More than 400 exhibitors are expected to attend the Composites Europe trade fair that will be held from 17-19 September in Stuttgart, showing an increase in exhibitor numbers. In addition to new lightweight construction concepts, state-of-the-art manufacturing and automation solutions for composites take centre stage this year.

The trade fair will focus on key technologies for the composite applications markets such as automotive, aerospace, wind power as well as building and construction.

Growing interest

The list of exhibitors extends from raw materials producers to suppliers, processors and technology manufacturers through to service providers for the composites industry. Among them are BASF, Evonik, Lange + Ritter, Rampf Tooling, Toray, Saertex, Gaugler & Lutz, Johns Manville KraussMaffei or Schuler SMG. A large number of renowned first-time exhibitors have also registered for Composites Europe 2013, such as Dow Europe, Broetje-Automation, Aristo Graphic Systeme or CCP Composites from France.

This year the interest from foreign exhibitors is growing as well with the Italian national pavilion being already sold out, and American, Chinese, French and Netherlands pavilions also growing. Among 27 countries represented are now Tunisia, Slovenia, Norway and Lithuania.

Programme

The Composites Europe supporting programme ranges from the Lecture Forum to the Product Demonstration Area. Here, specialists from industry and research are expected to provide an overview of the trends in the market for composite materials.

The overture to the trade fair this year will again be the International Conference of the AVK (Industrievereinigung faserverstärkte Kunststoffe) that will take place from 16 -17 September, where top experts will speak about innovative applications of fibre composites.

Hybrid Expo trade fair premiere

Starting in September, Hybrid Expo will be the new home of hybrid components and related technologies and applications. It will celebrate its premiere from 17- 19 September parallel to Composites Europe and is expected to accommodate around 100 exhibitors.

The event will showcase the complete process chain of mass production of hybrid components - from materials research to manufacturing and processing, machinery, plant and tools to the finished component.

The trade fair will also highlight the subject of process acceleration in the production of metal-plastic composites. In this context, plastic injection moulding, as well as ceramic injection moulding, stamping technology and innovate joining technologies will be a particular focus at Hybrid Expo.

www.composites-europe.com