Globe Composite Solutions is a Boston-based company, established in 1890 under the name Globe Rubber Works. Globe has expanded from primarily working with rubber, to become a modern, full-service, Design-to-Manufacturing company, providing a wide-range of composite-based solutions. While Globe engineers cutting-edge composites and uses the latest robotic production methods, after over 130 years, Globe also remains an expert in manufacturing the highest-quality rubber parts. So, what is rubber and why does rubber remain an important substance to Globe's Defense & Industrial customers?

Ever since Skynet unleashed a few Terminators, robots in general have been stereotyped as unfeeling metallic brutes. Recently however, we have started to see the softer side of robots. I don't mean humanoid-looking robots like Sophia, the first robot to gain citizenship from a country. I am referring to the new field of Soft Robotics, which produces machines more physically sensitive to humans and the world around them.

Advances in Soft Robotics are taking many forms. Some engineers are designing soft robots that mimic living organism’s ability to move through our complex physical world. Other designers are focusing on enabling robots to better interact with humans and other living things. Both soft paths however are based on using new compliant materials, made of innovative combinations of polymers, elastomers, polyurethanes, as well as composite materials.

Many markets have benefited from the advance of composites, but perhaps none more so than the Recreational and Commercial Marine industries. Building vessels that can meet the exacting demands of a water environment, especially a saltwater one, has always been a challenge. Life at sea means continual exposure to harsh elements - including direct sunlight, wind and water pressure, the corrosive effect of saltwater, as well as man-made factors such as diesel fuel, lubricants, and other chemicals.

Composites provide some of the best solutions to issues caused by these marine conditions. From stronger FRP (fiber-reinforced polymer) boat hulls and interiors, to corrosion-resistant marine parts, to specialized submersible components, marine composites have revolutionized what is possible. 

Composites are changing the world we live in. From the Stone Age, to the Bronze Age, to the Iron Age, our civilization’s history has been defined by the materials we use. In the past, humans reshaped the raw materials they discovered in nature to create the items they needed. In our modern age we have moved beyond found objects, and have developed the technology to produce new materials, whose very make up is engineered specifically to fit the task at hand.

Damaged and worn out metal components and assemblies are a major cause of downtime for businesses. However, it’s usually too expensive to replace an entire system with the latest model. The solution may be switching to composite replacement parts, which deliver a cost-effective way to increase the operational performance of existing systems.

By rebuilding your existing components and assemblies using composites, modern technology has the capability to make your parts better than they were before. Better... stronger... faster.

One of the most dynamic and creative technologies in recent years is Additive Manufacturing, often referred to as "3D Printing". The amazing ability to create solid objects from digital files stored on a computer, was only recently considered pure science fiction. Having a magic box that could manufacture items out of thin air became a familiar concept on shows like Star Trek, where a “Replicator” could produce any item their starship needed. While we are still unable to replicate a gourmet meal or quickly replace the captain’s torn uniform, each year brings us amazing new manufacturing capabilities.

As another year draws to a close, you might be wondering what amazing new technology the next year will bring. Well, there is already something fresh for you to try: a surprising new type of underwater vehicle that will allow almost anyone to experience driving underwater in a safe and immersive environment, while still being able to feel the water and sea life around you. Imagine hopping into a car and driving under the sea among tropical fish, natural reefs, or even around a simulated Lost City of Atlantis. This newly developed car will be available this year and will let people share underwater experiences together that were once only available to those with Scuba training.

What's cooler flying drones? Intelligent underwater robots!

While high-flying drone vehicles have been in the news quite a lot this year, a new generation of stealthy underwater drones have gone through an amazing evolution. Underwater robots, also known as Unmanned Underwater Vehicles or UUVs, have been around for a while. UUVs are basically any vehicle that's able to operate underwater without a human on board. Some UUVs need a human to directly control them, and are aptly named Remotely Operated underwater Vehicles or ROVs. However, a new generation of intelligent unmanned underwater vehicles are now available. Known as Autonomous Underwater Vehicles or AUVs, and they have allowed us to  explore the mysteries under the sea, as no other underwater technology to date.

The use of hand-held wands for individual screening, walk-through metal detectors, full-body scanners, and baggage X-ray machines, are familiar to anyone who has flown on an airplane in the past decade. Modern airports use these security devices to keep travelers safe from external threats, but how safe are the methods they use? Do modern airport security methods pose a health concern? The following is an overview of current security screening technologies, how they work, and what sort of health issues they might cause.

With packages of all sizes, shapes, and weights moving along your conveyor system daily, "log jams" are bound to occur. Often employees have to resort to "makeshift" jam break poles, or whatever is within arm's reach, to unjam conveyors. Unfortunately, when employees use these sorts of bent metal makeshift conveyor jam-up tools, safety issues or product damage can often result. Whether your company moves hundreds (or millions) of products each day, product damage or downtime due to these package jams can mean the difference between success and failure for your operation.