SAMPE Journal - November/December 2016 - 18

CAMX 2016 Reflects the Growth and
Bright Future of the
Composites & Advanced Materials Industry
New attendance milestones, conference features and robust programming were highlighted during the
dynamic industry expo.
The Composites and Advanced Materials Expo, produced by the American Composites Manufacturers
Association (ACMA) and the Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering (SAMPE),
concluded on September 29 in Anaheim, Calif. The premier composites event in North America, which
saw a 10% increase in attendance, united 7,987 people from the composites and advanced materials
communities from 53 countries and every state in the United States. Over 1,000 new attendees made
CAMX 2016 their first CAMX.
The expansive exhibit floor space, with 544 exhibiting companies and 302,000 square feet of exhibit
space, was a bustling industry marketplace. For three days, thousands explored the hall with innovations
impacting a wide range of markets, including automotive, 3-D printing and recycling. Composites
Manufacturing reported about popular exhibits, including the uBox, an electric, urban utility concept
vehicle, designed by Clemson University graduate students and displayed at Teijin's booth. The vehicle
is designed for urban environments, appealing to Generation Z consumers while meeting ambitious fuel
economy standards. Other booths showcased sports and recreation applications, including a surfboard
made with recyclable carbon fiber/epoxy composites at Connora Technologies' booth.
In addition to the expo, the robust conference programming offered 254 sessions on topics covering
every subject in the industry, with 313 expert speakers and 8 concurrent tracks of topics to choose from.
This year's event also featured new conference programs and features, including CAMX Live! - a General
Session panel of esteemed industry experts who shared insights on how composites are changing the
world. Daniel Preston, the CEO of Luminati Aerospace, offered a virtual presentation about the boundless
possibilities for composites in aerospace and how they could make an impact on people's lives in
unexpected ways. Famed architect Greg Lynn painted a detailed picture of the future, which includes
skyscrapers made with composites. Local Motors' Gregory Haye shed light on how his company has
pushed the envelope in the automotive sector with 3-D printed vehicles and crowd sourced technology
development.
"We believe CAMX attendees came away from the General Session inspired by the incredible things our
panelists have been able to accomplish - and dream about - with composites" said Heather Rhoderick,
CAMX Show Director and Senior Vice President of Events and Information at ACMA.
In particular, CAMX 2016 hopes to inspire the next generation of composites and advanced materials
innovators. At the CAMX closing luncheon, attendees heard insights from a panel of six students who
envision a world where composites are as ubiquitous as pure plastics. The conference also featured
innovative poster sessions and technical papers from students highlighting ideas that could change how
the world views composites. Students also had a chance to put their composites knowledge to the test
during the inaugural CAMX Race.
"Watching and seeing young professionals become excited about CAMX 2016 was a great opportunity
for our industry to expose the world's future industry leaders to what's going on in our industry," said
SAMPE CEO Gregg Balko. "We want more young professionals to get excited about composites, and I
think we're on our way toward accomplishing that goal."
For full details on the CAMX 2016 activities, including awards winners and coverage on the event, please
see the website at www.theCAMX.org. CAMX 2017 will be held September 11-14, 2017, in Orlando, FL.

SAMPE Journal, Volume 52, No. 6, November/December 2016

http://www.theCAMX.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of SAMPE Journal - November/December 2016