CAMX Connection – January 11, 2018

CAMX 2017: All the reports

CAMX 2017 was postponed by Hurricane Irma, but no worse for the delay. The largest composites event in the world’s largest composites market featured a variety of noteworthy materials, technologies and products that reinforced the strength and dynamism of the composites industry. More.

CAMX Celebrates Industry Growth and Innovation

Thank you to everyone who participated in CAMX 2017, making it a great success. Despite having postponed the event in September due to Hurricane Irma, the premier composites event reflected the support of the industry as well as the need for this all-encompassing event for the industry. Key highlights include:

  • Nearly 600 new attendees made CAMX 2017 their first CAMX.
  • Nearly 85 percent of exhibitors from the original dates rescheduled for CAMX 2017.
  • CAMX offered 361 sessions on topics covering every subject in the industry.
  • Over 250 expert speakers presented multiple tracks of topics.
  • 6,554 registrants from the composites and advanced materials communities in the United States and abroad.

If you missed this year’s CAMX – or if you attended but weren’t able to see everything – check out what you missed by viewing the highlights.

See What You Missed at CAMX!

For those who may have missed CAMX due to the rescheduled dates or for those who attended but were not able to attend everything, we are pleased to offer the CAMX Live! General Session and access to the conference program presentations online to everyone.

The Opening General Session – CAMX Live! featured a line-up of innovators and industry leaders with insights from three individuals — Boom Technology Aerostructures Engineer Kerry Manning, Composites Building Structures President/CEO James Antonic, and Oracle Team USA Designer Kurt Jordan — who have helped change the way the world looks at composites and caused “disruptive innovation” through their industry achievements. The CAMX Awards recognized cutting-edge innovations and innovators that are shaping the future of composites and advanced materials in the marketplace.

Ideas and Innovation Abound in CAMX Exhibit Hall

Inspiration took many forms in the aisles and booths of the CAMX Exhibit Hall as attendees embarked on a quest for new products, partners and innovation during the first day of the show. “I am wandering up and down to see what’s available, which technologies can be used where and if anything stands out – if there is a Eureka moment,” said Thanos Drivas of Cervelo Cycles and Vroomen White Design, who was just beginning to traverse the floor after setting up his own booth.

For Martin Carignan of ITW Polymers Adhesives, North America, a stop at the 53-foot hybrid metal and composites trailer by Structural Composites, winner of the 2017 CAMX Award for Unsurpassed Innovation, was his Eureka moment. “The technology used to make the panels is revolutionary to me,” he said. “I have been in the composites industry almost 20 years, and this is the first time I have heard that you can mix different components and ensure good bonding. I’m impressed!” Read more.

CAMX 2018 — Save the Date!

CAMX 2018 will be held in 2018 on October 15 – 18, 2018, at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas, TX. Booth sales for CAMX 2018 have already begun. CAMX and IFAI (Industrial Fabrics Association International) will co-locate. CAMX is North America’s go-to composites event for products, solutions, networking and advanced industry thinking, and the IFAI Expo is the premier industrial fabrics expo for new and innovative products. The co-location of events unites the strengths of both groups – combining all aspects of these world-class industry expos, and highlights machining products to the attendees of both expos. Visit the CAMX website at https://www.thecamx.org to learn more.

CAMX 2017 Ends with Social Media Insights

CAMX concluded with a panel session titled “It’s a Digital World!” focusing on the increasing use of social media in all aspects of business in the composites industry. The panel, moderated by Marcy Offner, Director of Marketing Communication at Composites One, was created to help CAMX attendees understand the importance of digital engagement in today’s business landscape. The panel featured a diverse range of composites professionals with varying expertise. In addition to Offner, the panelists included Jeff Sloan, Editor-in-Chief at CompositesWorld; Peter Hedger Jr., Director of Marketing and Communication at Magnum Venus Products; Jennifer Fielding, PhD., Program Manager at the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL); and Brian Leftwich, Marketing and Communications Specialist at Mar-Bal. Read the full recap here.

Innovation Park Redefines the Trade Show Experience

The CAMX 2017 Exhibit Hall introduced Innovation Park, a new show floor enhancement that created opportunities for attendees to make new connections, exchange ideas and learn new things. The park aimed to redefine how attendees interact, learn and think experience through specialized “zones” tailored to the learning, networking and inspirational needs of CAMX attendees. Attendees used these unique areas to discuss hot topics, build community around specific interests like “Women in Composites” and “Composites in Mexico,” and collaborate on new innovations and solutions. Look for enhancements to the Innovation Park area in future years. If you have feedback, please share it in the post-show evaluation survey sent via email to all attendees.

CAMX Recognizes Next-Generation Technology

During CAMX 2017, the product innovation awards, Poster Session awards, and Technical Paper Awards recognized work by researchers and organizations whose cutting-edge innovation and next generation technologies will impact the future of the industry. Read on to learn about the CAMX Award winners. CAMX congratulates all of our Award winners and finalists in each competition!

Stay Connected and Up-to-Date

Join the CAMX social media communities to receive updates on speakers, exhibiting companies, session topics, product displays and demonstrations, as well as technology and innovation. Plus, watch videos, crowdsource your questions, and network with fellow attendees. Share the excitement early, tell others about what innovations you’re most interested in seeing at CAMX…it’s your CAMX experience! Share it! Use the hashtag #CAMX17 on your posts.