Conference Program
CAMX hosts the most robust programming anywhere for the composites and advanced materials industry by providing an exciting offering of sessions with industry experts in a variety of timely, educational opportunities.
2020 Opening Keynote
Join the 13th Administrator of the CAMX was pleased to have the 13th Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Jim Bridenstine, as this year’s opening keynote speaker. NASA is continuing to help move the industry forward in these trying times through investments in R&D and technology. Bridenstine highlighted the connection between technology developments in advanced materials and US competitiveness in manufacturing across a range of business sectors. His presentation wrapped up in an overview of NASA’s partnership opportunities for businesses of all sizes.
2020 General Session
The current COVID-19 crisis has changed our world like never before. But the severe crisis hasn’t changed Airbus’ long-term ambition to be the world’s first aircraft manufacturer to market a zero-emission aircraft by 2035. Explore how they got there and the role materials and in particular composite technologies will play.
Isabell Gradert the Material Fast Track Leader at Airbus and general advisor for materials technology to the CTO was this year’s general session speaker. With 10 years’ experience in the field of Materials & Processes, Isabell is the leading cross-divisional Material Roadmap for associated technologies and guiding research projects ensuring group-wide leverage of technology synergies.
2020 Good Day, CAMX!
CAMX concluded with Good Day, CAMX hosted by Joel Whitehouse from Hill & Smith Holdings as he discussed the outlook for the US/global economy including risks and M&A activity, followed by a Q&A panel. Register to watch this recording.
Featured Sessions
CAMX is proud to announce the live featured content line up for this year’s conference program with sessions that focus on the industry’s hottest topics and continued growth. These inspiring sessions will be hosted live, with dedicated time for a Q&A where attendees will have the opportunity to interact with speakers in real-time.
Wednesday, October 20 1:30 PM – 2:15 PM
This featured presentation will interview Wendy W. Lin, a Composite Consulting Engineer at GE Renewable Energy, about GE’s composite technologies in Renewable Energy and Aviation. Ms. Lin, interviewed by Raj Manchanda of SAMPE, will discuss a plethora of exciting topics including circular economy, the application of composites in two of GE’s businesses: small fan blades and large wind blades, supply chain issues, women in technology, and what GE needs from its materials suppliers over the next 5+ years to allow composites to continue its growth in the segment.
- Speaker: Dr. Wendy Lin; Consulting Engineer, GE Renewable Energy
- Moderated by: Raj Manchanda; CTO, SAMPE
Wednesday, October 20 9:45 AM – 11:00 AM
Composites factory of the future represents the evolution of technology to drive increased efficiency in manufacturing. It encompasses the full extent of automation, data acquisition, analytics, and artificial intelligence technologies, to drive increased efficiency, decreased downtime, operational insights, reduced scrap, and preventative maintenance signals. The panel will focus on case studies of implementation of digital technologies and automation, lessons learned, and future plans, covering a broad range of industries.
- Moderated by: Robert Yancey; Business Development Director, Hexcel Corporation
- Tyler Alvarado; CEO, Continuous Composites
- Ramy Harik; Associate Professor, University of South Carolina
- Barrett Milenski; Engineering Manager, Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems
- Stephen Nolet; Principal Engineer/Sr. Director of Innovation & Technology, TPI Composites, Inc.
- Jack Wilfley; Founder and CTO, ORIBI/ Re:Build Manufacturing
Tuesday, October 19 3:00 PM – 4:15 PM
This session will cover the rapid advances being made regarding graphene production, applications, regulatory approvals, and standards development, making graphene ready for use in a wide range of composites applications. These experts will cover the critical success factors integral to creating the next generation of advanced composite materials needed to address our most pressing engineering challenges.
- Moderated by: Terrance Barkan; Executive Director, The Graphene Council
- Charles Chang; Founder, TLC Products, Inc.
- Ray Gibbs; CEO, Manchester Graphene Company Ltd.
- Kevin Keith; Co-founder, MITO Material Solutions
- Steve Rodgers; Founder/CTO, EmergenTek LLC
Wednesday, October 20 8:15 AM – 9:30 AM
Panelists for this session will discuss the new techniques, materials, methods, and processes of how to engineer and build composite boats that meet modern demands. Building on their years of experience, speakers will highlight how they have decreased waste while improving product quality by sharing examples of successful implementations.
- Moderated by: Andrew Pokelwaldt; Director, Certifications, ACMA
- Fabio Bressan, Ph.D; VP, Business Development Americas, Persico Group
- Ed Malle; Operations Manager, Yamaha Jet Boat Manufacturing
- Richard W. Morrison; Composite Materials Engineer, HydraSports Custom Boats
- Evan Ridley; Director of Environmental Programs, Rhode Island Marine Trades Association
Wednesday, October 20 2:30 PM – 3:45 PM
Composite materials are used in a wide variety of applications, from cars to construction, boats to bicycles, and electrical to industrial. Each market segment has its own perspective on sustainability. This interactive panel will explore the range of feedback from end-users and how composites are positioned to compete with metals, wood, and other materials.
- Moderated by: Dan Coughlin; VP of Composites Market Development, ACMA
- Colin Ardern; CEO, Applied Bioplastics
- Hota GangaRao; Director, Constructed Facilities Center, West Virginia University
- Soydan Ozcan; Senior Scientist, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
- Evan Ridley; Director of Environmental Programs, Rhode Island Marine Trades Association
- Uday Vaidya; CTO, IACMI – The Composites Institute
Thursday, October 21 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Thermoplastic composites are seen as an enabling technology for high-rate aerospace programs including Advanced Air Mobility, unmanned vehicles, and the next generation of commercial aircraft. What is needed to move TP Composites into primary structure applications, and can they deliver on the expectations? This featured program will be hosted in the CAMX Theater in the Exhibit Hall and all badged attendees are welcome.
- Moderated by: David Leach; Director, Business Development, ATC
- Robert Mazzella; Global Head of Composites and Parts Manufacturing, Victrex
- Steven Mead; President, ORIBI Manufacturing
- Jonathan Sourkes; Head of Sales - Aero SBU, Victrex
Tuesday, October 19 1:00 PM – 2:15 PM
The composites industry’s wide variety of resins, fibers, processes, and end markets breeds highly knowledgeable specialists, but understanding the larger forces pushing and pulling the composites industry into the future requires a different, broader perspective. This panel features composites-focused consultants and leaders whose long experience will help you understand the technologies, applications, markets, materials, processes, and innovations that are simultaneously challenging and empowering the industry.
- Moderated by: Jeff Sloan; Editor-in-Chief, Composites World
- Dale Brosius; Chief Commercialization Officer, IACMI – The Composites Institute
- Sanjay Mazumdar; Founder & CEO, Lucintel
- Anand Rau; Senior Vice President, Engineering, Windstream
Technical Papers
These 25-minute presentations include formal written research papers reviewed by industry peers. Presentations address critical areas important to the composites and advanced materials industry from business, applications, and research perspectives.
Education Sessions
These 55-minute presentations focus on case studies, best practices, issue reviews, and more. These sessions are presented as lectures, panels, and discussions led by subject area experts, and provide valuable information in a multitude of areas.
A variety of the above noted sessions will be presented live onsite and will also be available on demand via the CAMX+ platform.
2019 Keynote Speaker
CAMX 2019 kicked off with an exciting General Session, open to all attendees and exhibitors, featuring Vicki Holt, CEO of Protolabs. Protolabs is a bold manufacturing company that is creating disruption in manufacturing with a fresh, creative business model that is digitizing traditional manufacturing processes and enabling their clients to design, test and produce parts quickly, getting to market faster with smaller runs of customized products. The company has been named one of Forbes “Best Small Companies to Work” twice and has increased revenue by 160% in recent years. Holt will share with CAMX why the way manufacturing is done needs to be rethought and approached differently in order to meet the needs of the future. From robotics and AI to 3D printing, prototyping, and employee leadership, everyone in the audience will leave impressed, inspired, and ready to think about customer service, manufacturing, engineering, leadership and management differently.
Holt has served as President and CEO for Protolabs since 2014. Prior to Protolabs, Holt served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Spartech Corporation, a leading producer of plastic sheet, compounds and packaging products. Prior to that, she worked at PPG Industries, serving as Senior Vice President, Glass and Fiber Glass.”
2019 Moderator
Our moderator, Max Thouin, Hexcel, is an engineer by trade, and a true sport enthusiast. He has a strong technical background with extensive knowledge of design, prototyping, manufacturing, testing and marketing of high-end composite products, including sporting equipment. His career has enabled him to combine his passion for both composites and sports, and he brings this passion with him to CAMX as the moderator of the Closing Luncheon. Max’s career has included time at True Temper Sports, Mitsubishi Chemical Carbon Fiber and Composites. He is currently as a sales development manager at Hexcel.
Questions about conference programming?
