More than 3,000 participants, including attendees, exhibitors and press, crowded the exhibit hall and filled general sessions and education presentations at COMPOSITES 2010, February 9-11, in Las Vegas. They left feeling good about the future of the industry. The COMPOSITES exhibition and convention saw an 18 percent increase in attendance, according to the American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA), which hosts the largest composites industry event in North America.

“The positive energy and excitement felt at COMPOSITES 2010 is a good indication of where our industry is going and how ACMA is taking us there,” says Monty Felix, President of ACMA. “The revamped COMPOSITES event offered participants just what they needed: more time on the exhibit floor; expanded networking opportunities; exciting general sessions, and educational programming targeted toward emerging and growth market areas, end-use applications, and materials and equipment innovations. ACMA will be building on this as we plan for a successful COMPOSITES 2011.”

COMPOSITES 2010 drew people from nearly every state and 42 countries. With more than 180 exhibitors, 90 education sessions and technical papers, and 110 speakers, COMPOSITES offered a broad range of opportunities to learn more about traditional and emerging opportunities in composites manufacturing and end-market uses. Innovative new products were also displayed onsite and many exhibitors drew crowds with live manufacturing demonstrations and new products launched in the booths.

More than 500 attendees gathered for the General Session where former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney talked about how economic recovery lies in a strong private sector where businesses have the freedom to innovate and show their pioneering spirit. Leading industry economist Ray MacNeil told attendees they could be cautiously optimistic, predicting the industry will grow 3 percent to 5 percent this year, then 8 percent to 12 percent annually from 2011-2014. During another general session, Michael Masserman, director of the Office of Advisory Committees for the Commerce Department’s International Trade Administration, outlined the Commerce Department’s new National Export Initiative (NEI), which will focus on education, improved access to credit and enforcement of international trade laws with the goal of increasing exports and helping stimulate the U.S. economy.

Industry leaders crowded the annual awards luncheon to honor industry leaders and to recognize product innovations. During exhibit hall hours, entries for ACMA’s Awards for Composites Excellence (ACE) and the Pinnacle Awards Competition (for cast polymer products) were on display. Both ACE and Pinnacle awards were presented during the show’s award luncheon at which industry leaders were also recognized. In addition, more than 100 conference attendees participated in Certified Composites Technician (CCT) tutorials and many composites professionals took certification exams on site during COMPOSITES 2010. ACMA’s CCT program is the gold standard for composites employee training.

COMPOSITES 2011 will be held February 2-4, 2011, in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. For more information about COMPOSITES and complete show coverage, visit www.acmashow.org.

(Note: photos available upon request.)

The American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA) is the world’s largest trade group representing the composites industry. ACMA publishes a quarterly magazine, offers a comprehensive training/certification program, provides technical, regulatory and legislative leadership and hosts the largest composites tradeshow in North America. Visit ACMA’s website at www.acmanet.org.