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CompositesManufacturing 2026 Issue

The Ofﬁcial Magazine of the American Composites Manufacturers Association

Graphene Additives:

Hype or Potential?

Converting to Closed Molding B2B Marketing Strategies

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2026 Issue

CompositesManufacturing The Ofﬁcial Magazine of the American Composites Manufacturers Association

Photo Credit: Mateenbar

8 Fully FRP-Reinforced

Bridge Paves Way for Future Projects

The 28-span Harkers Island Bridge featuring GFRP bars and CFRP prestressing strands is the longest bridge to use composite reinforcing.

By Susan Keen Flynn

10 Multisport Relay Race

Showcases Composite Technology

Sporting equipment manufactured by Janicki Industries for the 2026 Ski to Sea relay race shows off composites innovations.

By Mary Lou Jay

12 Graphene in Composites: Photo Credit: Kevin Wyss

Photo Credit: Superior Industrial Solutions

Hype or Real Potential?

Kevin Wyss, PhD, director of graphene applications for Avadain Graphene, discusses graphene advancements and their ideal applications in composites manufacturing.

By Susan Keen Flynn

16 The Move to Closed Molding

Transitioning from open molding to closed molding processes can improve part quality, enhance operational efficiency, unlock opportunities for scaling production and more.

By Mary Lou Jay

20 Getting the Story

ABOUT THE COVER: The final cleaning and polishing of a graphene-enhanced composite wing skin for a drone before bonding and fitting. Photo Courtesy of the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC), The University of Manchester

Straight

Successful B2B marketing campaigns use storytelling to paint a clear picture of composites companies and the entire industry.

By Susan Keen Flynn

28 ACMA Industry Directory A comprehensive listing of ACMA members.

Departments & Columns 4 From the ACMA Chair 6 Focus on Sustainability 24 Legislative & Regulatory 26 Inside ACMA 27 Ad Index

FROM THE ACMA CHAIR

Opening Minds About Closed Molding CAMX IS RAPIDLY approaching, and content in this issue addresses the scalable innovations available in closed molding transitions (see page 16). I want to support and amplify the efforts of the many industry professionals who are steadily advancing this technological evolution. The composites manufacturing industry is at an important crossroads. Composites are now trusted and established in areas that we have applied decades of effort to demonstrate and validate, including standards development. The new challenge presented is our own success at adoption and the scaling that success will require of us. For decades, open mold processing, such as hand lay-up and spray-up, has been the most common platform for producing FRP composites for most manufacturers. While open molding offers low upfront tooling costs and geometric flexibility, it struggles to meet the demands of modern automated industrial serial part production. As industries like aerospace, mass transit, automotive, power and data demand higher production rates and stricter quality controls, transitioning to closed mold manufacturing has evolved from a progressive upgrade into a strategic necessity. The primary benefits of converting to closed mold processes lie in the improvement of part quality and operational rate and consistency. Open molding is highly dependent on operator skill, which inherently introduces variability in part thickness, resin-to-fiber ratios and structural integrity. Closed molding mitigates these variables by more tightly controlling material placement or transfer, resulting in laminate structures with optimal fiber volume fractions and minimal void content. Transitioning to closed molding unlocks massive opportunities for scaling production. Closed molding significantly shortens cycle times through repeatable, automated or semi-automated processes, including reinforcement preform or prepreg placement, resin transfer, compression molding and heated curing. This scalability allows manufacturers to confidently pursue high-volume commercial contracts that might otherwise be out of reach. The composites industry, like most manufacturing, faces a severe shortage of skilled labor and inflationary wage and benefit escalation. Closed molding transition mitigates workforce challenges in two profound ways; First, because resin curing reactions occur inside a closed environment, workplace and environmental emissions are reduced up to 90%. This supports a cleaner production floor, improving recruitment and retention. Second, open molding requires employees to have a high degree of artisan knowledge and physical stamina to ensure consistent resin distribution and to roll out air bubbles, keeping pace with production while wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). Closed molding shifts the skill set upward from physical technique and stamina to human-machine interaction with the controls, tooling and process parameters. Conversion to closed molding or other machine-driven processes is becoming an existential priority for composites manufacturers aiming for long-term and broader opportunity in high-growth applications in core end use markets in the U.S. and abroad. Transformative industry growth and material market share penetration opportunities emerge through differentiation, part quality, high scalability and a safer, leaner and more easily trained workforce. At CAMX this year, our members and exhibitors have outstanding resources available in all facets of closed molding, and I hope you take full advantage of learning from them. Sincerely,

Mike Gromacki ACMA Chair of the Board mgromacki@norplex.com

CompositesManufacturing

Composites

Manufacturing Volume 42 | Number 1 | 2026

Official Magazine of the American Composites Manufacturers Association Publisher Cindy Squires Editorial Managing Editor Susan Keen Flynn sflynn@keenconcepts.net Director of Marketing & Communications Eliana White ewhite@acmanet.org Editorial Design & Production 526 Media Group dkoenig@526mediagroup.com www.526mediagroup.com Advertising Sales Director, Business Development John Catapano jcatapano@acmanet.org All reprint requests should be directed to ewhite@acmanet.org

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 annually 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© 2026 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 7,550, 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.

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FOCUS ON SUSTAINABILITY

FRP is Transforming the Built Environment By John Schweitzer THE INTERSECTION of advanced materials, housing policy and climate innovation presents a critical opportunity for transforming the built environment. Among the most promising materials are fiberreinforced polymer composites (FRP), which combine high strength, durability and corrosion resistance, and design flexibility. As policymakers, industry leaders and sustainability advocates push toward affordable housing and decarbonization, FRP is uniquely positioned to play a central role. Four key dynamics are likely to impact their market penetration: the recently passed affordable housing bill, the potential for climate mitigation through design optimization, the need for advanced recycling and mass balance accounting systems, and breakthroughs in low-carbon material production. The Affordable Housing Bill The United States faces a significant housing shortage, particularly in low- and moderate-income segments, and the new federal housing bill aims at accelerating construction while controlling costs. FRP can support these goals by enabling faster, modular construction methods that reduce labor requirements and project timelines. Their lightweight nature lowers transportation and installation costs, while their durability minimizes long-term maintenance expenses. Unlike traditional materials, such as wood, steel or concrete, FRP is resistant to corrosion, moisture and pests, making it particularly well-suited for multi-family housing and infrastructure exposed to harsh conditions. If federal funding and incentives emphasize lifecycle cost efficiency and resilience, FRP solutions could gain a competitive edge in meeting housing demand at scale. In this sense, housing policy is not just about affordability; it is also about enabling the adoption of

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advanced materials that deliver long-term economic and environmental benefits. Climate Mitigation through Building Design Optimization Buildings account for a significant share of global greenhouse gas emissions, both in operational energy use and embodied carbon in construction materials. FRP can help address both dimensions. Their high strength-to-weight ratio allows for slimmer structural elements and reduced material usage overall, lowering embodied emissions. At the same time, the versatility of FRP enables innovative architectural designs that enhance energy efficiency, such as integrated insulation systems, optimized building envelopes and prefabricated components that minimize thermal bridging. FRP materials can also facilitate the integration of renewable energy systems, such as mounting structures for solar panels or lightweight supports for energy-efficient facades. By enabling more efficient designs, FRP can reduce the energy demand of buildings over their entire lifecycle. This positions them not just as a substitute for traditional materials, but as an enabler of fundamentally better-performing structures in terms of both energy and emissions. Advanced Recycling and Mass Balance Accounting The thermoset resins used to manufacture the majority of FRP products for the building market cannot be remelted and readily formed into new products like the thermoplastic resins used for packaging and disposable food containers. However, emerging chemical and thermal recycling technologies are beginning to address the recycling challenge by breaking down thermoset composite materials into reusable components. Advanced recycling — such as pyrolysis or thermal

hydrolysis — can recover fibers and resins, extending material life cycles and reducing waste. To scale these systems economically, mass balance accounting provides a practical framework. This approach allows recycled feedstock to be tracked and allocated across production systems, even when mixed with virgin materials, enabling manufacturers to claim recycled content in a verifiable way. Together, advanced recycling and mass balance systems can create a circular economy for FRP, ensuring that increased adoption does not lead to increased environmental burdens. Without these innovations, sustainability claims could be undermined by end-of-life challenges. Advances in Production of Polymers and Glass Fibers One of the most exciting developments is the creation of polymers derived from carbon captured directly from the atmosphere or from industrial emissions. By using captured carbon as a feedstock, manufacturers can effectively embed atmospheric carbon into materials, creating the possibility of carbon-neutral or even carbon-negative materials. This innovation aligns with broader carbon capture and utilization (CCU) strategies, which aim to transform waste carbon into valuable products. Using bio-derived carbon is another path to this objective. For example, unsaturated polyesters manufactured using glycols from soybeans are available from resin suppliers.

At the same time, the production of glass fibers — another key component of FRP — is energy-intensive, typically relying on fossil fuels to heat furnaces. Transitioning these processes to renewable energy sources, such as electrified furnaces powered by wind or solar, represents a major opportunity to reduce emissions. When combined, low-carbon polymer production and renewable-powered glass fiber manufacturing could dramatically lower the embodied carbon of FRP composites, making them even more attractive for sustainable construction. Conclusion FRP stands at the convergence of policy, technology and sustainability. The affordable housing bill offers a pathway for scaling their use in critical infrastructure, while advanced recycling and mass balance systems ensure that this growth can be environmentally responsible. Their ability to enable optimized, energy-efficient building designs makes them a powerful tool for climate mitigation. Meanwhile, breakthroughs in low-carbon material production could transform their environmental profile entirely. Together, these factors underscore the potential of FRP composites not just as an alternative material, but as a cornerstone of a more sustainable and resilient built environment. CM John Schweitzer is vice president of EH&S and sustainability at ACMA. Email comments to jschweitzer@acmanet.org.

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Fully FRP-Reinforced Bridge Paves Way for Future Projects By Susan Keen Flynn HARKERS ISLAND, N.C., is a historic fishing village that serves as a gateway to the Cape Lookout National Seashore. During the summer, its population swells from approximately 1,200 permanent residents to thousands of visitors each day. Two 50-year-old bridges provided the only vehicular access and hurricane evacuation route for the island until they were replaced with a 3,200-footlong, 28-span bridge featuring GFRP bars and CFRP prestressing strands in 2023. “The Harkers Island Bridge is currently the longest bridge to use composite reinforcing, and it’s garnered a lot of attention and praise,” says Danielle Kleinhans, director of engineering and business development for Mateenbar Composite Reinforcements, which provided approximately 1.5 million linear feet of structural fiberglass rebar in various sizes for the project. The coastal saltwater environment damaged the two earlier bridges that connected the mainland to Harkers Island. Corrosion on the swing-span Earl C. Davis Memorial Bridge led to mechanical problems that often prevented it from opening for commercial and recreational boats, and Carteret County Bridge No. 96 needed an emergency superstructure replacement in 2013. To combat corrosion, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) chose composite materials for the new bridge’s prestressed concrete components. “The only steel we have in the bridge is in the barrier rail and the concrete sea pile wall at the end bents. But the caps, piles, girders and columns are all carbon and glass fiber,” said Brad McMannen, PE, NCDOT resident engineer for Division 2, in a video released by the Department of Transportation.

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The NCDOT was open to incorporating FRP in such a large project thanks in part to a state-sponsored research project it completed with North Carolina State University in 2017 to investigate the feasibility of using CFRP and GFRP in bridge construction. Based on the research results and internal conversations, NCDOT leaders supported designing the entire Harkers Island Bridge with FRP materials and eliminating steel reinforcement. “If we can get away from steel and use something that’s non-corrosive, it will help with the long-term maintenance and it will make the bridge last longer,” said McMannen. The bridge’s superstructure has two 12-foot-wide lanes and 4-foot-wide shoulders. It features an 8.25-inchthick cast-in-place (CIP) sand lightweight concrete deck reinforced with Mateenbar60™ GFRP bars. The deck is supported by more than 100 precast concrete Florida I-beam girders prestressed with CFRP strand. The substructure also utilizes composite components, including end and interior bents constructed with GFRPreinforced CIP bent caps and more than 200 24-inchsquare CFRP prestressed concrete piles. GFRP rebar was also used in the bridge abutment, spiral columns and other reinforcing bars. Kleinhans says the Harkers Island Bridge demonstrates what can be achieved through the combination of concrete and composites. “Concrete offers great compressive strength, while FRP reinforcement provides superior tension. So, it’s a happy marriage from a load carrying perspective,” she says. “And with a corrosive environment, taking metal out of the equation is a smart choice.”

THE BRIDGE connecting Harkers Island and the North Carolina mainland was the first one in the state to be reinforced entirely with FRP rebar and prestressing strands. Photo Credit: NCDOT

The reduced weight of composites is also a benefit. GFRP rebar weighs about one-third as much as steel, typically allowing more bars per truckload for transport to the construction site and making it easier for workers to move and install. Despite FRP’s advantages, the groundbreaking project posed challenges for Mateenbar and other suppliers, particularly related to tight tolerance requirements. “Our bars needed to go around, but not touch, the prestressing strands within the top and bottom flanges of the girders,” says Kleinhans. “Making sure we had that shape perfectly aligned to the prestressing strands was critical. That’s a testament to the accuracy and precision of our manufacturing process.” Incorporating prestressed concrete components with FRP reinforcements helped accelerate construction of the Harkers Island Bridge, which began in September 2021 and finished 10 months ahead of schedule – even with inwater work moratoriums from April through September each year to protect local marine life. Last year, the NCDOT began work on another FRPreinforced concrete project, a 3.2-mile bridge to replace the Lindsay C. Warren Bridge over the Alligator River. “We are hopeful that with signature projects such as these the NCDOT will continue to be a leader in the use of composites and FRP-reinforced concrete,” says Kleinhans. This may persuade other state DOTs to implement composites in construction projects. The inclusion of FRP in standards, specifications and codes will also help move the needle. The American Concrete Institute (ACI) and the American Association of State Highway & Transportation Officials (AASHTO) have approved and published several such documents. “Each year, more states are adding GFRP to their material specifications and design provisions,” says Kleinhans. “Part of what we are trying to do as an industry is talk to DOTs and say, ‘If it works in this and that

THE HARKERS ISLAND Bridge features approximately 1.5 million linear feet of structural fiberglass rebar. Photo Credit: Mateenbar

area, it will work in yours, too.’ It’s a matter of educating engineers and owners and always being a credible voice for the composites industry.” CM Susan Keen Flynn is managing editor of Composites Manufacturing magazine. Email comments to sflynn@ keenconcepts.net.

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DURING CANOE construction, Janicki experimented with a low-cost medium-temperature tool and a high-temperature bismaleimide (BMI) carbon tool designed for extended cycle life. Photo Credit: Janicki Industries

Multisport Relay Race Showcases Composite Technology By Mary Lou Jay SKI TO SEA (S2S) is a multisport relay race held on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend that begins on the slopes of Mount Baker in northwest Washington and ends more than 90 miles away in Bellingham Bay. To reach the finish line, team members take turns cross-country and downhill skiing, snowboarding, running, on-road and off-road cycling, canoeing and kayaking. Janicki Industries, a composites engineering and manufacturing company with a facility in Hamilton, Wash., is a longtime supporter of S2S, which began in 1973. The company had a special connection to the race this year. It designed and manufactured the sporting equipment used by one of three employee teams that competed. Janicki isn’t interested in entering the sporting goods market; its customers are in aerospace, defense, space and marine. But manufacturing these products allowed the company to create something distinctive while advancing technology it uses in other sectors. “We were able to explore new materials that have come to the market, find different ways of processing those materials and ultimately incorporate them into our production processes,” says TJ Chace, director of re-

10 CompositesManufacturing

search and development. “We are always thinking about how we can improve the things that we build.” Janicki is often unable to discuss projects due to customer confidentiality. The S2S sporting equipment enabled the company to show off its technology to a wider audience. “It gives us the opportunity to build something representative of a customer’s part but in a fun and functional way,” Chace says. Janicki drew upon staff expertise to design and manufacture a snowboard, skis, bikes, a canoe and a kayak. Some employees previously worked at companies that build bicycles and skis, while other sporting enthusiasts also provided input and guidance. In 2018, a summer intern at Janicki worked alongside employees to construct a CFRP canoe that investigated the use of bio-based materials and manufacturing processes. The company-sponsored S2S teams used that canoe for several years, but Janicki built a new one for this year’s race. Hull plies were hand-laid over a foam core, with stiffeners and seat supports bonded in after cure. The canoe served as the test vehicle for an experimental low-cost medium-temperature tool and a

THE COMPETITION road and off-road bikes incorporated bladder-molded CFRP tubing bonded to aluminum lugs. Photo Credit: Janicki Industries

high-temperature bismaleimide (BMI) carbon tool designed for extended cycle life. Lessons learned from the development project are now informing the next generation of Janicki tooling products. Janicki constructed the snowboard with a poplar wood core wrapped in fiberglass and epoxy resin. The mold was made from stacked plywood profiles cut on a CNC router, a low-cost and sustainable alternative to conventional tooling materials. The project showed that quality composite parts can be made with simpler, less expensive tooling than is typically used in aerospace manufacturing. The downhill skis were manufactured in a similar process to the snowboard but were laminated out of autoclave using a fiberglass prepreg over a wood core. For the cross-country skis, which were completed just two days before the race, employees combined wood veneer and carbon fiber prepreg, then co-cured them in an autoclave. The goal was to match the weight and stiffness of a conventional ski with simple 2D hand cut plies of wood and prepreg. This reduced the labor and equipment required to rapidly iterate to the optimal stiffness and shape. Through engineering analysis, these skis can be tailored to the skier’s height, weight and performance preferences. Janicki built the 20-foot racing kayak to validate a new, low-cost tooling approach capable of curing out-of-autoclave prepreg at higher temperatures than standard pattern tooling. Production crews laid up the upper and lower hull halves in fiberglass prepreg over

foam core. The hull sections were oven-cured, then joined and finished in Janicki’s paint booth. Janicki built the first bike frame to demonstrate manufacturing techniques the company does not currently use. Dubbed the “Frankenbike,” it incorporated 3D-printed titanium and Inconel® nickel-chromium superalloy frame joints, bladder-molded thermoplastic tubes, compression-molded nodes and other novel components. For the competition road and off-road bike frames, Janicki bladder molded carbon fiber tubing in two-part female tooling and machined the connecting aluminum lugs. The tubes and lugs were finished to aerospace paint standards then structurally bonded together. For this year’s competition, the company added a special “Made by Janicki” team to the two teams it typically sponsors. Employees who helped build the equipment were given priority for the corresponding race legs. The project helped Janicki advance its technology while bringing together employees from across the company who might not otherwise have worked together. It also demonstrated Janicki’s investment in the community in which it does business. “There are a lot of people who don’t know what we do,” says Chace. “Being able to show these things to our coworkers, our neighbors and our suppliers was so much fun.” CM Mary Lou Jay is a freelance writer based in Timonium, Md. Email comments to mljay@comcast.net. — CONTINUED —

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GRAPHENE IN COMPOSITES Hype or Real Potential? Q&A with Kevin Wyss, PhD, an expert in graphene and nanomaterials By Susan Keen Flynn GRAPHENE SCIENTIST Kevin Wyss, PhD, holds samples of graphene powder and a graphene-enhanced polyurethane composite. Photo Credit: Kevin Wyss

GRAPHENE IS A TWO-DIMENSIONAL form of carbon whose atoms are arranged in a hexagonal, honeycomb-like lattice. First isolated and characterized in 2004, it exhibits exceptional strength, electrical and thermal conductivity, barrier properties and surface area. When incorporated into an FRP composite as a high-performance additive, a minuscule amount of graphene can make a substantial difference in its properties. It can improve the polymer matrix or fiber/matrix interface rather than replace the fiber or resin. A report from USD Analytics projects a 26.8% compound annual growth rate in graphene demand in the advanced composites market from 2025 to 2034, driven by expanding use in aerospace, automotive, energy infrastructure and high-performance industrial applications. Despite the optimism, many feel that graphene has failed to live up to the hype it began receiving 10 to 15 years ago, says Kevin Wyss, PhD, director of graphene applications for Avadain Graphene, a graphene technology development and licensing company. Wyss shared his thoughts on graphene — including misconceptions about the family of materials and opportunities in the composites industry — during a Q&A with Composites Manufacturing magazine’s managing editor.

Q: When did graphene first make inroads in the composites industry? A: The material began gaining traction in the industry during the early-to-mid 2010s, when it began being 12 CompositesManufacturing

evaluated in epoxy, thermoplastic, prepreg, coatings and carbon fiber-reinforced polymer systems. A major commercial milestone came from the Ford Motor Company in 2018, when it announced that it would use grapheneenhanced polyurethane foam in under-hood parts, such as front engine covers, to reduce noise, improve mechanical properties and improve heat endurance. Most people do not know it, but graphene could be in their driveway right now!

Q: What attributes make graphene well-suited for fiber reinforced polymer applications? A: Graphene is attractive in FRP applications because it addresses several weaknesses of polymer matrices without requiring a wholesale redesign of the composite architecture. It can improve crack deflection, interlaminar toughness, impact resistance, thermal spreading, electrical conductivity, barrier performance and environmental durability. In FRP systems, many failures begin in the resin-rich regions or at the fiber/matrix interface; graphene can specifically reinforce those vulnerable regions when it is well dispersed and properly matched to the resin system. Q: How is it most often used in FRP composite materials? A: Graphene is often used as a matrix additive dispersed into the resin, sizing or surface layer. Typical uses include epoxy or thermoplastic resin modification, interlaminar toughening, conductive or antistatic com-

posites, lightning-strike or electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding layers, barrier coatings or thermal-management additives. The most practical route is usually to introduce graphene through a masterbatch, resin concentrate, dispersion or add-mix. There are numerous examples of graphene being successfully integrated into FRP products. One notable application is the Briggs Automotive Company high-performance Mono R supercar, which features grapheneenhanced CFRP body panels. SHD Composite Materials Ltd. has also developed graphene-enhanced CFRP prepregs using epoxy resin systems in collaboration with Haydale’s Composite Solutions division.

Q: What are the main drivers of graphene performance? A: The main drivers are lateral flake size, thickness, defect density, dispersion quality and compatibility with the host resin. Lateral size is important because larger flakes can create longer pathways with fewer junctions for load transfer, heat flow and electrical conduction. Thickness matters because materials with fewer layers preserve more of graphene’s exceptional in-plane properties and provide higher surface area per unit mass. Defect density is critical because defects interrupt the carbon lattice and reduce electrical, thermal, barrier and mechanical performance.

Q: Are there any other common misconceptions you can clear up? A: A common one is that more graphene automatically means better performance. In reality, there is often an optimum loading window. Too little may not create a measurable effect, but too much can increase cost and cause aggregation which causes stress concentrators and actually makes the composite more brittle. Another misconception is that graphene always needs aggressive chemical functionalization to work. Many assume functionalization is required to create interfacial interaction between the additive and the polymer matrix, but that is not always true. Graphene can interact with polymers through physical adsorption, π-π interactions and good dispersion. The chemical functionaliza— CONTINUED —

Q: One misconception about graphene is that it’s a single material. Can you debunk that myth? A: Graphene is often used as a broad commercial term, but in practice it refers to a family of graphene-related materials with vastly different structures and performance. It is like the carbon black family that composite scientists are familiar with: different grades of carbon black have different structures, surface areas, conductivities, reinforcement behavior, end uses and values. Materials in the graphene family should be viewed similarly. Graphene is not one additive but rather a continuum of carbon materials, and the physical properties matter more than the word THE BRIGGS AUTOMOTIVE Company (BAC) Mono R single-seat supercar features graphene-enhanced CFRP body graphene on the label. panels. Photo Credit: Briggs Automotive Company Ltd.

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INSPECTION of a water jet graphene-enhanced carbon fiber panel. Photo Credit: Graphene Innovation Engineering Centre (GEIC), The University of Manchester

tion severely damages the sp2 carbon network that gives graphene its amazing mechanical, electrical and thermal properties.

performance that LTDF graphene may confer, but the highest levels of performance may not be necessary for all applications when balanced with cost.

Q: Can you explain the differences in graphene grades? A: The word graphene alone does not tell a manufacturer what performance to expect. It depends on the three properties discussed earlier: thinness, lateral flake size and defect density. The highest grade of graphene is large, thin, defect-free graphene (LTDF). LTDF’s characteristics allow it to form more efficient load-transfer and thermal, electrical and barrier pathways at lower loading levels than lower-quality graphene-family materials. Other types of graphene materials include graphite nanoplatelets, graphene oxide and graphene nanopowders. Graphite nanoplatelets are thicker stacks of graphene layers, often easier and cheaper to produce, but they typically behave closer to brittle and less conductive graphite. Graphene oxide is a chemically oxidized form of graphene, which helps with dispersion but severely disrupts the carbon lattice and damages physical properties. Graphene nanopowders are a newer class, which are relatively thin or have few defects, but have tiny (20 nanometer) sized flakes, adding lots of junctions and interfaces to the final product. Each of these graphene types has a place in the marketplace depending on the price and quality of graphene needed. Other types of graphene may not achieve the

Q: Graphene is not a miracle additive. What are its limitations? A: Limitations include some dispersion difficulty, viscosity increase, potential aggregation and cost sensitivity. In structural composites, graphene also must prove that it improves the right property without processability, surface finish, cure kinetics or other manufacturing hurdles. This is why many manufacturers are turning to add-mixtures and LTDF graphene, to reduce the trial and error required by the customer.

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Q: What advancements have been made in the field in the last five years or so? A: The biggest advancements have been in scale, characterization, reproducibility and application-specific formulation. The industry has moved away from generic claims about graphene and toward better-defined materials with measurable layer count, lateral size, defect density and purity. There has also been progress in producing higher-quality graphene at larger scale, allowing lower-loading formulations. These developments have given major manufacturers the confidence needed to begin using graphene in real products, like Ford’s graphene-enhanced polyurethane foam. It showed that very small amounts of graphene —

as low as 0.03 wt% loading — could be integrated into an existing polymer component to improve noise reduction, mechanical performance and heat endurance without forcing a complete redesign. The winner is not simply the cheapest graphene per kilogram, but the graphene grade that delivers the required property at the lowest practical loading.

Q: What’s on the horizon? A: The next phase will be less about proving that graphene has remarkable properties and more about integrating the right graphene into real manufacturing lines. I expect growth in multifunctional FRP systems: lighter composite structures with improved toughness, antistatic behavior, EMI shielding, thermal spreading, corrosion resistance, moisture-barrier properties and embedded sensing capability. The most promising horizon is application-specific graphene, not generic graphene. Composite manufacturers will increasingly ask for a graphene grade designed for a defined resin, process and performance target. That will favor LTDF graphene suppliers that can provide consistent morphology, strong characterization data, scalable supply and technical support during formulation and qualification. Q: What advice do you have for composites

manufacturers considering graphene as an additive material?

A: Start with the application, not the additive. Define the property you need to improve: interlaminar toughness, conductivity, thermal spreading, barrier performance, impact resistance, fatigue durability, lightning-strike performance or corrosion protection. Then select a graphene grade and loading range for that target, understanding that higher qualities of graphene such as LTDF graphene can typically use lower loadings with easier dispersion and improved final properties. Manufacturers should ask suppliers for real characterization data, including lateral flake size, thickness or layer count, defect density, oxygen content, purity, surface area and dispersion format. The best early targets are applications where modest additive loading can create a high-value performance benefit without major requalification burden. These include coatings, veils, surface films, conductive primers, resin-rich interlayers, thermal-management parts and specialty prepregs. The most successful graphene programs will treat it like an engineered additive, not a magic powder. When used that way, graphene can be a powerful tool for making composites lighter, tougher, more conductive, more durable and more multifunctional. CM Susan Keen Flynn is managing editor of Composites Manufacturing magazine. Email comments to sflynn@ keenconcepts.net.

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BESTBATH’S LIGHT RESIN transfer molding (LRTM) manufacturing area features 16 cells served by a mobile resin injector and vacuum drops at each cell. Photo Credit: Bestbath

The Move to Closed Molding Manufacturers recognize potential for product and workplace improvements with closed mold processes. By Mary Lou Jay CLOSED MOLDING of composite products dates back to the 1940s, but in recent years manufacturers have been examining this old process in a new light. Switching from open molding to closed molding processes such as light resin transfer molding (LRTM), vacuum bag molding, vacuum infusion processing (VIP) and compression molding can have many benefits. The composites industry’s anticipation of stricter controls on styrene emissions is one reason for the interest in closed molding. “People are concerned that they can’t meet those requirements under their open molding processes,” says Mark Sickels, vice president of composites at Superior Industrial Solutions and a member of ACMA’s Board of Directors. A thermal oxi-

16 CompositesManufacturing

dizer or some other abatement device might solve the problem, but changing to closed molding may be more cost-effective. Another concern is workforce shortages. Building an open-molded boat hull, for instance, requires someone to spray chopped fiber and four or five people to roll out the material. If one or two people call in sick, production may be delayed. By contrast, the infusion process requires as few as two people to build a hull, so work remains on schedule. In addition, people are more likely to prefer working in an infusion operation, where they can wear T-shirts and jeans, rather than an open molding environment where they’ll need Tyvek® suits and respirators.

Improved part quality is another advantage. “With an infusion, you can get a higher glass-to-resin ratio, and that makes the part stronger and lighter,” says Sickels. The closed molding process also eliminates inconsistencies that can occur in open molding due to human error, like the application of too much resin in certain areas. Superior uses Alan Harper Composites Ltd.’s silicone bag technology that utilizes morph channels to help prevent excess resin from pooling on the part during production. Open molding requires frequent air changes in the working area, making it difficult to maintain a constant temperature during production. “Those temperature swings affect part quality because they impact reac-

will work best for their products. “The process and the part will help you decide which is best to use,” says Sickels. Light RTM, which requires both A and B molds, is best for production runs where the thickness of a part must be consistent and the surfaces of both sides must be gel-coated. Another option is reusable silicone bags, which are generally less expensive than making the second mold required for LRTM, but have to be replaced over time. The drawback with these methods is that there is no way to make design changes without replacing the tooling. If the part design isn’t fixed, single use bagging film is a better choice, according to Sickels. “With a single use bag [vacuum film] if you want to move something it’s no problem, because the bag will conform to whatever is there,” he says. “I’ve seen people use a single use bag once or twice, and once they’ve got everything lined up, they go to a silicone bag.” Superior has begun making reusable silicone bags to simplify the infusion process for customers. As long as a shape is not too complex, using a silicone bag is faster than using disposable film because there is less prep work involved. A reusable bag is also good for high-volume parts but is not cost effective if a part is only occasionally produced. If a part contains — CONTINUED —

REUSABLE SILICONE BAGS, custom-designed for each part, can speed infusion molding production. Photo Credit: Superior Industrial Solutions

tion speed and the gel time. Closed molding allows a more controlled environment since you don’t have to change the air as often,” says James Jones, lead technical support manager at Composites One. The resin injection systems used in infusion molding can also provide higher throughput than open molding. “Depending on the part size, the resin injection process can take just a few minutes, reducing cycle time and increasing throughput,” says Jones.

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For closed molding processing, manufacturers will also need vacuum pumps – either a central vacuum system or individual systems for certain work cells – plus a resin injection system to achieve the most consistent part. In addition, closed molding requires different resins and fibers than open molding. These upfront costs may dissuade some manufacturers, but those who have made the switch ultimately save money. While closed molding requires an initial investment in tooling, equipment and training, manufacturers often realize lower total production costs through reduced resin consumption, less rework, shorter cycle times and lower labor requirements. “Manufacturers need to look at the total production cost, but many don’t have a good handle on what their current process actually costs,” says Jones. “If they aren’t accurately tracking labor, rework, scrap, consumables and finishing, it’s difficult to make a fair comparison with closed molding.”

Changeover Benefits Bestbath, a manufacturer of composite bathing products, began its transition to closed molding a few years ago, testing one product line using LRTM. “We looked at everything, from whether we should use a barrier coat system to dialing in the resin system to testing different cores,” says Randy Leroue, manager of tooling, specialDISPOSABLE BAGS, also known as vacuum film, are fitted to match the contours of a composite part. ty fabrication and mold services. The Photo Credit: Superior Industrial Solutions company found, for example, that they could maintain a part’s properties while reducing the 3/8-inch core used in open molding to a 3 multiple shapes and contours, however, disposable /16-inch core. However, Bestbath had to create its own film is usually a better choice as it adapts more easily. resin and filler mix to best meet the fire ratings and New tooling is likely the largest expense manufaccodes their products require. turers will incur when moving to closed molding. UsThe manufacturer now has the capability to use ing an existing open mold doesn’t usually work, since LRTM for 24 of its most popular product lines. Its seteven a single crack will make it impossible to hold the up features 16 cells with a center aisle and a mobile required vacuum. Infusion molds also require larger resin infusion pump that moves between cells, plus an flanges than open molds. overhead vacuum manifold with vacuum drops. “I’ve seen people simply extend the part geometry There have been tradeoffs, says Leroue. Tooling to create the mold flange. While it’s easy to build, it ofcosts have almost doubled, and raw materials are ten makes sealing the mold or vacuum bag more diffislightly more expensive. But labor costs have decult and people get frustrated,” says Jones. “They may creased, overbuilding has declined and product quality even give up on closed molding altogether.” has improved due to better temperature control and

18 CompositesManufacturing

the added strength provided by the infusion materials selected. In addition, Bestbath has reduced the time to produce a panel from three hours in the open molding process to about an hour-and-a-half with closed molding. That will ultimately result in fewer molds. Other manufacturers have had comparable results. Composites One customers that have switched to infusion molding have seen 30% to 50% labor savings, a 10% to 30% reduction in resin use and a 50% to 80% reduction in rework, according to Jones.

Buy-In Brings Best Results Management’s commitment is essential in making the move to closed molding. “We’ve seen customers attempt to do it but don’t succeed because management lets workers go back to the old ways,” says Sickels. Managers should make clear that everyone in the company must learn infusion and that returning to open molding is not an option. By starting with smaller products and batches, then gradually moving to larger parts and production runs, employees can build confidence in the process and will be less inclined to revert to open molding. Effective communication with employees is essential throughout the transition, Jones adds. Companies should emphasize the benefits of changing to the new

process, including a cleaner work environment. Employees may worry that they will no longer be needed, since closed molding requires less labor, but will be less likely to resist the change if they are reassured that they will support additional production. The right training is also important. Jones notes that ACMA offers education related to closed molding processes through its Certified Composites Technician (CCT) program, including programs on LRTM, VIP and compression molding. Leroue advises companies to test everything thoroughly at an early stage and to work from the start with vendors and suppliers who are eager to share their knowledge about closed molding materials, techniques and best practices. “I think we could have moved a little faster if I had leveraged some of that industry experience,” he says. “Take advantage of the people out there who are willing to help you. We know that closed molding is the vision of the industry moving forward.” Manufacturers that are exploring closed molding options today will be better positioned for whatever changes the next decade is likely to bring to composite parts production. CM Mary Lou Jay is a freelance writer based in Timonium, Md. Email comments to mljay@comcast.net.

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PARTICIPATING in panel discussions at industry events is one way to share your knowledge and promote your company. Marcy Offner, left, president of Marcy Offner Creative Consulting LLC, interviewed Andrea Shen, chemical sourcing manager at Brunswick Boat Group, at CAMX 2025 during a Women in the Composites Industry panel discussion. Photo Credit: Women in the Composites Industry

Getting the Story Straight Successful B2B marketing campaigns use storytelling to paint a clear picture of composites companies and the entire industry. By Susan Keen Flynn WHEN OWENS CORNING sold its glass reinforcements business to Praana in May, the privately held Indian group formed Original Composites & Fiberglass, a $1.2 billion division with more than 4,000 employees operating in a dozen countries. Chris Skinner, vice president of strategic marketing and R&D, led the rebranding. “The challenge was presenting a view of the future while connecting to the past 85-plus years of history,” says Skinner. “The business has a distinct position in the industry, but we want to be forward-thinking and align with key industry trends and drivers.” Original Composites & Fiberglass ties its branding to several key value propositions, including sustainability, innovation and local partnerships. In the spring, the company began telling stories across marketing venues in their partners’ native languages — ads in English, Hindi, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Korean, Japanese and Mandarin that describe the local nature and focus of the business. “We have transitioned from a large, primarily North American-based company to a more global organization much more focused on local partnerships than ever before and communicating that way,” says Skinner. “It goes back to what story do you want to tell? You must know your story.”

20 CompositesManufacturing

Sharing the Inside Story Storytelling is a key component of successful B2B marketing in the composites industry, where innovative products matter — but only if they resonate with customers. “Companies that stand out are the ones that connect technology innovation to business value,” says Sarah Massie, president and compliance strategist with S Massie Consulting LLC. “You need to leverage your technical expertise to help tell your story and put it into terms that people can understand. What does it mean in real life?” That sounds simple, but companies often grapple with creating meaningful marketing content. “The composites industry struggles a bit with brand building,” says Marcy Offner, president of Marcy Offner Creative Consulting LLC and formerly of Composites One. “At times, it seems we are uncomfortable talking about why our products are so important, how they can be impactful and why companies are using composites to make their parts.” Massie says part of the problem is that companies often dive too quickly into technical jargon, focusing on product specifications and capabilities. As a global trade and compliance expert specializing in the aerospace industry for more than a decade, Massie has listened to

many presentations at composites industry events that have left her feeling overwhelmed — and wondering what end users would think. “The composites industry is fixated with technical complexity to demonstrate how cool we are rather than focusing on the solutions we deliver,” says Skinner. “It doesn’t help the adoption of materials in this industry.” The complexity is exacerbated when companies delve into the details of custom formulations, patented products and proprietary technologies. “As an industry, we are stuck on nomenclature that is often unintelligible for anyone trying to make a decision,” says Skinner. “If you look at composite rebar, for example, there are dozens of different products, and they are all competing against steel, which is one product. You will never scale the business at this level if no one understands what you are selling and how to sell it.” Another hitch is that it’s all too easy to create content today with the abundance of social media outlets, artificial intelligence and other digital tools. “If you wanted to create a video 10 years ago, it would cost you $50,000. Today it costs you next to nothing. Anyone can produce something,” says Skinner. “The question is how do you connect with the audience and your customers in a way that’s not generic and vanilla? Now that the cost barrier has gone away your ability to tell your story is more important than it’s ever been.”

Nine Marketing Tips As you frame your company’s narrative, consider this advice from marketing professionals: 1. Identify your customers’ needs. “Companies get caught up in their technology and what it does, but they are not communicating well what that means to a potential customer,” says Massie. “The first step is to understand your customers and their pain points. Then tailor your case studies and how-to’s to various applications that might pop with different customers, especially with composite products that are used in a wealth of industries.” 2. Demonstrate your expertise. “In technical industries like composites and advanced manufacturing, customers want to be able to trust you to solve their problems,” says Massie. “Expertise becomes an important competitive advantage.” She recommends sharing your know-how in multiple venues, including web content, LinkedIn posts, training videos and conference presentations. “The more you get yourself out there, the more people will trust you as the subject matter expert and that leads to word-of-mouth marketing,” says Massie. 3. Revamp your dated website. “The companies that are thriving take a good look at their websites — the design, function, backend optimization and articles and blogs that link to topics on their website to create traffic — CONTINUED —

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and generate leads,” says Offner. She adds that websites are no longer digital brochures, heavy on content. People want succinct information they can find in one or two scrolls. Links can lead to more technical content. 4. Curate content for social media channels. LinkedIn has become a prime B2B platform, but Skinner warns against posting too frequently with AI-driven content or generic articles. “Authenticity is key,” he says. “My LinkedIn strategy is to not have a strategy. It’s more about connecting with people and giving them a view of what’s relevant to us as a business and the industry itself.” In June, he reposted an article from the secretary general of Glass Fiber Europe, thanked the city of Mumbai for hosting Original Composites & Fiberglass’ first Indian customer event, shared a video about the company’s sustainability efforts for World Environment Day and more. It’s also important to engage customers across a variety of social media platforms. But with so many options — from Instagram and X to YouTube and Reddit — it may be hard to select the right ones. “In China, people can’t use LinkedIn. In India, they can but generally don’t. If you want to sell carbon fiber prepreg, you don’t do it on TikTok. If you want to sell decking to contractors, that’s a different story,” says Skinner. “The tools you use really depend upon your audience, your position in the value chain and what you’re trying to sell.”

22 CompositesManufacturing

5. Shape a consistent marketing message. “Companies need to look at their brand holistically and determine what channels work best for them, then have a cohesive message across all platforms,” says Offner. “Make sure what you do at trade shows complements what you do on social media, that what you’re talking about in advertising complements your graphics. You want to have fun and be creative, but there should be a thread of consistency.” 6. Make data-driven decisions. “In the last 10 years or so, I think marketing has forgotten how important data and research are to building a brand,” says Offner. “We are concentrating on selling a product, but we forget there is research out there that can help us make decisions. And this data can help us build relationships we need to be successful marketers. Knowledge is powerful.” Artificial intelligence is another valuable tool set. “Even the most novice person can go into AI tools — ChatGPT, Cloud AI, Claude — enter some company and industry data and ask it to do an analysis,” says Offner. “AI is such a quick thinker for gathering data for marketing campaigns. People that aren’t using the tools with AI built-in are really going to miss out.” 7. Build relationships. Don’t become so enamored with digital tools and data that you neglect relationship-building. “Ultimately, you still need those personal relationships, especially in industries like aerospace where the sales process is long,” says Massie. “Making sure you stay connected is critical.”

Attendance at in-person events and trade shows, and participation in live, interactive webinars can help you make — and maintain — those connections. “When you show up at the same places year after year, people get to know you, expect to see you and build relationships,” says Massie. “Then when the time is right to buy, they are ready to jump.” 8. Utilize your customer relationship management system. CRM systems can help foster relationships. “It’s not just a contact list. It’s so much more than that,” says Massie. “Your CRM system can give you a customer history, notes from meetings, follow-up activities, that funny moment you shared with a customer — all of the things you need to build and maintain a relationship.” 9. Think globally and build export readiness. “Many organizations wait until they receive international interest before considering export controls, market access strategies, certification requirements, distribution channels or other factors that influence global growth,” says Massie. “Technology adoption often occurs at different rates around the world. A product that may be reaching maturity in one market can still have strong growth opportunities in another.” Companies that think globally from the beginning are better positioned to extend product life cycles, identify new opportunities and successfully expand into international markets, she adds. Marketing composites effectively is particularly tricky

INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS, including ACMA President Cindy L. Squires, Esq., use LinkedIn to connect with peers and promote composites.

because the industry is both complex and varied, spanning large global companies as well as mom-and-pop, garage-based fabricators. “How do you position a business across all of these channels? How do you tell a story and connect it in a way that makes sense?” asks Skinner. “It’s a really interesting and invigorating challenge for marketers that is getting more complex every day.” CM Susan Keen Flynn is managing editor of Composites Manufacturing magazine. Email comments to sflynn@ keenconcepts.net.

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LEGISLATIVE & REGULATORY

NEARLY 100 composites industry professionals attended ACMA’s 2026 Washington Fly-In.

The 2026 Washington Fly-In

Making Connections, Influencing Policy By Dan Neumann NEARLY 100 composites manufacturers, suppliers and industry leaders from across the country gathered in Washington, D.C., June 9 – 11, 2026, for ACMA’s annual Washington Fly-In to advocate for policies that support the growth and competitiveness of the industry. Participants left with a deeper understanding of issues facing the industry, new connections across the field and in Washington, and renewed confidence that their voices influenced decisions affecting the composites industry. The fly-in began with a series of presentations from experts covering the global economy, trade, regulatory policy and the legislative landscape for manufacturers. One of the highlights of the opening day was a White House briefing from Luke Garoufalis, Special Assistant to the President for Trade and Manufacturing Policy. Garoufalis offered valuable insights into tariffs and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The briefing helped members better understand the federal

24 CompositesManufacturing

policy environment and allowed them to raise questions about issues directly affecting their businesses. During the second day of the fly-in ACMA members spread across Capitol Hill for a remarkable day of advocacy. Participants held 90 meetings with congressional offices across both the House and Senate. Notably, 13 of those meetings were held directly with members of Congress, providing a venue for ACMA members to discuss the importance of matters pertaining to the composites industry with key decision makers. In addition to meetings on Capitol Hill, some fly-in participants met with officials from the Small Business Administration (SBA) to discuss the vital role small businesses play in the composites industry. International Cast Polymer Association (ICPA) members and staff were a key voice in the meeting with SBA. Throughout these meetings, members emphasized

several policy priorities, including gaining support for the Recycled Materials Attribution Act (H.R. 7502), a uniform national standard that would support domestic manufacturing, encourage recycling investment and cut through regulatory uncertainty. They also highlighted the importance of maintaining the stability and benefits of the USMCA, which supports integrated North American supply chains and strengthens the industry’s ability to compete globally. Additionally, members advocated for the creation of a separate North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code for the composites industry. In meetings, ACMA members emphasized the American composites industry’s essential role in providing durable solutions for infrastructure, transportation and national security. Later that day, attendees gathered to enjoy a bipartisan Washington tradition: the Congressional Baseball Game. The evening provided an opportunity to connect with fellow members and relax after a busy day on the Hill while also celebrating an event that brings together lawmakers from both parties in support of charitable causes. The final day of the fly-in featured two policy tracks designed to address expanding markets in the composites industry — the built environment and defense. Both

tracks had an impressive lineup of speakers, including Representative Sam Graves (MO-6), Chair of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, along with experts from the Department of War, the Bipartisan Policy Center and the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety. The success of the 2026 Washington Fly-In highlights the power of collective advocacy. By bringing a team of industry representatives together to conduct dozens of congressional meetings, ACMA demonstrated that a unified industry voice can make a meaningful difference in shaping policies that support manufacturing, innovation and economic growth. As lawmakers continue to debate issues affecting trade, energy, regulation and more, the relationships built and conversations held during this year’s fly-in will help ensure the composites industry remains an influential voice in Washington. ACMA extends its appreciation to every member who invested their time to participate, helping advance the industry’s priorities and strengthen the future of composites manufacturing. CM Dan Neumann is VP of government relations at ACMA. Intern Nikita Wood contributed to the column. Email comments to dneumann@acmanet.org.

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INSIDE ACMA

Message from the ACMA President CAMX: Positioning the Composites Industry for Success By Cindy L. Squires, Esq. IN JULY, we celebrated both the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding and ACMA’s 47th anniversary. While our nation’s history is familiar, ACMA’s story may be less so. On July 13, 1979, a small group of composites fabricators came together to form the Fiberglass Fabrication Association (FFA). Over the next several decades, FFA became the Composites Fabricators Association (CFA) and, in 2003, the American Composites Manufacturers Association. What began as a grassroots effort by a handful of entrepreneurs has grown into the leading association representing composites manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and other industry stakeholders. In June, I was excited to join our industry advocates on Capitol Hill at ACMA’s Composites Fly-In for more than 90 meetings focused on promoting our industry and expanding future market opportunities. ACMA’s leadership and staff continually ask whether we are meeting the composites industry’s needs today and preparing for what comes next. We draw on many sources for that insight, including the volunteers who help shape the CAMX program, taking place Sept. 21 – 24, 2026, in Atlanta. Recently, ACMA and SAMPE previewed topics for this year’s featured CAMX sessions: • How the Composites Supply Chain can help Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) Ramp to Rate • Precision Launch at Speed: The Right Product, First to Market • Advancing Composites for Geothermal and Oil & Gas: Materials, Manufacturing and Deployment Challenges • How to Quickly Industrialize New Composite Raw Materials

26 CompositesManufacturing

• Opportunities and Barriers to Entry for Composites in Architecture and Building Materials • Bridging the Gap: Making Academic Research Work for Industry • Real-World Automation Challenges in Composite Manufacturing This year’s featured sessions will take place on a new stage on the exhibit floor. CAMX will also offer more than 100 technical and networking sessions, along with 500+ exhibitors and demonstrations. You can learn more about CAMX and register at www.thecamx.org. Speaking of content, if you’re an ACMA member, watch your inbox for the latest Pulse of the Industry Report, or visit acmanet.org/POI for the latest report. The 3Q26 Pulse of the Industry Survey underscores the continued concern about supply chain disruptions. Ninety-four percent of respondents identified this issue as highly important. Respondents expect the greatest supply chain disruptions among resin suppliers (29%), specialized chemical suppliers (24%) and fiber suppliers (20%). These findings align with reduced confidence that product lead times are stable across most inputs, with glass fiber reinforcements the only category remaining flat in 3Q26. To participate in future surveys and get the full report, send an email to membership@acmanet.org. This information is especially relevant with the Nippon Electric Glass (NEG) July 6 announcement of its suspension of production activities at the glass fiber plant in Shelby, N.C. NEG is selling its Lexington, N.C., plant and will withdraw from the production of glass fiber products in North America.

Saint-Gobain Adfors America is buying the Lexington plant and using its production for its own products. Saint-Gobain noted their goal in purchasing the plant is to maintain “a reliable supply chain.” As always, we want to hear from our members. How can ACMA help put you and your company in the best position to ride the waves of disruption?

Register for the 2027 North American Pultrusion Conference Back by popular demand after numerous sold-out events, the North American Pultrusion Conference (NAPC), in collaboration with the European Pultrusion Technology Association (EPTA) and World Pultrusion Conference (WPC), will bring together 200+ industry leaders, customers, OEMs and suppliers from around the world for an unparalleled education and networking event in the heart of downtown Chicago from April 13 – 15, 2027. This must-attend conference features the latest standards, technology and trends in pultrusion technology, including two informative keynotes from experts on the pulse of innovation in the field. Additionally, a dynamic onsite exhibit hall will feature the latest solutions and products for pultrusion — an exciting opportunity to see the latest in pultruded composites products, parts and tools. Register now at acma-org.my.site.com/pultrusion2027.

Explore the New Discover Composites Website ACMA’s Discover Composites website has been redesigned to better educate, inspire and connect engineers, designers, specifiers and end users with the possibilities of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites. The revamped website features a modern user experience, streamlined navigation, expanded industry-specific content, real-world applications and enhanced technical resources, making it easier than ever to discover how composites deliver stronger, lighter, more durable and increasingly sustainable solutions across a wide range of industries. Start exploring at DiscoverComposites.com. CM

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INDUSTRY DIRECTORY ACADEMIC

Abaris Training Resources, Inc. www.abaris.com training@abaris.com (775) 827-6568 Abaris Training Resources, Inc. (Sparks, Nevada, USA) is the global leader in advanced composite training and services, since 1983. Abaris specializes in providing a semester’s worth of hands-on training in short 5-day courses! See page 35 for more details. _____________________________________ Arkansas State University - Mountain Home www.asumh.edu _____________________________________ Clemson Composites Center www.clemsoncomposites.com _____________________________________ Davis Technical College www.datc.edu _____________________________________ Dunwoody College of Technology www.dunwoody.edu _____________________________________ Foster CTE Center www.fostercte.com _____________________________________ Guilford Technical Community College www.gtcc.edu _____________________________________

28 CompositesManufacturing 28

_____________________________________ IYRS School of Technology & Trades www.iyrs.edu _____________________________________ Kansas State University - Salina Campus www.polytechnic.k-state.edu _____________________________________ LeTourneau University www.letu.edu _____________________________________ National Institute for Aviation Research www.wichita.edu/research/NIAR _____________________________________ North Carolina State University - Civil Engineering www.ccee.ncsu.edu _____________________________________ Purdue University www.purdue.edu _____________________________________ Red River College Polytechnic www.catalogue.rrc.ca/programs/wpg/ fulltime/AERMF-CT _____________________________________ South Dakota School of Mines and Technology www.sdsmt.edu/research-innovation/ research-facilities/cape _____________________________________ Texas State University - San Marcos www.engineering.txstate.edu _____________________________________ University of Alabama at Birmingham www.uab.edu/mpad _____________________________________

_____________________________________ University of Delaware - Center for Composites Material www.ccm.udel.edu _____________________________________ University Of Maine - Advanced Structures and Composites Center www.aewc.umaine.edu _____________________________________ University Of Massachusetts Lowell www.uml.edu _____________________________________ University of Miami, Civil and Architectural Engineering cae.coe.miami.edu _____________________________________ University of North Dakota www.und.edu _____________________________________ University Of Sherbrooke www.usherbrooke.ca _____________________________________ University of Tennessee Knoxville www.utk.edu _____________________________________ Westmoreland Community College www.westmoreland.edu _____________________________________ West Virginia University cee.statler.wvu.edu _____________________________________

ASSOCIATIONS Composites Association of New Zealand (CANZ) www.composites.org.nz _____________________________________

_____________________________________ Japan Reinforced Plastics Society (JRPS) www.jrps.or.jp _____________________________________ Le Regroupement des Industries des Composites du Québec (RICQ) www.ricq.ca _____________________________________ Maine Composites Alliance www.mainecompositesalliance.org _____________________________________ National Laboratory of the Rockies www.nlr.gov _____________________________________ Nova Scotia Boatbuilders Association www.nsboats.com _____________________________________ Oak Ridge National Laboratory www.ornl.gov _____________________________________ Rhode Island Marine Trade Association www.rimta.org _____________________________________ Turkish Composites Manufacturers Association www.kompozit.org.tr _____________________________________

Virginia Economic Development Partnership www.vedp.org mevranian@vedp.org Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) is Virginia’s lead authority for economic growth, supporting companies as they expand and diversify across the Commonwealth. Virginia is a top location for advanced manufacturing, strengthened by coordinated investments in workforce solutions, available buildings and shovel‑ready site selection, research and innovation assets, and a logistics network that reaches global markets with speed and reliability. VEDP helps manufacturers like Strongwell, Trex & Dupont access the talent, infrastructure, and strategic resources needed to grow, compete, and innovate. Whether you are expanding operations or entering the U.S. market, let VEDP be your one-stop resource to support growth and success. See page 36 for more details. _____________________________________ Women in the Composites Industry (WCI) www.compositewomen.com _____________________________________

CONSULTANTS Axcess Infrastructure www.axcessinfrastructure.com _____________________________________ Benchmark International, LLC www.benchmark-intl.com _____________________________________ Coastline Composites www.coastlinecomposites.com _____________________________________ Compeng Composite Solutions (OPC) www.compeng.in _____________________________________ Environmental Compliance & Risk Management, Inc. dlipiro@roadrunner.com _____________________________________ Fred Sanford fred.l.sanford@gmail.com _____________________________________ Frost Engineering & Consulting www.frosteng.net _____________________________________ FX Consulting LLC foxconsulting147@gmail.com _____________________________________ GAZ Consulting, LLC www.gazconsultingllc.com _____________________________________ Grace Matthews, Inc. gracematthews.com _____________________________________ Gridgineers gridgineers.com _____________________________________ Hyperion Networks www.hyperionnetworks.com _____________________________________ Infrastructure Ventures LLC www.infrastructureventures.com _____________________________________ Lucintel www.lucintel.com _____________________________________ Meritum Consulting www.meritumconsult.com _____________________________________ Partners Environmental Consulting www.partnersenv.com _____________________________________ PFDesignLab www.pfdesignlab.com _____________________________________ Sustainable Composites www.sustainablecompositesllc.com _____________________________________ Technoir LLC www.technoirva.com _____________________________________

_____________________________________ The ChemQuest Group, Inc. www.chemquest.com _____________________________________ UTComp, Inc. www.utcomp.com _____________________________________

DISTRIBUTORS Advanced Plastics, Inc. www.advanced-plastics.com _____________________________________

Composites One, LLC www.compositesone.com contact@compositesone.com (224) 442-9930 At Composites One, we are committed to supporting manufacturers with access to the broadest range of composite raw materials, expert technical resources, and tailored supply chain solutions to fit the unique demands of their projects. Our expansive portfolio includes more than 50,000+ products from over 600+ industry-leading suppliers, covering resins, reinforcements, core materials, adhesives, gel coats, advanced prepregs, and more. Whether you’re developing next-generation aircraft or high-performance boats, our materials meet the highest standards for quality and performance. By offering integrated solutions, we help customers streamline procurement and accelerate production. With over 40 distribution centers across North America, we provide our customers with the right product, in the right place, at the right time. See page 37 for more details. _____________________________________ EMCO Chemical Distributors Inc. www.emcochem.com _____________________________________

Fiber Glast Developments Corporation www.fibreglast.com sales@fibreglast.com (800) 838-8984 Celebrating our 70th year in 2027, Fibre Glast specializes in the distribution of carbon fiber, fiberglass and other composite materials. We keep our complete catalog of products in stock and ship them same day when ordered by 2:30 p.m. ET. See page 38 for more details. _____________________________________ www.acmanet.org 29 29

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_____________________________________ Xamax Industries, Inc. www.xamax.com _____________________________________

NAC (North American Composites) www.nacomposites.com (800) 434-8830 NAC provides customers with service through distribution centers in North America. Our warehouses maintain inventories of all materials necessary for composites manufacturing: resins, gel coats, fiberglass, initiators, adhesives, cores, putties, and other composites materials. See page 39 for more details. _____________________________________ Omya, Inc. www.omya.com _____________________________________ Pan American Composites www.imatecomposites.com _____________________________________ PMI Composites www.pmicomposites.com _____________________________________ R&M International Sales Corporation www.rmintl.com _____________________________________ Reeve Industries, Inc. www.reeveindustries.com _____________________________________ ResTex Composites www.restexcomposites.com _____________________________________ Revchem Composites, Inc. www.revchem.com/ _____________________________________ SP2 Carbon Technology Co www.galloisp2us.com _____________________________________

INTERNATIONAL

Superior Industrial Solutions, Inc. www.relyonsuperior.com msickels@relyonsuperior.com Superior is a leading chemical and composite products and services provider. At our core, it’s our commitment to developing flexible, innovative industrial solutions for our customers that has made us successful for nearly a century. See page 40 for more details. _____________________________________ United Industrial Sales Company, Inc. www.unitedindustrialsales.com _____________________________________ Ventilation Solutions ventilationsolutions.com _____________________________________

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ABFC Basalt Fiber Company LLC-SPC www.abfc.com _____________________________________ Eskim www.eskim.com.tr/tr _____________________________________ Fanstone MaterialSolus Company www.fmsolus.com _____________________________________ Jushi India www.jushifiberglass.com _____________________________________ TRUGRID (PTY) Ltd. www.trugrid.co.za _____________________________________

MANUFACTURERS Able Plastics Ltd www.ableplastics.ca _____________________________________ ACO Inc. www.acoswm.com _____________________________________ Aerocet, Inc. www.aerocet.com/ _____________________________________ AG Advanced Composites www.agadvanced.com _____________________________________ AirTrac Transport LLC www.airtractransport.com _____________________________________ Allient Defense Solutions www.allient.com _____________________________________ Altec Composites www.altec.com _____________________________________ American Woodmark Corporation www.americanwoodmark.com _____________________________________ An-Cor Industrial Plastics, Inc. www.an-cor.com _____________________________________ Appalachian Plastics, Inc. www.appalachianplastics.com _____________________________________ Aquatic Leisure Technologies Inc. www.aqualeisure.com.au _____________________________________ Architectural Fiberglass, Inc. www.fiberglass-afi.com _____________________________________

_____________________________________ Armortex www.armortex.com _____________________________________ Arrowhead Plastic Engineering, Inc. www.arrowheadinc.com _____________________________________ Ashley Industrial Molding Inc. www.ashinmold.com _____________________________________ ATP SRL www.atp-frp.com _____________________________________ Atypical Works www.atypicalcomposites.com _____________________________________ Avient www.polyone.com/products/advancedcomposites _____________________________________ Bally Ribbon Mills www.ballyribbon.com _____________________________________ Basalt International Design & Engineering www.basaltintl.com _____________________________________ Belding Tank Technologies, Inc. www.beldingtank.com _____________________________________ Bestbath www.bestbath.com _____________________________________ BFG International www.bfginternational.com _____________________________________ Bowfin Boats www.bowfinboats.com _____________________________________ Building Composites www.building-composites.com _____________________________________ Champion Fiberglass, Inc. www.championfiberglass.com _____________________________________ CHOMARAT North America www.chomarat.com/en _____________________________________ CIF Composites Inc. www.cifcomposites.com _____________________________________ CMS Infrastructure www.compositeinfrastructure.ca _____________________________________ Commercial Sand Blasting and Painting www.csbp.ca _____________________________________ Composite Access Products www.justcapthat.com _____________________________________

_____________________________________ Composites USA, Inc. www.compositesusa.com _____________________________________ Cooling Tower Resources www.cooltower.com _____________________________________ Core Molding Technologies, Inc. www.coremt.com _____________________________________ Corrosion Companies Inc. www.ccifrp.com _____________________________________

Creative Composites Group www.creativecompositesgroup.com ccg@pultrude.com Creative Composites Group (CCG) engineers advanced FRP composite solutions for demanding infrastructure applications. As the largest U.S. structural composites manufacturer, CCG provides lightweight, durable, corrosion-resistant products backed by 50+ years of expertise. See page 40 for more details. _____________________________________ CSP www.thecsp.com _____________________________________ CT Composites, Inc. www.ctboatworks.com _____________________________________ Deceuninck North America www.deceuninck.com _____________________________________ Design Tanks www.designtanks.com _____________________________________ Eastside Industrial Coatings & Composites www.eastsideindustrialcoatings.ca _____________________________________ Ebert Composites Corporation www.ebertcomposites.com _____________________________________ Edwards Fiberglass, Inc. www.edwardsfiberglass.com _____________________________________ ETM Enterprises, Inc. www.etmenterprises.com _____________________________________ Evertrak www.evertrak.com _____________________________________

_____________________________________ Evolve Stone www.evolvestone.com _____________________________________ Exel Composites www.exelcomposites.com _____________________________________ Fiber Care Baths, Inc. www.fibercarebaths.com _____________________________________ Fiber Dynamics, Inc www.fiberdynamics.net _____________________________________ Fiberglass Specialties, Inc. www.fgspec.com _____________________________________ Fibergrate Composite Structures, Inc. www.fibergrate.com _____________________________________ Fiber Pro, Inc. dba Advanced Fiber Products www.afpfiberglass.com _____________________________________ Fiber-Tech, Inc. mbever@fiber-techinc.com _____________________________________ Fiber-Tech Industries, Inc. www.fiber-tech.net _____________________________________ Fibre Laminations Limited www.fibre-lam.com _____________________________________ Formcrete Fiberglass Products www.uoc.usg.mybluehost.me _____________________________________ FRP Systems www.frpsystems.com _____________________________________ Future Pipe Industries www.futurepipe.com _____________________________________ GEOTEK www.geotek.com _____________________________________ Gordon Development, LLC mike.gordon@gordondevllc.com _____________________________________ Haysite Reinforced Plastics www.haysite.com _____________________________________ Hendrickson Composites Dayton www.hendrickson-intl.com _____________________________________ Hood Manufacturing, Inc. www.hoodmfg.com _____________________________________ Hubbell Lenoir City, Inc. www.hubbell.com _____________________________________

_____________________________________ Industrial Models, Inc. lsanches@industrialmodelsinc.com _____________________________________ Industrial Plastic Systems www.ips-frp.com _____________________________________ Industrial Plastics Fabricators Ltd www.ipflimited.com _____________________________________ Insituform Technologies, Inc. www.insituform.com _____________________________________ IsoTruss Inc. www.isotruss.com _____________________________________ Janicki Industries www.janicki.com _____________________________________ Jones Performance Products, Inc. www.jonesperformance.com _____________________________________ Justin Tanks, LLC www.justintanks.com _____________________________________ Kalwall Corporation www.kalwall.com _____________________________________ Kinesik Engineered Products www.kinesik.ca _____________________________________ Kreysler & Associates, Inc. www.kreysler.com _____________________________________ Lacks Enterprises www.lacksenterprises.com _____________________________________ Latham Pool Products, Inc. www.lathampool.com _____________________________________ Lehman Manufacturing Company, Inc. www.lehmanmfg.com _____________________________________ Lichtgitter USA, Inc. www.lichtgitterusa.com _____________________________________ Litek Composites Corporation www.frpsupply.com _____________________________________ MacLean Power Systems www.macleanpower.com _____________________________________

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Manufacturing Composites Solutions www.mcsmanufacturing.com sales@mcsmanufacturing.com (850) 332-6126 Manufacturing Composites Solutions (MCS) provides composite manufacturing, prototyping, 3D printing, tooling, and laboratory testing for marine, aviation, rail, agriculture, transportation, and other industrial markets. See page 41 for more details. _____________________________________ Mar-Bal, Inc. www.mar-bal.com _____________________________________ Marine Concepts / Design Concepts www.dcmc-us.com _____________________________________ Marshall Composite Technologies, LLC www.hit-usa.com _____________________________________ Marvin Composites, LLC. www.marvincomposites.com _____________________________________ Mateenbar Composite Reinforcements LLC www.mateenbar.com _____________________________________ Mekco Manufacturing www.mekco.com _____________________________________ Miles Fiberglass & Composites, Inc. www.milesfiberglass.com _____________________________________ Modern Welding Co. Corporate www.modweldco.com _____________________________________ Molded Fiber Glass Companies www.moldedfiberglass.com _____________________________________ MST Rebar Inc. www.mstbar.com _____________________________________ Nabrico Marine Products www.syntechnics.net _____________________________________ Neuvokas Corporation - Creators of GatorBar www.neuvokascorp.com _____________________________________ New Boston RTM, Inc. newbostonrtm@yahoo.com _____________________________________ Newport Laminates, Inc. www.newportlaminates.com _____________________________________

Norplex Micarta www.norplex-micarta.com jregan@norplex.com (563) 864-4227 Norplex Micarta delivers composite materials that are built on over a century of proven performance. From power generation and electrification to transportation, defense, industry, and critical infrastructure, our composites keep the world powered and moving. See page 42 for more details. _____________________________________ Northstar Technologies www.northstartgi.com _____________________________________ Oasis Lifestyle, LLC www.oasisbath.com _____________________________________ Orenco Systems www.orenco.com _____________________________________ Osborne Industries, Inc. www.osborneindustries.com _____________________________________ Pacific Engineering, Inc. www.pacificengineeringinc.com _____________________________________ Park Derochie Coatings (Saskatchewan) Inc. www.parkderochie.com _____________________________________ PRC Composites LLC www.prccal.com _____________________________________ Precision Tank LLC www.precisiontank.com _____________________________________ Premier Fiberglass Co., Inc. www.premierfiberglassinc.com _____________________________________ Pultrall, Inc. www.pultrall.com _____________________________________ Reform Composites, Inc www.reformcomposites.com _____________________________________ Regulator Marine, Inc. www.regulatormarine.com _____________________________________ RL Industries, Inc. www.rl-industries.com _____________________________________ Roechling Industrial Cleveland, LP www.roechling.com/us _____________________________________

_____________________________________ RPS Composites www.rps.ca _____________________________________ RS | Resilient Structures www.rspoles.com _____________________________________ S. Bravo Systems, Inc. www.sbravo.com _____________________________________ Seasafe, Inc. www.seasafe.com _____________________________________ SFTec Inc. www.sftec.com _____________________________________ ShairCo Fiberglass www.alshair.com.sa _____________________________________ Sika Corporation usa.sika.com _____________________________________ Silicones, Inc. www.silicones-inc.com _____________________________________ Southwest Composite Works Inc www.swcompositeworks.com _____________________________________ Specialty Composites Group, Ltd. www.armorcore.com _____________________________________ Spirit Defense - A Boeing Company www.spiritaero.com _____________________________________ Spraying Devices, Inc. www.sprayingdevices.com _____________________________________ Spunstrand, Inc. www.spunstrand.com _____________________________________ SR Smith, LLC www.srsmith.com _____________________________________ Star Composites Corporation www.star-composites.com _____________________________________ Steele Plastics www.steeleplastics.com _____________________________________ Strongwell www.strongwell.com _____________________________________ Structural Composite Technologies Ltd. www.sctfrp.com _____________________________________ Structural Composites, Inc. www.structuralcomposites.com _____________________________________

_____________________________________ Superior Home Products, Inc. www.suphome.net _____________________________________ Terra-Vaults www.terra-vaults.com _____________________________________ Thursday Pools, LLC www.thursdaypools.com _____________________________________ TxV Aero Composites www.txvaero.com _____________________________________ Unicell Body Company www.unicell.com _____________________________________ Valmont Composites Structures www.skp-cs.com _____________________________________ Valto Engineered Materials www.valtoem.com _____________________________________ Vartega www.vartega.com _____________________________________ Vixen Composites, LLC www.vixencomposites.com _____________________________________

Wabash MPI Carver Inc. www.wabashmpi.com wabashmpi@acscorporate.com Wabash MPI designs and manufactures hydraulic, pneumatic, and electric presses for production, laboratory, molding, and custom applications. _____________________________________ Wagners CFT USA www.wagnerscft.com _____________________________________ Warm Rain Corporation www.warmrain.com _____________________________________

PRESS CompositesWorld www.compositesworld.com _____________________________________

SUPPLIERS 3A Composites Core Materials www.3accorematerials.com _____________________________________

_____________________________________ Acralock www.acralock.com _____________________________________ AKPA Chemicals U.S., Inc. www.akpachemicalsus.com _____________________________________ Allnex USA Inc. www.allnex.com _____________________________________ ALTA Performance Materials www.altapm.com _____________________________________ American Colors, Inc. www.americancolors.com _____________________________________ AOC Formulations www.aocformulations.com/en-amr/home _____________________________________ Arkema, Inc. www.arkema-inc.com _____________________________________ Armacell Benelux www.armacell.com _____________________________________ Avinthia www.avinthia.com _____________________________________ AXEL Plastics Research Laboratories, Inc. www.axelplastics.com _____________________________________ Bakelite LLC www.bakelite.com _____________________________________ Bergolin US LP www.bergolin.com _____________________________________ Berndorf Belt Technology USA www.berndorfband-group.com _____________________________________ Big Dog Adhesives LLC www.bigdogadhesives.com _____________________________________ Blue Wind Technology www.bluewindtechnology.com _____________________________________ Chem-Trend LP www.chemtrend.com _____________________________________ Cimbar Resources, Inc. www.cimbarresources.com _____________________________________ Coriolis Composites USA www.coriolis-composites.com _____________________________________ Diab Americas LP www.diabgroup.com _____________________________________

_____________________________________ Dupont/Tedlar www.dupont.com/brands/tedlar.html _____________________________________ Eastman Machine Company www.eastmancuts.com _____________________________________ EJ Muskegon Composites www.ejco.com/am/en _____________________________________

Elliott Company of Indianapolis, Inc. www.elliottfoam.com info@elliottfoam.com (800) 545-1213 Elliott Company manufactures and fabricates ELFOAM® rigid polyiso foam core material — engineered for strength, thermal insulation, chemical resistance, and machinability. Ideal for composites, tanks, infrastructure, industrial equipment, mold making, and transportation. See page 43 for more details. _____________________________________ Endeavor Composites www.endeavorcomposites.com _____________________________________ ExxonMobil Product Solutions Company www.exxonmobil.com _____________________________________ Fiberlay, Inc. www.fiberlay.com _____________________________________ Fives www.fivesgroup.com _____________________________________ Freudenberg Performance Materials www.freudenberg-pm.com _____________________________________ GS Manufacturing www.gsmfg.com _____________________________________ Hawkeye Industries, Inc. www.hawkeyeind.com _____________________________________ Huber Engineered Materials www.hubermaterials.com _____________________________________ IDI Composites International www.idicomposites.com _____________________________________ Interplastic Corporation www.interplastic.com _____________________________________

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IPCO US, LLC www.ipco.com / www.neweraconverting.com kevin.hagan@ipco.com (973) 903-3532 IPCO and New Era provide world-class industrial processing and web converting solutions, including double belt presses, coating, laminating, scattering systems, calendering, embossing, and thin film casting equipment for advanced materials and markets. See page 44 for more details. _____________________________________ Johns Manville www.jm.com _____________________________________ Jushi USA www.jushiusa.com _____________________________________ Kaneka North America LLC www.kaneka.com/kaneka-americas _____________________________________ Kent Pultrusion www.kentpultrusion.com _____________________________________ KraussMaffei Corporation www.kraussmaffei.com/en/home _____________________________________ Lindau Chemicals, Inc. www.lindau.net _____________________________________ Magnum Venus Products www.mvpind.com _____________________________________ Mahogany Company of Mays Landing, Inc. www.mahoganycompany.com _____________________________________ McClean Anderson www.mccleananderson.com _____________________________________ Montana Advanced Composites www.montanacomposites.com _____________________________________

New Era Converting www.neweraconverting.com / www.ipco.com info@neweraconverting.com (201) 670-4848 IIPCO and New Era provide world-class industrial processing and web converting solutions, including double belt presses, coating, laminating, scattering systems, calendering, embossing, and thin film casting equipment for advanced materials and markets. See page 44 for more details. _____________________________________ 34

_____________________________________ NGF Canada Limited www.hpm.nsg.com _____________________________________ Nord Composites US www.nord-composites.com _____________________________________ Nouryon Chemicals, LLC www.nouryon.com _____________________________________ Olin Epoxy www.olin.com _____________________________________ Owens Corning www.owenscorning.com _____________________________________ Performance Minerals & Composites Technologies International www.compositetechnologies.com _____________________________________ PolyClean Technologies, Inc. www.polycleantech.com _____________________________________ Polynt Group www.polynt.com _____________________________________ Precision Fabrics Group, Inc. www.precisionfabrics.com _____________________________________ Pro-Set, Inc. www.prosetepoxy.com _____________________________________ Rheo AI www.rheo.ai _____________________________________

RTM North LTD www.rtmnorth.com tsmith@rtmnorth.com RTM North is a family-owned Canadian company providing materials, components, and technical expertise for RTM, LRTM, and vacuum infusion. Distributed exclusively through Composites One, they help manufacturers build with confidence. See page 45 for more details. _____________________________________ Scott Bader www.scottbader.com _____________________________________ Seapowet Companies www.seapowetco.com _____________________________________ SGL Carbon www.sglcarbon.com _____________________________________ SpaceTEC www.spacetec.us _____________________________________

_____________________________________ Superior Huntingdon Composites, LLC www.shcomposites.com _____________________________________ Technology For Manufacturers www.tfmmonitors.com _____________________________________ Teijin Holdings USA, Inc. www.teijin.com _____________________________________

Thermwood Corporation www.thermwood.com sales@thermwood.com (812) 937-4476 Thermwood is a U.S.-based multinational CNC machinery manufacturer. As the oldest maker of 3 & 5-axis CNC routers, we also lead in Large Scale Additive Manufacturing (LSAM), building advanced 3D print and trim systems for diverse global industries. See page 46 for more details. _____________________________________ Toray Composite Materials America, Inc. www.toraycma.com _____________________________________ TR Industries www.trindustries.com _____________________________________ Trilion Quality Systems www.trilion.com _____________________________________ Trimer Technologies, LLC www.trimer-tech.com _____________________________________ United Initiators, Inc. www.united-initiators.com _____________________________________ V2 Composites, Inc. www.v2composites.com _____________________________________ Vectorply Corporation www.vectorply.com _____________________________________ Wacker Chemical Corporation - HQ. www.wacker.com _____________________________________ Wickert Hydraulic Presses www.wickert-presstech.de _____________________________________ Wisconsin Oven Corporation www.wisoven.com _____________________________________ Zund America, Inc. www.zund.com _____________________________________

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ABARIS

TRAINING RESOURCES

Since 1983

Abaris offers over 24 different courses related to composite design, manufacturing, structural repair, and nondestructive inspection (NDI) for the aerospace, automotive, transportation, marine, and wind energy sectors – all of which are designed to meet the specific needs of the constantly changing composites industry. In addition, Abaris has a special new course in double vacuum debulk (DVD) repair technology, and an updated materials and process (M&P) engineering course. With three fully functional classrooms and adjacent workshop areas at the new Sparks, Nevada headquarters, Abaris can accommodate multiple classes at the same time, or classes can be presented onsite, at customer facilities, offering more options for students to get the training they need throughout the year. Abaris focuses on active learning (hands-on) methods in both the classroom and the workshop for all courses. Students experience the best education available to enhance their composite knowledge and advance their tactile skills in a way that can be put to work immediately in the office, in the shop, or in the field. Abaris is also proud to offer engineering consultation services and other technical assistance to our customers to help them streamline their research and development (R&D) or production efforts. Abaris’ Direct Services Team can assist you in making material and processing decisions at the beginning of your project or help to troubleshoot anomalies found in your current processes. To help save on tuition costs, Abaris is offering a $200 discount to all ACMA members. Simply use the discount code ACMA200 (case sensitive) upon checkout online through the website or contact Abaris and mention the code when enrolling. .

MARKET SEGMENTS WE SERVE: • AEROSPACE • WIND ENERGY • AUTOMOTIVE

• MARINE • SPORTING GOODS • TRANSPORTATION

Phone: 775-827-6568 training@abaris.com | www.abaris.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/abaris-training

CAMX BOOTH: #H39

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VIRGINIA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP Virginia has established itself as a premier destination for advanced materials manufacturing, innovation and public-private initiatives to support next-generation production like the Virginia Additive Manufacturing and Advanced Materials (AM2) Tech Hub. More than 400 advanced materials companies operate across the state, supported by a civilian and military veteran workforce specifically built for the sector: 26,000+ chemical, plastic and composite manufacturing workers, over 50,000 engineers, and a robust new talent pipeline of more than 16,000 training program graduates annually. An integrated value chain within close proximity is Virginia’s logistical advantage. Virginia delivers unmatched logistics advantages with the second-densest interstate and rail freight network in the Southeastern U.S., access to 180+ intermodal facilities, 375 major manufacturers within a day’s drive, and direct Port of Virginia access. $5.2 billion has been invested in Virginia operations by over 150 advanced materials companies in the last decade. Companies like LEGO, Arclin, Grupo Phoenix, and Solstice Advanced Materials have chosen Virginia specifically for workforce availability, transportation access and stable, friendly business environment. VEDP moves projects forward with speed and confidence through talent workforce solutions, real estate site selection services and supportive incentives. With private industry experience and deep understanding of the pressures that shape projects, VEDP wants to be the competitive advantage in your continued growth and success.

Phone: 804-678-8350 mevranian@vedp.org | www.vedp.org

Connect at CAMX: Let’s chat, 804-678-8350

BUILD SKILLS. EARN CREDENTIALS. ADVANCE CAREERS.

The Certified Composites Technician (CCT) Program is more than certification—it’s a complete workforce development ecosystem for composites manufacturers.

 Certificate Programs  Technical Courses & Digital Resources  Specialty Pathways  Industry Credentials  Customized Training Solutions

Explore the full CCT ecosystem. Visit acma.today/CCTProgram

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COMPOSITES ONE At Composites One, we are committed to supporting manufacturers with access to the broadest range of composite raw materials, expert technical resources, and tailored supply chain solutions to fit the unique demands of their projects. With over 40 distribution centers across North America, we provide our customers with the right product, in the right place, at the right time.

PRODUCTS: Our expansive portfolio includes 600+ industry-leading suppliers, with a wide selection of products covering resins, reinforcements, core materials, adhesives, gelcoats, prepregs, and more. Whether you’re developing next-generation aircraft or high-performance boats, our materials meet the highest standards for quality and performance. By offering integrated solutions, we help customers streamline procurement and accelerate production.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT: Composites One is committed to empowering our Customers with expertise, support, and resources to easily source highquality products and maximize efficiencies in their manufacturing processes. Our Technical Support Team works closely with manufacturers like you, to understand the unique needs of your operation and help create tailored solutions that will drive your business forward.

MARKET SEGMENTS WE SERVE: • AEROSPACE • MARINE • WIND ENERGY • DEFENSE • INDUSTRIAL

• AUTOMOTIVE & TRANSPORTATION • INFRASTRUCTURE & CONSTRUCTION • SPORTS & RECREATION • CORROSION & PIPE • CONSUMER GOODS

CAMX BOOTHS: #Q26 (Main Booth), #S26 (Demo Zone)

Phone: 816-283-3330 contact@compositesone.com www.compositesone.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/composites-one

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FIBRE GLAST

DEVELOPMENTS CORPORATION We have served tens of thousands of customers with aerospace, automotive, marine, power generation, prototyping, modeling and a myriad of other applications by only supplying First Quality materials, never seconds, or close-outs. From a single source, you can stock your shop with carbon fiber, fiberglass, and KEVLAR® reinforcements, epoxy, polyester, and vinyl ester resins, color gel coats, core materials, adhesives, mold making supplies, vacuum bagging and infusion components, and the tools and equipment that tie a project together. We have also expanded our aerospace line with Loctite adhesives and Huntsman Epocast resins and syntactics for structural bonding, fabrication, and repair. It’s not enough to simply deliver a product that our customers can use. We’re dedicated to providing products that deliver superior performance along with comprehensive product information and support. Fibre Glast seeks to exceed our customers’ expectations by providing them with a consistently excellent experience. We have the most visited web site in the composites industry and a world-class Customer Success Team to answer your questions and help you with your order. We’re here for you…Our mission is to provide our customers with what they need when and where they need it! AS9120B and ISO 9001-certified, Fibre Glast delivers First Quality composite fabrics, resins, and supplies from our distribution center near Dayton, Ohio to customers worldwide. We guarantee the materials we handle meet the highest standards, so you can expect consistent properties and handling characteristics with every order. To support complete confidence and traceability, we include certifications with every shipment. We keep our complete catalog of products in stock and ship them same day when ordered by 2:30 p.m. ET. That includes custom color gel coats and all varieties of our cut-to-length fabric reinforcement. Place your order online or call a helpful Customer Success Representative from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday. They are available to help process your order or answer any product questions you may have! Beyond the materials themselves, we put real knowledge within reach. Our free Learning Center offers detailed articles, written and video tutorials, product guides, and data sheets, and our online Materials Calculator helps you estimate exactly what your layup requires. Need a second opinion? Our technical staff can help you select the right reinforcement, resin, or process for the job, and sample packs let you evaluate fabrics before you commit. As a proud member of the

American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA) and IACMI, The Composites Institute, we are invested in advancing the industry we serve. When your project is successful, we are successful. For Fibre Glast customers, that adds up to some great achievements. Our customers include IndyCar and NASCAR champions, the USA Olympic Luge team, over 1000 colleges, dozens of movie studios, Aerospace and Power Generation companies and thousands of very happy fabricators and hobbyists. No matter where you fit in, we’re ready to help you build it right.

MARKET SEGMENTS WE SERVE: • AEROSPACE/AVIATION • ENERGY • EDUCATION • MARINE

• AUTOMOTIVE • MANUFACTURING • CONSTRUCTION

Phone: 800-838-8984 sales@fibreglast.com www.fibreglast.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/fibre-glast-developments

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NORTH AMERICAN

COMPOSITES NAC is focused on achieving a unique value chain proposition through a process-driven environment via a team of knowledgeable employees and industry-leading suppliers to exceed customer expectations. NAC is a national distributor serving the North American composites market. We partner with more than 175 suppliers and operate over 25 sales and distribution centers throughout the United States and Canada. NAC is ISO 9001:2015 certified. NAC brings to the table exceptional customer service, technical knowledge, and CCT certified sales staff. We pride ourselves on delivering on your timetable, providing storage and stocking to our customers with local service and supply chain continuity.

MARKET SEGMENTS WE SERVE: • MARINE • TRANSPORTATION • INFRASTRUCTURE • CORROSION • CONSTRUCTION • CAST POLYMER • BATH/POOL/SPA CAMX BOOTH: #S8

Phone: 800-434-8830 www.nacomposites.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/north-american-composites

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SUPERIOR

INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS, INC. We offer three distinct product lines, along with our services, that work in tandem to provide the business solutions you need. In our Composites & Fiberglass division, our products include fiberglass reinforcements, resins, gel coats, catalysts, fillers, pigments, and more. CAMX BOOTH: #AA62

Phone: 855-700-7510 msickels@relyonsuperior.com www.RelyOnSuperior.com

F A C T

CREATIVE COMPOSITES GROUP Advancing Infrastructure with FRP Creative Composites Group (CCG) is the largest manufacturer of structural composite products in the United States. It is not just a single entity, but a powerful consortium of integrated, industryleading brands. This group includes established names such as Creative Pultrusions, Enduro Composites, Composite Advantage, E.T. Techtonics, Kenway Composites, Tower Tech and United Fiberglass. By combining the specialized engineering talent, proprietary technologies and unique historical strengths of these individual companies, CCG functions as a comprehensive, end-to-end partner for Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composite solutions. Headquartered in Alum Bank, Pennsylvania, the group handles everything from initial conceptual design and advanced structural analysis to large-scale fabrication and on-site industrial field services. Creative Composites Group helps industries transcend the limitations of traditional construction materials like steel, concrete and wood. FRP composites offer an exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, are completely corrosion-resistant, act as excellent electrical insulators (with high dielectric strength) and require virtually zero maintenance. Ultimately, by replacing short-lived, high-maintenance traditional materials with engineered FRP solutions, Creative Composites Group delivers innovations that lower total lifetime costs and make modern infrastructure safer, lighter and more durable. 40

MARKET SECTORS: • TRANSMISSION & DISTRIBUTION • CIVIL INFRASTRUCTURE • BRIDGES & DRAIN SYSTEMS • GOVERNMENT & MILITARY

• BUILDING PRODUCTS • MARINE & WATERFRONT • WATER & WASTEWATER • CABLE MANAGEMENT & CONDUIT

CreativeCompositesGroup.com

F A C T

MANUFACTURING COMPOSITES SOLUTIONS (MCS) Manufacturing Composites Solutions (MCS) was created to serve industrial markets that require technical depth, process control, and flexibility in composite manufacturing. The company was founded by engineers and technicians with extensive experience in fiberglass, carbon fiber, and aramid-reinforced plastics. Linked to BlueWind, a manufacturer of nacelle covers and other components for the wind energy industry, MCS expands the group’s reach beyond wind power. While BlueWind remains dedicated to the wind energy market, MCS supports projects in marine, aviation, rail, architecture, agriculture, transportation, tooling, and other sectors. Based in Pensacola, Florida, MCS offers composite parts manufacturing, prototyping, 3D printing for tooling and parts, and third-party laboratory testing. Its production capabilities include RTM, RTM Light, RTM Skin, and Infusion, supported by a global supplier network and a team already familiar with complex industrial environments.

MARKET SEGMENTS WE SERVE: • MARINE • AGRICULTURE • TRANSPORTATION • 3D PRINTING

• LABORATORY TESTING • AVIATION • RAIL

CAMX BOOTH: #N46

Phone: 850-332-6126 sales@mcsmanufacturing.com www.mcsmanufacturing.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/ manufacturing-composites-solutions-com 41

F A C T

NORPLEX MICARTA Life Critical. Mission Critical. Composites.

Protecting People. Enabling Performance. Delivering Lasting Reliability. Norplex Micarta delivers a portfolio of composite materials built on over a century of proven performance in the most demanding applications. Across power generation, electrification, transportation, defense, industrial, and infrastructure, our high-pressure laminates and other composites protect people and enable critical systems in severe services. Though often unseen, the embedded safety and performance keep our modern world powered, moving and protected. Some applications require materials that directly contribute to human safety and protection. Others require materials that ensure critical systems, operations, and technologies perform without interruption. Many require both. These requirements define Life Critical. Mission Critical. Composites. From electrical insulation systems that support the power grid to fire-resistant transportation components, cryogenic materials, industrial automation equipment, and defense applications, our thermoset composite solutions are engineered to deliver dependable performance and layers of protection. This framework reflects the role our materials play every day, helping customers solve complex challenges where reliability, safety, and operational success are essential. Our expertise is rooted in thermoset composite technology and backed by more than 100 years of proven performance. Customers rely on Norplex Micarta because our materials deliver the unique combination of electrical insulation, dimensional stability, mechanical strength, flame resistance, chemical resistance, and long-term durability required in demanding applications. We are grounded in experience, technical knowledge, and application support from generations of serving critical industries. As technologies and infrastructure evolve, Norplex Micarta remains committed to innovation to protect people, enable performance, and deliver lasting reliability for decades to come.

MARKET SEGMENTS WE SERVE: • POWER GENERATION • OIL & GAS • HEAVY & PROCESS INDUSTRIES • LNG & PIPELINES • MEDICAL & SCIENTIFIC DEVICES • RAIL & MASS TRANSIT • ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION & DISTRIBUTION CAMX BOOTH: #M18

Phone: 563-864-4227 jregan@norplex.com | www.norplex.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/norplex

ELLIOTT

COMPANY Elliott Company, a family-owned business for nearly 70 years, is a trusted leader in the composites industry, specializing in the production and fabrication of ELFOAM®—a high-performance, rigid polyisocyanurate (polyiso) foam core material. ELFOAM is produced in densities ranging from 2 to 6 lbs per cubic foot. ELFOAM is known for its exceptional thermal insulation, fire resistance, machinability, chemical compatibility, and temperature range. Elliott’s longevity in the market reflects its commitment to innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction, making it a cornerstone in the composites marketplace. Elliott Company serves a broad range of industries within the composites sector, including architecture, infrastructure, defense, refrigeration, and industrial construction/processing. ELFOAM products are widely used in composites applications as semistructural cores, insulation, rib stiffeners, tank bottom kits, and carvable tooling material. Our foams are compatible with most resins and molding processes, offering versatility for both highvolume production and custom, one-off projects. Their lightweight yet durable nature makes them ideal for enhancing structural integrity while reducing overall weight in composites assemblies. Whether you need blocks, sheets, or fabricated ELFOAM parts, you will receive consistent product quality and responsive customer service. As a trusted U.S. manufacturer, Elliott Company delivers dependable composite core solutions for demanding applications.

At Elliott Company, WE KNOW FOAM!

MARKET SEGMENTS WE SERVE: • AEROSPACE & DEFENSE • INFRASTRUCTURE & ARCHITECTURE • MOLD MAKING • PROCESS & STORAGE TANKS • PULTRUSION • TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED • TRANSPORTATION CAMX BOOTH: #X54

Phone: 800-545-1213 info@elliottfoam.com | www.elliottfoam.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/elliottfoam

IPCO/

NEW ERA CONVERTING IPCO delivers advanced solutions for the continuous production of composite materials. Our ThermoPress double belt press systems combine steel and/or PTFE belts for processes such as laminating, curing, densifying and cooling, operating at pressures of up to 30 bar and temperatures of up to 400°C. Our portfolio also includes ScatterPro precision scattering systems for a wide range of materials, including recycled feedstocks and powdered products. The latest generation, ScatterPro FX Advanced, is designed to support higher production capacities while enabling the efficient processing of recycled materials, long fibres and natural fibres. This innovative solution opens new opportunities for the development of next-generation composite materials and sustainable products. Through New Era, a part of IPCO, we also supply calendering, coating and laminating systems, including roll-to-roll solutions for solventbased, water-based and hot-melt applications. Our thin-film casting systems support the production of battery separators, ceramic tapes and filtration membranes with tight thickness tolerances. Combined with advanced drying and process control technologies, they help ensure consistent quality and high-performance end products.

HOW WE WORK: IPCO is a global industrial company with a direct presence in 25 countries and five state-of-the-art Productivity Centers worldwide. IPCO US offers comprehensive local capabilities including sales, engineering, and manufacturing, supported by 24/7 customer service and technical support. Our U.S. operations also feature dedicated departments for aftermarket services and specialized Productivity Centers focused on Precision Scattering R&D, coating and laminating technologies, as well as product development and testing.

MARKET SEGMENTS WE SERVE: • ENERGY

• BIO-BASED MATERIALS

• CONSTRUCTION

• RECYCLING

• AEROSPACE

• TECHNICAL COMPOSITES

Phone: 973-790-1600 info@ipco.com | www.ipco.com/en-us/industries LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/ipco-ab

• TRANSPORTATION/AUTOMOTIVE/TRAFFIC

Phone: 201-670-4848 info@neweraconverting.com | www.neweraconverting.com

CAMX BOOTH: #Z46 (Building C, Level 1)

www.linkedin.com/company/new-era-converting-machinery-llc

RTM NORTH Your Closed Mold Solutions Partner Founded in 1995, RTM North is a family-owned Canadian company specializing in the materials, components, and expertise that support successful closed molding operations. From CNC-machined plastics and vacuum systems to molding accessories and consumables, RTM North provides the essential tools mold builders need — from first-time projects to advanced production environments. Their products are distributed exclusively through Composites One, ensuring dependable service and support across North America. Built on the industry expertise of founder Doug Smith, RTM North continues under the leadership of Tricia Smith. Tricia is actively involved in the Composites Industry and is a participant in the ACMA Emerging Leaders program. She is supported by Technical Specialists Jerrod Button and Dave Harman, combining decades of hands-on experience technical process know-how. With products exclusively distributed by Composites One in the U.S. and Canada, RTM North helps manufacturers successfully implement RTM, LRTM, and Vacuum Infusion processes through training, troubleshooting, and application support. Their commitment to quality, innovation and customer success has made RTM North a trusted partner for composite manufacturers throughout North America.

CAMX BOOTH: #K50

tsmith@rtmnorth.com | www.rtmnorth.com

Engineered For What Comes Next Vectorply delivers high-performance composite reinforcements engineered for strength, consistency, and efficiency across demanding applications.

From aerospace and marine to transportation and industrial markets, our advanced reinforcement solutions help manufacturers build lighter, stronger, and more reliable composite structures.

Vectorply.com 45

THERMWOOD CORPORATION

Join Thermwood at CAMX 2026 and experience the latest in large-scale additive manufacturing showcasing our industry-leading LSAM and CutLayer technologies. In Booth #P39, Thermwood will have a variety of printed tools and parts created on LSAM and CutLayer systems, illustrating the flexibility, speed, and precision possible with Thermwood’s additive Solutions. Thermwood’s presence at CAMX 2026 offers a comprehensive view into the future of composite manufacturing. Whether you’re focused on printing, trimming or tooling, Thermwood delivers affordable and scalable, supported solutions that push the boundaries of performance and innovation.

MARKET SEGMENTS WE SERVE: • AEROSPACE • DEFENSE • AUTOMOTIVE • MARINE

• ENERGY • FOUNDRY • TOOLING

CAMX BOOTH: #P39

Phone: 812-937-4476 sales@thermwood.com | www.thermwood.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/thermwood-corporation 46