April 1, 2019 | More than 70 current and future composites technicians and engineers attended the Technology AdvantEDGE: Composites and Manufacturing Workshop in Denver, Colorado to introduce composites to Colorado businesses, in February 2019. The workshop was hosted in partnership with IACMI – The Composites Institute, Manufacturer’s Edge, a part of the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) network, and Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT). The Technology AdvantEDGE: Composites and Manufacturing Workshop provided an interactive exploration of composites fundamentals while also introducing advanced composite capabilities.
Participants had opportunities throughout the workshop to network and connect with composites industry experts, thought-leaders, and company specialists with composites resources. Discussions included a range of sessions, such as composites in wind technology, presented by National Renewable Energy Laboratory Senior Wind Engineer and IACMI Wind Technology Area Director, Derek Berry; and current and future advanced composites trends, presented by CompositesWorld Editor-in-Chief, Jeff Sloan, and many more.
With nearly a decade of proven, successive composites growth each year, attendees learned about the variety of advanced composites applications in industries including aerospace, wind energy, bioscience, infrastructure, and information technologies.
“The renewable wind energy sector is expected to create more than 600,000 jobs by 2050. The composites industry, alone, is projected to create more than 168,000 advanced composites jobs in the U.S. wind industry by 2050,” said Berry, referencing data from the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
IACMI Workforce Manager, Joannie Harmon Heath, said, “IACMI is focused on sharing composites expertise and offering professional, connection-driven opportunities for Colorado companies to provide a collaborative gateway to join IACMI’s growing network. IACMI Workforce Manager, Joannie Harmon Heath, said, “IACMI is focused on sharing composites expertise and offering professional, connection-driven opportunities for Colorado companies to provide a collaborative gateway to join IACMI’s growing network. We are proud to partner with OEDIT and Manufacturer’s Edge to foster the growth and reach of composites.”
The workshop also featured presentations and panel discussions with composites professionals from IACMI members Steelhead Composites, Colorado State University, Manufacturer’s Edge, Johns Manville, Vartega Inc., Abaris Training, Siemens Gamesa, and aerospace science and engineering company, Roccor.
To learn more about upcoming workforce workshops and courses, visit iacmi.org/events.