JEC World 2020, to be held in Paris during May 12-14 2020, will have a special exhibition on composites, `50 years of composites’ which will trace the history of composite materials. The exhibition will focus on the development of composite materials from their first appearance, providing a view of the market trends and technological advances.

The display will chart the evolution of the composites industry from its very beginning right up to present time, through a variety of engaging formats, including real-world products, pictures and samples of materials and processes. Visitors to the exhibition will be able to journey through different eras of the composites industry, gaining a deeper appreciation of the market trends and technological advances.

JEC Group has commissioned Ignaas Verpoest, emeritus professor, Composite Materials Group, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, to document “50 years of composites” and its key milestones and achievements.

Verpoest is being assisted by an international advisory board consisting of Frédéric Reux, editor in chief, JEC Composites Magazine; Franck Glowacz, innovation content leader, JEC Group; Dale Brosius, chief commercialisation officer of the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation (IACMI); Kenichi Yoshioka, general manager Composite Materials Research Laboratories at Toray Composites; and Christophe Binetruy professor, Ecole Centrale de Nantes.

Attendees will also be able to attend a conference on May 14, where Verpoest will present the major milestones of the composites industry over the past 50 years, and the progress of composites across 14 groups of application sectors. The potential evolution will also be discussed, from Industry 4.0 approaches, from additive manufacturing, intelligent structures, multiscale modelling and simulation, nanotechnologies and hybrids, to bio-based materials and reuse and recycling initiatives.