spars & Rigging is known in the yachting industry as a leading provider of spars, rigging and complex composite components for the most competitive and successful yachts in the world, is manufacturing the turbine components for the United States' first commercial, grid-connected tidal energy project. Maine based Ocean Renewable Power Company (ORPC) is the project's developer, owner and operator. ORPC also developed the propietary technology used. Key to ORPC’s TidGen™ turbine generator unit (TGU) design are the all-composite Advanced Design Cross Flow turbines which Hall Composites is manufacturing. The TGU is the core component or “engine” for ORPC’s proprietary hydrokinetic device design which captures the energy of moving water without using dams or other barriers. The first TGU featuring four Hall Spars-made turbines was installed at ORPC’s permitted project site in Cobscook Bay, Maine last week.

"We couldn’t have asked for a more innovative and professional turbine manufacturing partner than Hall,” said ORPC’s President & CEO Chris Sauer. “We have no doubt that these turbines will stand up to the challenges of long term deployment in the Bay of Fundy region.” 

Hall Spars considers the rigors of the marine environment on a daily basis when designing and manufacturing spars and rigging for the top superyachts in the world. Drawing from that expertise, Hall Spars built ORPC’s turbines with carbon fiber reinforced composites, an ideal material for the loads the turbines will encounter and the marine environment in which they will operate. 

Recent projects at Hall's three manufacturing locations in the USA, Netherlands and New Zealand, include the yachts Wally 50m Better Place, Reichel-Pugh 85 My Song, Hoek H-Class Firefly, Baltic 72 Stig, Alia 82 Aiyana, and the Ker 50 Varuna, as well as non-marine composite projects for the aerospace and defense industries. Hall has been in business for over 30 years. There is no question that company owners and avid sailors Eric Hall, Ben Hall, and Phil Garland, founded the company based on that love of sailing, and combined it with a driven pursuit of the latest technology. 

Hall Spars & Rigging produces seamless, carbon-fiber spars for boats from 40 feet LOA to superyachts. They are innovation leaders in high-performance spars, pioneering the combination of autoclave curing and seamless carbon construction. Hall Spars & Rigging has three complete manufacturing centers on three continents, as well as a sales and service operation based in Italy. Additionally, the Hall Spars & Rigging store sells the latest in high-performance hardware and rope, prepared by experts in sailboat rigging. 

Established in 2004, Ocean Renewable Power Company is a privately-held industry leader in tidal, river and deep water ocean current power generation technology and projects. ORPC’s hub at Eastport and Lubec, Maine has become an internationally recognized center for tidal energy development. The Maine Tidal Energy Project is funded in part by the US Department of Energy and the Maine Technology Institute, as well as private investors.

For more information, contact Pete Levesque at p.levesque@hallcomposites.com

Hall Components Assist in Land Mine Removal

Hall Composites recently delivered a set of experimental "actuator arms" for the US Military's Buffalo vehicle. These arms are used in the pickup and removal of buried land mines. The customer turned to Hall to build the arms from carbon because the combination of light weight and stiffness afforded the operators more control over the arm. And when picking up mines at the end of a 30' arm, a steady hand is control. After initial trepidation from the end users spurred by the different material, reports are that the operators love the new arms and can operate with much greater accuracy.