JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009 - 3

EDITORIAL 46th year President and CEO/Publisher: Frédérique Mutel mutel@jeccomposites.com Editor-in-chief: Frédéric Reux Tel: +33 (0)1 58 36 15 11 reux@jeccomposites.com Assistant editor: Franck Glowacz Tel: +33 (0)1 58 36 15 04 glowacz@jeccomposites.com Always look on the bright side of things Notwithstanding the disastrous effects of the crisis, it may also create challenging conditions that can sometimes be beneficial. The crisis, therefore, may also have its positive effects. In no particular order, these include: boosting innovation, combating waste, enhancing productivity, optimising organisation, expanding commercial deployment and striking up partnerships. When faced with an exceptional situation such as we find ourselves in today, innovation is one of the ways out of the mire. In the weeks and months to come, the companies that are able to offer products that genuinely cater to market expectations will be the ones that come through the strongest. They will be better equipped to face up to both the competition and the crisis itself. The contents of this issue should convince any doubters that innovation really is a formidable asset. In the areas of resins, reinforcements, equipment and services to the composites industry in general, there is no shortage of examples. A second effect of the crisis is the drive to eliminate waste. Companies are going to rationalise and scrutinise every cost centre, every function, the organisation, the processes, etc., in order to track down every item of expenditure that serves no real use. Productivity, too, will be affected in a positive way. Companies will all be trying to score a few extra productivity points, at both organisation and production level. Every company activity is concerned by this. The ways in which companies are organised will also evolve, with the objective of achieving greater efficiency. The optimisation of the tasks and of the organisation itself is the goal. Companies will emerge from this all the stronger and with more confidence in their future. The crisis also provides the chance to strike out and explore new sales opportunities. For some, this may mean taking the export route, while for others the conquest of other sectors of activity may be the course to take. Not to forget technology transfers. Technical topics: Pierre Lissac info@jeccomposites.com Copy-editor & Graphic designer: Marylène Pinault pinault@jeccomposites.com Advertising managers: Judith Blacker France, India, Italy, Luxembourg, North America, Scandinavia & UK Tel: +33 (0)1 58 36 15 74 blacker@jeccomposites.com Boots Dufour Africa, Asia-Pacific, Austria, Belgium, Eastern Europe, Germany, Israel, Middle East, Spain, South America, Switzerland, The Netherlands & Turkey Tel: +33 (0)1 58 36 15 73 dufour@jeccomposites.com Circulation/Partnerships: presse@jeccomposites.com Sandrine Dumarquez dumarquez@jeccomposites.com Subscriptions: www.jeccomposites.com/magazine-subscription/ Fax: +33 (0)1 58 36 15 19 Tel: +33 (0)1 58 36 15 08 dumarquez@jeccomposites.com Marketing/Communication: Patrice Sinthon, sinthon@jeccomposites.com Printing: SPEI - Pulnoy (54), France Legal registration: ISSN 1639-965X Dépôt légal : 1er trimestre 2009 Photos & illustrations: All rights reserved, unless mentioned. JEC Composites Magazine is published by JEC. 19, Bd de Courcelles 75008 Paris - France Tel: +33 (0)1 58 36 15 01 Fax: +33 (0)1 58 36 15 14 www.jeccomposites.com The reproduction, even partial, of articles and illustrations is forbidden, unless prior permission is obtained from JEC Composites Magazine. The management of JEC Composites Magazine reserves the right to refuse advertising. The final aspect that may be considered to be positive is consolidation. Many companies – small, medium-sized, or large – will take advantage of the crisis to expand their scope of influence by acquiring smaller companies, and sometimes, even, companies that are larger than themselves. Economies of scale and increased turnover sometimes give companies an extra margin for manoeuvre in order to weather the economic storm. The opportunities will be legion. These different aspects brought on by the crisis will be positive for those with the will to see them through. Potentially, every company has the resources it takes to innovate, score productivity points, eliminate waste and explore new territories; and they can all consider opportunities for external growth or partnership. Total average Distribution: 25,711 copies* 23,483 copies BPA average qualified circulation 2,228 BPA average non qualified circulation *(BPA June 2008 Statement) Frédéric Reux Editor-in-chief No46 January-February 2009 / jec composites magazine 3

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JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #46 - January/February 2009