The second annual JEC Americas Composites Show and Conference reflected the growing interest that characterises the region’s dynamic composite market. The event covered the next-generation breakthroughs in applications in aerospace, automotive, energy, automation and other sectors.

The show was held at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center from 2-4 October, welcoming 341 exhibiting companies (65 % from North America and 35% from Europe and Asia), a total of 4,155 professionals from 53 countries and 36 US States.

Three events in one location

Frederique Mutel, JEC Group President and CEO, and John Gallagher, President and CEO of Messe Frankfurt, have announced a new strategic partnership between the two organisations. Through its alliance with Messe Frankfurt, a major global tradeshow organiser,  JEC plans to significantly expand its resources for the Americas next year.

Namely, the two industry leaders will co-locate JEC’s new annual springtime Composites Show & Conference, taking place from 13-15 May 2014 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, with two Messe Frankfurt events: Techtextil North America and Texprocess Americas.

“With over $37 billion in value in 2012, the American composites market offers tremendous opportunities for competitive global players,” said Mutel. “It also represents an important driver of important industry trends and solutions, from growing adoption of carbon fibre, to expanding use of automated manufacturing to innovations in thermoplastic infusion. With over 55 years actively supporting the Americas’ composites industry, JEC continues its commitment to provide the critical platforms for sharing knowledge and innovation in composites technology.”

Leadership Circles

JEC launched the Leadership composites circles where elite stakeholders in every industry that highly uses composites materials share experience and discuss opportunities.

The first Automotive Composites Circle took place on JEC Americas 2013, where top managers and leaders of the global automotive industry met with their peers and future partners.

Innovation Awards

JEC’s emphasis on cutting-edge advances was highly evident at the second annual JEC Americas Innovation Awards ceremony, where ten companies and their partners were recognised for their outstanding contributions to composites technology.

News anchor Gene Lavanchy presented awards to the winners, who advanced the state-of-the-art in ten competitive categories, including Safety, Supply Chain, Design, Fibres, Process, Green Solutions and Multisectorial.

JEC also introduced four new award categories this year – Innovation Spreading, Electric Vehicle, Pipes and Water Management and Student Award – to reflect the expansion of the composites industry into new markets.

Programme

Held in conjunction with the Exhibition, JEC’s latest Innovative Composites Summit showcased expert insights from top business and technology leaders into important macro trends affecting industry sectors, such as aeronautics, automotive and automation; new materials (carbon fibre, thermoplastics and biocomposites); and cutting-edge processing and design approaches.

Altogether, more than 100 presentations and 60 Technical posters were presented at this year’s conferences. JEC Americas was attended by companies from the entire composites value chain and representing a range of key industry end markets.

www.jeccomposites.com