Messe Bremen and Faserinstitut Bremen e. V. (FIBRE) are launching a new event! 29 and 30 October 2012 will see the very first ITHEC – International Conference and Exhibition on Thermoplastic Composites – in Bremen. This is all about manufacturing structured thermoplastic lightweight constructions made of carbon reinforced plastic (CFRP) for a wide area of applications.
The use of structured thermoplastic fibre composites as part of a composite material permits economic high-volume production of system and structure components. At present, the potential of lightweight constructions is still not being fully exploited, particularly in large-scale production. The ITHEC can make a significant contribution in this process. Messe Bremen and Faserinstitut Bremen e. V. (FIBRE) are launching a new event! 29 and 30 October 2012 will see the very first ITHEC – International Conference and Exhibition on Thermoplastic #
"The whole sector is excited", said Dr. Hubert Borgmann, Project Manager at Messe Bremen after the first meeting of the international programme committee made up of representatives from industry and research. The event is expected to attract around 350 international participants and 30 exhibitors, showing exemplary solutions and procedures from all relevant branches. The ITHEC conference and accompanying exhibition will be addressing the issue of sustainable improvements to profitability, examining possible value adding chains for various different industrial applications.
Discussions will take an in-depth look at improvement potential for future applications in the automotive sector, aerospace engineering, offshore and wind energy together with new process technologies.
The event offers a platform for industry and research for an intensive exchange of ideas with international experts in the field of thermoplastic fibre-reinforced structured applications. Professor Dr. Axel S. Herrmann sees huge advantages with the new materials when it comes to series production and joining technology.
"It is actually quite amazing that there hasn't been a special forum of this kind in the world before now." Professor Herrmann is the initiator of the event. He is a Professor at the University of Bremen in the Faculty for Production Engineering, focussing on fibre composites and special fibres. He is Director of Faserinstitut Bremen and also Chairman of the Board at CFK-Valley Stade e. V. and Managing Director of the Airbus subsidiary Composite Technology Center (CTC) GmbH Stade, one of the founding members of CFK-Valley.
Bremen is a "high-tech location for aerospace, the automotive sector and Europe's wind turbine companies" and has acquired a scientific lead that should be exploited.
"The excellent network established by the University with research institutions and industrial partners all over the world make it an ideal location", says Herrmann. He puts market growth for thermoplastic composites at around 15% p.a., together with duroplast CFRP materials. CFRPs meanwhile account for around 22% of the weight of the Airbus A380. Airbus is increasing this share even further in the A350 XWB to 50%, with thermoplastic CFRP structural components playing a greater role above all in the airplane fuselage.
But the market is also growing for carbon reinforced plastic piping made of high-performance thermoplastics for offshore deep-sea oil and gas production. The low weight and high fatigue resistance of these materials compared to steel in deep sea conditions is crucial at ever greater water depths (down to a depth of 4,000 m). The electric car of tomorrow also needs fibre composites in its bodywork if it wants to see any chances of economic success. But for the most part, the necessary production processes are not yet suitable for the mass market. High-performance thermoplastic composites therefore open up new markets and make parts suitable for series production in the interests of supreme performance.
International Conference and Exhibition on Thermoplastic Composites
News
Articles
Interviews
Webinars
Events
Advertise with us
About Us
Contact Us
Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
Cookie Policy
