New themes and special areas at Composites Europe

Composites are one of the key technologies in lightweight construction, and Composites Europe reflects the growing market for lightweight materials. From 7 – 9 October, the Düsseldorf trade fair will once again showcase the full range of fibre-reinforced plastics. In addition, the trade fair will provide an outlook on the future of composites through a number of forums and new special areas such as the "Bio-based Pavilion" and "Industry meets Science."

More than 400 exhibitors from 25 nations – many international key players among them – are expected to present new lightweight construction concepts, materials, and the latest production and automation solutions at the ninth edition of Composites Europe. A total of 10,000 lightweight construction experts representing automotive engineering, aviation and boatbuilding as well as the wind energy and construction sectors are expected at the Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre, a third of them from outside Germany. Not for nothing: the international industry considers Composites Europe the most important event in the German market – the largest composites market in Europe. Solidly booked country pavilions representing Italy, the Netherlands, Russia, China and Hungary further underscore how important the trade fair has become for the international composites sector.

Trade fair and forums to focus on high-volume manufacturing processes
Devising and optimising processes that enable high-volume manufacturing of composites components remains the biggest challenge for the industry. At Composites Europe, the industry will present suitable production and processing methods, innovative materials and current lightweight construction projects. Additionally, the trade fair highlights new ideas at the Composites Forum and in special areas, including the Product Demonstration Area, the new "Industry meets Science" area and the "Bio-based Pavilion".

Composites Forum: real-world innovations

Part of the trade fair will be an exciting lecture programme, the international Composites Forum, which will be filled by the VDMA Forum Composite Technology, the Institute of Plastics Processing (IKV) and Composites Europe exhibitors. Presentations will center on production technology in composite manufacturing. Among other topics, lectures by VDMA member companies will focus on automation of logistics processes, production of preforms, economically viable manufacturing of thermoplastic structural components and joining technologies for high-volume production. Trade fair visitors may attend the forums free of charge.

Premiere 1: "Industry meets Science" to enhance Product Demonstration Area

Thanks to the new special area entitled "Industry meets Science", Composites Europe enables visitors to "grasp" – in both senses of the word – the latest developments and highlights from process engineering, dimensioning and quality assurance. The Institute of Plastics Processing (IKV) at RWTH Aachen University and additional partner institutes will be responsible for implementing this special area, which focusses heavily not just on traditional thermoset materials and thermoplastic composites but also on innovative matrices such as polyurethane and thermoplastics polymerising in situ. Numerous demonstration components and tours of selected highlights complete the range of offerings at “Industry meets Science”, which is intended as an enhancement of the Product Demonstration Area (PDA).

Please do touch! At the Product Demonstration Area, a visitor highlight at every Composites Europe, the trade fair gathers new high-tech products and brings to life the development of composites components in live presentations. Exhibitors will include Euro-RTM-Group, Büfa, RH Schneidtechnik, 3D Core and Dresden University of Technology.

Premiere 2: the "Bio-based Pavilion"

Wood flour, cotton, flax, jute and hemp: natural fibres are becoming increasingly important as biocomposites. Composites Europe's "Bio-based Pavilion", made possible in collaboration with the nova-Institute in Hürth, showcases the advantages and potential of biofibres. In addition to companies from the WPC and NFC segments, enterprises associated with bio-based thermoset plastics and thermoplastics will also be represented at the trade fair.

International AVK Conference: focus on innovative production processes, recycling and the materials mix

Composites Europe will kick off with the International AVK Conference, which will once again bring together in Düsseldorf leading composites experts from across Europe. On 6 and 7 October, international presenters will lecture on material innovations, production processes, the interplay between various materials, and the right mix of materials. The conference will put a special emphasis on recycling and standardisation, both highly relevant topics for the entire composites industry.

Parallel event: Aluminium

The leading international trade fair Aluminium will take place concurrently with Composites Europe in Düsseldorf from 7 to 9 October. The world's largest industry event for the aluminium sector will bring together aluminium manufacturers and processors as well as providers of production, processing and finishing technology and equipment. The previous edition of the trade fair attracted 907 exhibitors and 21,508 visitors. Around 1,000 exhibitors from 50 countries are expected to attend Aluminium 2014.