Smithers Rapra have announced the full agenda for the 2014 edition of GOCarbonFibre conference that is taking place in Cologne, Germany, from 8-10 October.

The event this year, held in its 17^th edition, will feature four sessions of in-depth discussions on the hottest topics surrounding carbon fibre, presented by over 25 of the biggest names in the industry, and an exclusive guided tour of the pilot line at the Aachen University. 

What’s on the agenda?

GOCarbonFibre will bring together key players from across the supply chain, including end users, composites companies, manufacturers and new entrants alike to discuss the state of the industry in this exciting sector.

The forum will be separated into four major sessions which will include:

• Industry Outlook - The current picture supply and demand, what lies around the next corner?
• Focus on China - China's ever increasing influence on the carbon fibre supply chain
• Planes, Turbines and Automobiles- The latest applications of high performance carbon fibre composites
• Carbon Fibres of Tomorrow - How must this material adapt to future demand?

First conference day

On 9 October the conference will be focusing on the three sessions and will include the welcoming speech by the chairmen John Davidson, President, Carbon Fibre Technologies International, UK, and Andrew Mafeld, Managing Director, Connectra, Sweden.

The first session will be dedicated to the carbon fibre supply chain, during which  leading industry experts and analysis shine a light on the current state of affairs. Following a series of presentations, the conference will move on to discussing China's influence on the carbon fibre supply chain, with a selection of Chinese perspectives on this influential region.

A third and final session of the day will focus on the opportunities for carbon fibre composites across established markets and new ones alike. The session will take a deeper look at what these opportunities are, delivered by those close to the front line.

Second conference day

The final day of the conference will start off with a networking event, and a welcoming speech by chairmen Alexander Aucken, Global Automotive Manager, Cytec Industrial Materials, UK, and Antony Dodworth, President, Dodworth Design, UK.

The final topic discussed at the conference will focus on how the carbon fibres must adapt to future demand. The global wealth of experience in production of this highly refined material lies with a relative few.

That must change in the coming years, however, as grass roots innovation will drive down costs and improve material properties. This sessions will explore the latest thinking on solving tomorrow's challenges.

www.gocarbonfibre.com