This news article was originally written in Spanish. It has been automatically translated for your convenience. Reasonable efforts have been made to provide an accurate translation, however, no automated translation is perfect nor is it intended to replace a human translator. The original article in Spanish can be viewed at Los avances en materia de fabricación y medioambiente son las prioridades del Composites Show 2008

Will be less expensive and more flexible production techniques

Advances in the field of manufacturing and the environment are the priorities of the Composites Show 2008

Drafting PU28/04/2008

Manufacturing is the central theme of the 2008 Salon (Paris, 1-3 April, Porte de Versailles) with the presentation of the set of procedures. Less expensive and more flexible production techniques are those which are given priority. The optimization of costs is studied in all stages of the chain.

The session presents advances in research and development, analysis, engineering, design, CAD/CAM, simulation, modeling, estéreo-litografía, test, non-destructive control, industrialization of nano compounds and procedures.

Moulds, machines, resins, fibers, loads, adhesives and software

JEC 2008 also presents the range of media and design tools that make advancing a sector in constant innovation. It is a special emphasis on equipment, machines, tools, machine tool, automation, quality assurance, the surface treatment and coating, the supply of software and equipment (hardware), accessories, loads, and additives. The manufacture of moulds remains an active domain at the same time affecting all the materials used and the reduction of cycle times, while saving energy and raw materials.

A particular space has been reserved to gluing techniques and the latest innovations in areas of accession.

Environment, recycling, biocompuestos

The industry of compounds gives priority to environmental progress like the rest of the results of compounds. The environment is present transversely at the level of the economies of energy that can be achieved by reducing the movement of masses, in the heating of the molds and also in the concern to reduce the noise.

This sector has been able to progress in this area due to the impact of the regulation. This industry apply three types of regulations:

• regulations on the emission of VOCs,

• the European directives on recycling,

• CO2 emissions limitations.

Compounds sector responds to them with a more and more automation. Closed mold technologies develop quickly. They allow to reduce VOC emissions and increase productivity (up to 10 daily boats in the area of leisure, for example).

The compounds are part of the recycling directives. For example, in 2015, each vehicle, at the end of its useful life should be recycled by 95 per cent to 85 per cent in 2006.

Car manufacturers are already taking into account from now on this directive to design vehicles of the future.

The sector has created subsidiaries of recycling that give value to recycled products to identify the user sectors.

In summary, Salon 2007 gathers more and more exhibitors 'green' around the biocompuestos, plant polymer matrix or natural fibres (flax, sisal, cotton, kenaf, habiscus, Palm, bamboo, wood, Abaca).

The increase in the sector of compounds

"The industry of compounds is growing much and offers very good prospects," says Frédérique Mutel, President and General Director of the Jec group.

"In value, at the global level, the industry of compounds has grown 8 per cent on average each year between 2002 and 2005 to 53,000 million euros (compared to the 42 billion in 2002) for two essential reasons": the increase of the volumes and the impact of the oil prices are constantly rising. In volume, the world market amounts to 8.2 million tons that are distributed among America, with 2.2 million tonnes; (Europe (Western Europe, Eastern Europe and Russia) with 3 million tons and Asia/rest of the world with 3 million tons). "The sector employs some 550,000 professionals from around the world, distributed in a manner almost equally between America, Europe and Asia", he explained.

As for the future, "our studies and analyses predict that the growth of the sector could be of 4.9 per cent per annum in volume between 2005 and 2015." Joined the compounds an already mature industry, its growth will be adjusted globally in volume to the industrial growth of the GDP.

The rate of annual growth of 4.9 per cent can be spread over 3.3 points of growth per year in terms of the growth of the Asian emerging market; "1.2 points in terms of annual growth in Europe and North America and 0.3 points in additional growth due to its increasing penetration".

Continues: "at the global level, with the fastest growing segments are the wind and the aeronautical (9 per cent and 7 per cent respectively)." The growth is also supported by the industrial applications of the EEE (electrical and electronic equipment) type, piping, pipes, tanks, tanks. "And, particularly in Asia, in the construction sector."

A leading trade fair in a great demand sector

Five months of the living room, Hall recorded two trends: the high rate of registration of new exhibitors and the increase of the average of the stand area. Three halls (1.1, 1.2 and 1.3) are filled quickly, including the new open section to meet the growing demand.

The surface in 2008 amounted to a total of 43,000 square meters. JEC is home to 1,000 exhibitors and more than 25,000 visitors. These figures place it very ahead in the main European and global ranking.