JEC Americas Composites Show and Conferences kicked off on May 3 with this year’s focus on the automotive and aerospace composites industries. Atlanta was as an ideal location to host the fifth annual international conference as an established leader in the global composites business sector.

“The landscape of the composites industry is constantly evolving to develop more sustainable solutions” said Mrs. Frédérique Mutel, President and CEO, JEC Group. “During the three-day event, participants witnessed the latest technological developments in the growing composites industry. Focuses have been made on buying industries such as Aerospace and Automotive, following the JEC strategy towards End-  Users initiated on JEC World March in Paris”, she adds.

“This year’s show was a strong representation of the progressiveness emerging in composites manufacturing. I am looking forward to our other 2016-2017 upcoming events in America in Knoxville, Newport Beach and Chicago” commented Nicolas Baudry, Americas Event Director at JEC Group.

The event was co-located with Techtextil North America and Texprocess Americas at the Georgia World Congress Center. Participants were given exclusive access to the three exhibit halls with thought leaders in composites manufacturing and textile innovation. The synergies of the shows also offered a joint conference session ‘Connecting Technical textiles and Composites’ which encountered great success.

Major General Jocelyn M. Seng, Mobilization Assistant to the Commander and President, Air University, Maxwell Air Force Base, AL, delivered the keynote presentation on opening day, examining how  technology, particularly composites affects the military and civilians. She discussed emerging innovations and increased collaboration in composite materials design, analysis and manufacturing. Dr. Keith Young, composites director at Boeing, discussed implementing Aerospace composites fabrication and materials at Boeing. While Dr. Hendrik Mainka, engineering specialist of product innovation at Volkswagen, delivered a keynote speech on the final day of the conference focusing on opportunities and challenges in Automotive composites.

The attendees also toured Georgia Institute of Technology’s world-renowned composites facilities at the conclusion of the conference.

The exhibitors’ feedbacks are very positive regarding this session. Robert Gamber, Product Marketing Manager at Luna Innovations (USA) comments: “Our company just exhibited at JEC Event in Atlanta and this was our first time.  The size plays to its advantage as a top networking event and a place to make meaningful connections in the composites industry.  We came away with a number of good leads but more importantly valuable relationships.  The attendees, presenters and exhibitors at JEC Event are collegial, friendly and genuinely interested in helping you.  This, combined with very enjoyable networking sessions, is what makes the environment at this event so conducive to effective networking and what sets it apart from other trade shows and exhibitions.  We’ll be back. “

Steve Verschaeve, Vice President of North American Business Development at Roctool Inc. (USA) adds: “Being within a four hour drive of our USA office it made a great deal of sense for RocTool Inc to attend JEC Event in Atlanta. RocTool had a booth and we were also featured in the innovation showcase. We were able to connect with many big name OEMs. These leads were from many industry's including; Aerospace, Automotive, Electronics, Sporting Goods, and Consumer Products. “

As a continuation of JEC Group’s investment in the U.S. and its growing composites industry, the JEC Group opened new offices in Atlanta in 2016. Furthermore, JEC Events in Composites Innovation & Technology, will be held in Knoxville, Tennessee on October 13-14, 2016 in partnership with Oak Ridge National Center. The forum will address challenges, current trends and innovations in the automotive industry, the largest market for composite materials in the U.S., during a two-day event consisting of workshops, live demonstrations and case studies.

Moreover, the 2nd CYCLITECH conference dedicated to Composites in Bicycles, in partnership with SPE, will take place in Newport Beach, California in December 6-7, 2016.