IACMI-The Composites Institute® was proud to be part of the largest composites show, JEC World 2019, held in Paris, France. With over 43,000 visitors, 1,300 exhibitors, and 76,000 sqm of showfloor space, the event was packed with innovations showcasing significant progress in composites manufacturing in a variety of industries. IACMI exhibited as part of the U.S. Pavilion along with other IACMI members and partners including Wabash MPI Carver, Norplex Micarta, UAMMI, CompositesWorld, Litzler, and McCoy Machinery. More than one-third of IACMI’s 160+ members exhibited at the event, and over half participated as a speaker or visitor.
The event program featured esteemed decision makers in the global composites industry, including many IACMI representatives, partners, and members. Merlin Theodore, IACMI Materials and Process Technology Area Director and Director of the Carbon Fiber Technology Facility at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), presented on the latest developments for cost effective carbon fiber produced from textile grade PAN. Vlastimil Kunc from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) presented three topics all focused on large scale 3D printing. Within the automotive planet presented by Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), Dave Bank from Dow Chemical and Patrick Blanchard from Ford Motor Company, presented a paradigm shift in economics of high performance carbon fiber composites for industrial applications. Ray Boeman, IACMI Vehicle Technology Area Director, followed with a facility update of the Scale-Up Research Facility (SURF) in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit, which has conducted many R&D activities for Ford and Dow.
11 innovation awards were presented to global composites leaders on March 13th from more than 100 entrees, narrowed down by a prestigious international jury to 30 finalists before the final public vote. IACMI members represented 12 of the nominees and associated partners. Arkema claimed the construction and infrastructure award for its bendable composite reinforcements for concrete, a readily bendable thermoplastic composite with potential to revolutionize modern construction. This new generation of rebar and cables utilize Arkema’s Elium reactive liquid thermoplastic resin technology, also in the which can be re-heated and then bent to reduce the cost of custom shapes and offer new possibilities over standard equipment. Additionally, Saertex was a finalist in the land transportation category for its molded structural composite refrigerated trailer with associated partners including Nippon Electric Glass, Structural Composites, and Wabash National.
Along with many other innovations at the show, IACMI, ORNL, and Magnum Venus Products unveiled the first part developed from a large-scale 3D printed thermoset mold, a snowboard prototype. Engineered in Tennessee, the thermoset 3D printer enables new possibilities in performance and integrity for composites manufacturing. Learn more about the project here.
Institute attendees held technical projects meetings, met with state partner and international advanced composites consortium leadership teams, and served as an advisor for the JEC US Group.
Along with many other innovations at the show, IACMI, ORNL, and Magnum Venus Products unveiled the first part developed from a large-scale 3D printed thermoset mold, a snowboard prototype. Engineered in Tennessee, the thermoset 3D printer enables new possibilities in performance and integrity for composites manufacturing. Learn more about the project here.
Institute attendees held technical projects meetings, met with state partner and international advanced composites consortium leadership teams, and served as an advisor for the JEC US Group. View the photo gallery below for more from JEC World 2019.