Composites Manufacturing - Fall 2022

CompositesManufacturing 2 If there’s been one constant in my 35-plus years in the polymer industry, it’s change. Composite materials, technologies and manufacturing processes are continually evolving. That was abundantly evident on the show floor and in educational sessions at CAMX 2022 in Anaheim, Calif., in October. The excitement at CAMX underscored my belief that our industry is gaining momentum after the COVID-19 pandemic. There are some lingering impacts, but we’ve made another huge step forward. The ACMA Board of Directors revisited and revised the association’s strategic plan last year, and it’s put us on the path forward. We are engaging industry and political leaders to help ensure that composites become the sustainable material of choice. (The Legislative & Regulatory column on page 28 discusses two recently passed bills, the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, which create opportunities for composites.) Sustainability is a focal point of ACMA’s new strategic plan. Under the plan, ACMA’s Climate Impacts Project will provide member companies with education and resources to succeed in a sustainability driven marketplace. This commitment was on display at CAMX, which featured sessions on the industry outlook for sustainability, the concept of net zero and much more. Beginning in 2023, Composites Manufacturing magazine will include a monthly column devoted to sustainability – and how ACMA can help you reduce climate impacts and market composite products as a sustainable solution – written by John Schweitzer, vice president - EH&S and sustainability at ACMA. One example of a sustainable composite solution is highlighted in this issue’s annual coverage of university R&D (page 17). Researchers at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville have developed composite panel envelope retrofits to make homes more energy efficient. It’s one of four research projects covered in the article. While these forward-thinking projects may not affect your business today, it’s important to stay informed about industry advancements. Earlier this fall, I attended Ceramics Expo 2022 in Cleveland and learned about the latest innovations in advanced ceramics and glass. One that caught my attention was ceramic prepregs. I didn’t know they existed! Since then, I’ve been contemplating what would happen if you mixed ceramic materials and carbon fiber to create a hybrid composite. There are so many possibilities in the composites industry, and the best way to stay informed and capitalize on opportunities is through involvement in your association, ACMA. We represent all companies in the industry, from large material suppliers to mom-and-pop fabrication shops. I invite you to contact me, ACMA President and CEO Cindy L. Squires, Esq. (csquires@acmanet.org) or any member of the association staff for more information on how the association can benefit you. Together, we can build the future of composites. Sincerely, Fred Sanford ACMA Chairman of the Board fred.l.sanford@gmail.com From the ACMA Chair Composites Manufacturing Official Magazine of the American Composites Manufacturers Association Publisher Cindy Squires csquires@acmanet.org Editorial Managing Editor Susan Keen Flynn sflynn@keenconcepts.net Associate Director, Marketing Barry Black, II bblack@acmanet.org Editorial Design & Production Innovative Association Solutions, LLC twagner@ias-online.net ias-online.net Advertising Sales Manager of Business Development John Catapano jcatapano@acmanet.org All reprint requests should be directed to bblack@acmanet.org Volume 38 | Number 4 | Fall 2022 American Composites Manufacturers Association 2000 N. 15th Street, Ste. 250 Arlington, VA 22201 Phone: 703-525-0511 Fax: 703-525-0743 info@acmanet.org www.acmanet.org Composites Manufacturing (ISSN 1084-841X) is published bi-monthly by the American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA), ACMA Headquarters, 2000 N. 15th Street, Ste. 250, Arlington, VA 22201 USA. Subscription rates: Free for members and non-members in the U.S., Canada and Mexico; $55 for international non-members. A free online subscription is available at cmmagazineonline. org. Periodical postage paid at Arlington, VA and additional mail offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Composites Manufacturing, ACMA Headquarters, 2000 N. 15th Street, Ste. 250, Arlington, VA 22201. The magazine is mailed to ACMA members and is also available by subscription. Canada Agreement number: PM40063731 Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to: Station A, PO Box 54, Windsor, ON N9A 6J5, Email: returnsil@imex.pb.com. Copyright© 2022 by ACMA. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reprinted without permission from the publisher. ACMA, a nonprofit organization representing the composites industry worldwide, publishes Composites Manufacturing, circulation 9,000, as a service to its members and other subscribers. Opinions or statements of authors and advertisers appearing in Composites Manufacturing are their own and don’t necessarily represent that of ACMA, its Board of Directors or its staff. Information is considered accurate at the time of publication, however accuracy is not warranted. Our Industry Is On the Rise

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