The project to build the canopies to look like polished metal features, while being lightweight and robust enough to withstand the harsh environmental conditions. The canopies were constructed in Crystic® resin VE679-03PA to create a glass fiber composite laminate with a closed cell structural foam core to provide adequate panel stiffness over the large hollow wing shape. A resin infusion process was adopted for the production of the composite panels, which provided a high quality and void free laminate. This project is carefully refined a staged infusion approach, specifically for the manufacture of the metal coated areas, in order to avoid ‘print through’ of the composite materials onto the external surface.
The installation of the canopies presented a particular challenge to the team. Suitable lifting points were required to move the canopies into place on site but were not in keeping with the smooth polished appearance of the structure, thus resulting in an innovative solution to remove them once the canopies were installed.