Discover the latest JEC Composites Magazine focused on JEC World 2023

Turning challenges into new opportunities!

JEC World 2023 is approaching but, at present, bouncing back is all what the composites sector can wish for in a period where the level of uncertainty for 2023 and beyond remains high. After an economic rebound in 2021, following the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the global economy experienced a global slowdown in 2022 (from 5.7% in 2021 to 2.9% in 2022). Our annual barometer JEC Observer 2022-2027, which will be published mid-March, will offer plenty food for thought in this regard. More than ever before, our industry is facing challenges in multiple domains such as sustainability, production efficiency or innovation. As they are sought after for their unmatched properties by major players in aerospace, marine, construction, energy and transportation sectors, opportunities for the composites sector are as numerous as are the corresponding challenges.

For instance, the necessity to alleviate the impact of leisure boating on fauna and flora gave birth to zero-emission hydrogen-powered boats making it possible to significantly decarbonise this activity sector. Our interview of Chloé Zaied, general manager of Ephyra, will allow you to learn more about it. Wind energy also counts among the growth drivers of the composites industry. In collaboration with a bunch of partners, Saertex GmbH & Co KG, which is a supplier of NCFs and SAERfoam reinforced foam, has come up with an interesting solution to use reinforced foam core materials in the manufacture of rotor blades for wind energy applications.

To elaborate new solutions for a more sustainable future, companies in the composites industry equally need to think out of the box and to fully master new technologies and approaches like new modes of human-machine interaction, huge quantities of data and enhanced connectivity, as the Indian firm Saviant Consulting points it out in its article. State-of-the-art technologies such as additive manufacturing technology help creating parts at a competitive cost, with fast turnaround, high-performance and a repeatable, consistent production process. But efficiency is nothing without reliable innovation. As usual, true partnerships are what is needed to allow innovation to flourish and thrive. In India, non-destructive testing (NDT) benefited of the collaboration between government research laboratories, suppliers of solutions for ultrasonics such as the Vivace Sonics company (see our interview of its managing director V. G. Kulkarnim) and a number of organisations like National Aerospace Laboratory (NAL), Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL), Hindustan Aeronautics Laboratory (HAL), Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA) and others.

This issue also includes a preview of our annual show as well as an extensive innovation report which will give you a hint of what you will be able to discover at JEC World 2023. We hope you will enjoy reading this issue and look forward to seeing you all in April in Paris!

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