components made of composites. The expertise of the many vehicle manufacturers aand services companies based in the automobile state of Saxony provides ideal conditions for developing this platform. The outstanding concentration of innovative networks and research institutes make Chemnitz a fitting centre to present the latest trends and developments. The three-day, user-oriented “mtex” symposium will reflect the latest research findings and will be dominated by the following subject areas: new materials and material combinations, and design and production processes for textiles and composites in vehicle manufacturing. The 2012 “mtex” is being held alongside the 2012 LiMA Lightweight Design Trade Fair for the very first time.