COMPOSITES LOUNGE - Das Online Experten Netzwerk

ICS 2025 – The Composites Summit You Can’t Afford to Miss! LinkedIn Live with Gemma Hardy ️ 11 November 2025 | 11:00–12:00 CET | 10:00–11:00 BST This is not just another UK event. It’s the International Composites Summit – and it’s happening at The Drum Wembley, just days before the festive season kicks off in London. I’ll be going live with Gemma Hardy, Managing Director of Fluency Marketing, to give you the inside scoop on why ICS 2025 is the must-attend event for the global composites supply chain. Expect guests, exhibitors, and sponsors from North America, Europe, and beyond. Expect strategic networking, investor lounges, and innovation showcases. ️ And yes… expect Christmas shopping tips in London! Fun Fact: During the livestream, I’ll be digging deeper with Gemma on how to shop smart in London – because ICS 2025 is perfectly timed to combine brain food for your business with holiday magic for your soul. Imagine this: You attend ICS at Wembley, then hop on one of London’s iconic red double-decker buses and in just 32 minutes you’re on Bond Street, surrounded by world-class boutiques, festive lights, and the buzz of the season. Pro Tip: Bring your significant other along. While you’re networking and learning, they can explore London’s legendary shopping scene. ICS 2025 is more than a summit—it’s a smart getaway. Don’t miss this LinkedIn Live We’ll reveal: -What makes ICS 2025 a global magnet for innovation -How sponsors and exhibitors can maximize ROI -Why Wembley is the perfect launchpad for international growth And yes… where to shop, sip, and celebrate in London RSVP now. Because if you wait, you’ll be watching others post their ICS selfies from London while you scroll from home. Let’s make this summit unforgettable. YouTube Episode: https://youtube.com/live/fWdajvZMiPk?feature=share

PRF Composite Materials Showcases their vision of High-Volume Composite Manufacturing At the recent Composites Networking Lounge and Demo Zone during Advanced Engineering 2025 at the The NEC, Birmingham, PRF demonstrated why they are at the forefront of industrial composite innovation. The highlight? Vincent Fawcett, Sales Director explains in this interview press moulding with ultra-fast cure cycles. PRF showcased live demonstrations of their RP570 prepreg systems achieving a 4-minute cure at 140°C—a benchmark for high-volume composite manufacturing. This rapid curing capability is not just a technical feat; it’s a game-changer for sectors like automotive, aerospace, marine, and medical, where throughput and cost-efficiency are critical. PRF’s engineering vision revolves around: High-volume production enabled by advanced prepreg systems. Sustainability integration, incorporating recycled materials into resin systems. Operational efficiency through kitting services—delivering ready-to-use kits to eliminate material handling complexity. Compliance and performance, with certifications for fire resistance in demanding applications. This approach reduces energy consumption per part, optimizes cycle times, and supports OEMs in scaling composite adoption for structural and semi-structural components. PRF’s commitment to the composites community extends beyond technology. As a headline sponsor of the International Composites Summit (ICS) on December 2–3, 2025 at The Drum Wembley-London, PRF continues to foster collaboration and knowledge exchange at the highest level. Call to Action: Meet PRF at ICS in Wembley/London and explore how their solutions can accelerate your production goals. And mark your calendars for JEC World 2026, where PRF will showcase the next evolution in composite manufacturing. YouTube Episode: https://youtu.be/VsACDo3hGdc

UK Composites Industry Breaks £14 Billion Barrier – Why It Matters More Than Ever Composites UK - Trade Association unveils growth figures and a bold five-year strategy to secure the UK’s place in advanced manufacturing and clean energy. At the Advanced Engineering Show 2025 in Birmingham, Composites Lounge had the privilege of speaking with David Bailey FRAeS Ph.D, CEO of Composites UK (CUK), about the state of the UK composites sector and the association’s forward-looking strategy. For the first time, the UK composites industry has surpassed £14 billion in turnover, marking a 4.8% growth year-on-year. Employment figures are equally impressive, with over 52,000 high-value manufacturing jobs now supported by the sector. These numbers underscore the critical role composites play across aerospace, automotive, defense, energy, marine, and renewables—industries that are central to the UK’s economic resilience and global competitiveness. The association’s five-year strategic plan, built on five pillars: Policy Engagement – Strengthening ties with UK Government to secure support for composites as a foundation for clean growth. Recent initiatives include an All-Party Parliamentary Group for Materials for Clean Growth and high-level receptions at the Houses of Parliament. Workforce Development – Addressing the skills gap through upskilling programs and attracting new talent into advanced manufacturing. Supply Chain & Sustainability – Driving circularity and decarbonisation across the composites value chain. Technology & Innovation – Collaborating with academia and the High Value Manufacturing Catapult to accelerate R&D and commercialization of next-generation materials. Events & Exhibitions – Providing platforms for members to showcase innovation The roof of this strategy: Sustainability. CUK is committed to enabling a low-carbon future through advanced materials that reduce weight, improve durability, and support electrification and renewable energy systems. A Business Model Built on Advocacy and Collaboration As the UK’s leading trade association for fibre-reinforced polymer composites, Composites UK offers its 380+ members: Government Influence – Shape policy and industrial strategy through consultations and lobbying. Market Intelligence – Access exclusive reports, funding updates, and technical guidance. Visibility & Networking – Pavilion stands at major shows, marketing opportunities, and industry awards. Sustainability Resources – Tools to reduce carbon footprint and meet Net-Zero targets. Skills & Safety – Workforce development programs and health & safety best practices. Why It Matters Composites are not just materials—they are enablers of the UK’s industrial strategy, clean energy transition, and global competitiveness. As Bailey emphasized, “Composites are a Strategic National Asset.” Without them, achieving Net-Zero and maintaining leadership in advanced manufacturing would be impossible. YouTube Episode: https://youtu.be/DGDIQAjuJaA

Warum Composites-Simulationen jetzt den Durchbruch erleben – und was sie so besonders macht Simulationen für Faserverbundwerkstoffe galten lange als komplex, teuer und schwer zugänglich. Doch das ändert sich gerade rasant – dank Pionieren wie Dr. Andreas Freund, Geschäftsführer der Realize Engineering Dresden GmbH. Im Gespräch mit Ilkay Özkisaoglu, Co-Founder der Composites Lounge, am Rande des JEC Forum Central Europe 2025 in Krakau wird deutlich: Die Branche steht an einem Wendepunkt. „Für mich begann alles 1999 mit dem Kunze’schen Versagenskriterium“, erzählt Freund. „Damals war die Herausforderung, die verschiedenen Versagensmoden von Composites überhaupt zu verstehen – und mathematisch zu beschreiben.“ Während Metalle mit etablierten Modellen wie Mises, Tresca oder Görssen arbeiten, benötigen Faserverbunde differenzierte Ansätze: Normalspannungsversagen, Scherbruch, Sprödbruch – je nach Belastungsrichtung und Materialaufbau. Dass die Simulation so lange brauchte, um Mainstream zu werden, liegt laut Freund nicht an der Rechenleistung, sondern am Materialverständnis: „Bei Composites entstehen die Eigenschaften während der Fertigung. Der Herstellungsprozess muss Teil der Simulation sein – Stichwort digitaler Zwilling.“ Die Vorteile von Composites zeigen sich besonders beim Versagensverhalten: gezielte Bruchstellen, hohe Energieaufnahme, Reparierbarkeit. Freund nennt konkrete Beispiele: „Ein Mountainbike-Lenker von Beast Components hält bis zu 5 kN – das sind 500 kg Belastung. Und durch virtuelle Tests wie EFBE oder Syntheseverfahren können wir das Verhalten exakt vorhersagen.“ Auch die Nachhaltigkeit profitiert: „Simulation hilft, nur so viel Material einzusetzen, wie nötig. Und viele Sportgeräte aus Faserverbund lassen sich hervorragend reparieren – das macht sie ökologisch wertvoll.“ Ilkay Özkisaoglu bringt es auf den Punkt: „Composites erfüllen alle drei meiner Content-Pillars: Innovation, Technologie und Nachhaltigkeit. Simulation ist der Schlüssel, um diese Potenziale skalierbar zu machen.“ Wer tiefer eintauchen will, hat diese Woche die Gelegenheit: JEC Forum DACH 2025, am 21. und 22. Oktober in Dresden. Dort treffen Visionäre wie Andreas Freund und Ilkay Özkisaoglu auf Einkäufer, Entwickler und Entscheider. Jetzt anmelden, mitdiskutieren und die Zukunft des Leichtbaus gestalten. #Composites360onTour YouTube Episode: https://youtu.be/KqYvEtGHnE4