JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #89 - May 2014 - 22

U.S.

US demand for FRP to rise 4.7%
annually through 2017
Fibre-reinforced plastic composites will continue to supplant conventional
materials such as aluminium and steel due to their light weight, stiffness,
corrosion resistance and design flexibility.

the higher cost of FRPs compared to metal in long production runs.

he US demand for fibrereinforced plastic (FRP)
composites is forecast to
climb 4.7% annually to 4.3 billion pounds in 2017, valued at
nearly $23 billion according to
market research firm Freedonia.

Renewed growth
The demand will rebound from
the moderate declines experienced over the course of the
recession-impacted 2007-2012
period, when opportunities
were restricted by a steep
drop in construction activity,
reduced motor vehicle output,
and the collapse of the recreational boating market. These
markets are anticipated to see
renewed growth as economic
conditions improve. In addition, FRP composites will continue to supplant conventional
materials such as aluminium
and steel due to a number
of performance advantages,
including light weight, stiffness,
and corrosion resistance, as well
as greater design flexibility and
improved part consolidation
capabilities. However, advances
will be threatened by saturated
applications in many areas and

Motor vehicle and
construction markets
to offer best growth
opportunities
Motor vehicles and construction represent the leading
outlets for FRP composites
and will provide the best opportunities for growth through
2017, spurred by an improving
outlook for vehicle output and
a strong rebound in building
construction activity. Together,
these two markets will account
for more than three-quarters of
the new demand for FRP composites through 2017. Ongoing
efforts among automakers to
enhance fuel efficiency will
continue to drive composites
demand as vehicle weight
reduction - which represents a
key strategy used by OEMs to
boost fuel economy - is often
accomplished through the use
of lightweight composite materials. Advances in the construction sector will be propelled by
rapid spending increases in the
residential sector, which will
generate demand for a variety
of products, including fibreglass
bathroom components and
entry doors.

22 jec composites magazine / No89 May 2014

Boeing 787 Dreamliner fuselage section

Bright prospects
in aerospace
Prospects will also be bright
in the small-volume aerospace
sector, driven by the expanding utilization of carbon fibre
composites in the production
of commercial airliners such
as Boeing's 787 Dreamliner,
which has more than 50%
composite content. Rising consumer spending levels will bode
well for composites used in
the production of marine and

consumer durable products.
However, opportunities in the
sizable electrical and electronics sector will be more limited,
restricted by an anticipated
decline in wind turbine installations from elevated 2012 levels,
and by the dominance of offshore producers of computers,
printers, and other electrical
and electronic equipment. n
More information:
www.freedoniagroup.com

Study scope
This study analyzes the 3.5 billion pound US FRP composites industry. It
presents historical demand data for 2002, 2007 and 2012, and forecasts
for 2017 and 2022 by fibre (e.g. glass, carbon, aramid), composite resin
(e.g. polyester, epoxy, nylon, thermoplastic polyester, polypropylene, styrenics, polycarbonate) and market (e.g. motor vehicles, construction, electrical and electronics, consumer durables, marine). The study also considers
market environment factors, details industry structure, evaluates company
market share and profiles 38 industry players, including Hexcel, Owens
Corning and Cytec.
Study no.3092, published October 2013, 317 pages, price: $5,100.00

http://www.freedoniagroup.com

JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #89 - May 2014

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