Innovations for large volume production

Good future prospects for the composites industry with strong growth opportunities in the carbon fibre (CFP) and glass-fibre reinforced plastics (GFRP) segments: the recent market survey which was also the first to be jointly conducted by the German composites organisations and associations AVK, Carbon Composites, VDMA Forum Composite Technology and CFK Valley paints a positive picture of the industry. This optimism is also reflected at this year's Composites Europe which will turn the Stuttgart Exhibition Centre into the meeting place for the international composites industry and its application sectors from 17 to 19 September.

With more than 400 exhibitors from 28 countries the trade fair registers a new record in exhibition surface at its eighth edition. The list of exhibitors ranges from the leading suppliers and processors of composite materials to mechanical engineering companies and research institutes through to the large industry networks. Among them are: key industry players like BASF, Evonik, SGL, Lange + Ritter, Rampf Tooling, Toray, Saertex, Gaugler & Lutz, Johns Manville KraussMaffei or Schuler SMG. Networks like the European industry association EuCIA, the VDMA Forum Composite Technology or Carbon Composites are also present and will bring many member companies to Stuttgart.

A large number of renowned first-time exhibitors have also registered for participation in Composites Europe 2013, including Dow Europe, Broetje-Automation, Chromaflo Technologies or CCP Composites from France. The well-booked national pavilions such as the Italian, American, Chinese, French and Dutch joint stands also demonstrate the importance Composites Europe has meanwhile achieved for the international composites industry.

Especially the key technologies for the composites applications markets such as the automotive, aviation, wind energy and building sectors are coming into focus at the trade fair. This is also apparent in the international lecture programme and the live demonstrations which complement the exhibition sector of Composites Europe.

Composites Forum

Most of the Composites Forum will again be organised and hosted by the VDMA Forum Composite Technology and the Institute of Plastics Processing (IKV) at RWTH Aachen University this year. The lectures focus on basics, trends and innovations from the different materials and application fields.

At the Forum, member companies of the VDMA - the German Engineering Federation -such as mechanical engineering companies Stäubli, KraussMaffei and Siempelkamp will give presentations on high-pressure RTM processes for large volume production of CFK car body components, machines for 3D hybrid mesh tools solutions, the construction of composite presses or the recycling of composites. On the part of RWTH Aachen University, as many as five departments present the current state of research at the trade fair. In addition to the serial production of components in the automotive industry, the subjects of 3D spray lay-up for large series or laser-based cutting and joining technologies also feature on the programme. Other exhibitors to contribute presentations on composites production to the Forum are Cadfem, Cannon, CCP Composites or the American industry association ACMA.

Crowd puller: the Product Demonstration Area

The innovative gap impregnation unit which IKV Aachen will show in operation is certainly one of the highlights of the Product Demonstration Area. The unit allows the automated production of an integrated CFP car bonnet in only 15 minutes. The innovative tool consists of a frame and two halves with integrated sensors for process and quality assurance. Other exhibitors such as Büfa, RH Schneidtechnik or Euro-RTM-Group will also present new products and processes in live demonstrations. Visitors can thus witness directly how innovations are born.

The exhibits which exhibitors from the Netherlands present themselves with at a separate Demonstration Area range from the horizontal stabiliser of a Gulfstream jet to sports articles. TenCate will show a synthetic lawn also used in the Munich Allianz Arena.

International AVK Conference

The trade fair will again be ushered in by the International Conference of the AVK - Federation for Reinforced Plastics. From 16 to 17 September, top experts will already speak about innovative applications of fibre-composite plastics and point out developments in the market. In the "Research for practical applications" lecture series, the latest findings in the fibre composite sector will be presented. The conference will end with a panel discussion on the subject of "Composites - materials caught between dream and reality", where experts will discuss the wide variety of composite materials available.

Hybrid Expo trade fair premiere to accompany Composites Europe

At Hybrid Expo, hybrid components, their technologies and applications will find a new home from September onwards. The new trade fair will celebrate its premiere from 17 to 19 September in parallel with Composites Europe. Hybrid Expo will display the complete process chain of the serial production of hybrid components - from materials research to manufacturing and processing procedures, machines, plant and tools to the finished component. The subject of process acceleration in the production of metal-plastic composites is a particular focus of the trade fair. Plastic injection moulding, but also ceramic injection moulding, stamping and punching technology and innovative joining technologies will play a central role at Hybrid Expo.