CAMX 2024 marked the event’s 10th anniversary. “Over the past decade, CAMX has become the premier event where visionaries, innovators and leaders in the composites industry come together to exchange ideas and shape the future,” said Cindy Squires, president and CEO of ACMA, during the CAMX General Session.
More than 6,300 attendees converged on the San Diego Convention Center for CAMX 2024, co-hosted by ACMA and SAMPE. The four-day event featured in-depth tutorials and educational sessions, as well as several networking opportunities. This year, nearly 500 exhibitors displayed industry innovations in smart manufacturing, tooling, thermoplastic composites, additive manufacturing, advanced materials and more.
Maurice Conti, a globally recognized futurist and technology strategist, shared his vision on artificial intelligence during the general session keynote address.
“Ten years from now there will not be a business on the planet that can function without AI just like they can’t function without electricity and digital communications,” he said. “We don’t get to decide about AI. We just have to decide when and how.”
While some people are skeptical of artificial intelligence — even fearful of a doomsday scenario — Conti is optimistic about the technology. “We are on the verge of our next great era as a species, which is the augmented age,” he said. “It’s a vision where AI technology augments our natural human capabilities.”
In addition to presenting new technological innovations such as artificial intelligence, CAMX provided a venue to foster collaboration, promote sustainability and attract the next generation of industry professionals.
Fostering collaboration — The importance of collaboration was evident throughout the CAMX Exhibit Hall, where companies showcased new innovations developed in partnership with other industry professionals. Conference award winners also highlighted the value of collaboration.
The CAMX Unsurpassed Innovation Award was presented to Wichita State University’s National Institute for Aviation Research, which teamed with equipment supplier Krauss Maffei on a research project to demonstrate how technologies in highrate automotive manufacturing could be used in aerospace. They are using hybrid overmolding to manufacture thermoplastic window plugs for cargo airplanes on a 450-ton Krauss Maffei injection molding machine equipped with two robotic cells.
Teamwork was a common theme in educational sessions, too. Jeff McCay is president and founder of Composite Applications Group (CAG), a consortium of 30 companies representing the entire composites supply chain. In a featured session on the future of freight, he discussed how collaboration was key to development of Wabash National’s 53-foot composite refrigerated trailer and Trinity Rail’s 72-foot refrigerated box car with composite flooring.
“Collaboration is it,” said McCay. “We can’t get there as one company. We can’t get there with one solution. We get there by finding market disrupters and then coming together as an industry to collaborate.”
Promoting sustainability — Sustainability was one of the topics covered by panelists at Good Day, CAMX. Andrew Maxey, CEO of Vartega, talked about composite recycling. Vartega recycles carbon fiber for thermoplastic compounding using mechanical and chemical methods. The company has commercial applications in a variety of sectors, including automotive.
“It’s going to take all of us working together — manufacturers, recyclers and thought leaders — to solve these problems and create more sustainable solutions,” said Maxey.
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) is trying to do its part by increasing the use of sustainable materials.
“We are looking at how we can be good stewards — how we can reuse what we have,” said Mike Keever, chief deputy director of Caltrans, during a featured session at CAMX. For example, Caltrans currently permits asphalt pavement to contain up to 25% recycled content. The department is conducting pilot projects with industry partners to increase that to 40%.
ACMA is leading efforts to make composites the sustainable material of choice. Squires shared news of a $6 million grant from the Environmental Protection Agency that the association received in partnership with IACMI to support industry sustainability programs.
Attracting the next generation — Haley Marie Keith attended her first CAMX in 2015 as a student, where she connected with industry professionals who helped validate ideas that led to the founding of her company. Today, she is CEO and co-founder of MITO Material Solutions, a materials science company that develops hybrid additives. She is enthusiastic about the future of composites.
“This industry is a critical part of the new materials age,” said Keith during Good Day, CAMX. “I have seen a lot in just the last few years — the advancements that have been made and the materials that are coming out. I think this industry will truly define the next age of materials, and that’s a really exciting position to be in.”
Attracting and educating the next generation of leaders like Keith is imperative to the industry’s success. Several CAMX events focused on the topic, including a speed mentoring session, networking reception and educational session on empowering young professionals and the underrepresented.
Nikita Wood, a senior in high school, won the ACE Most Creative Application award for her work on a fully recyclable composite sandwich panel solution for temporary housing to help address the growing homelessness crisis. During the ACMA award winner presentations, Wood stressed that her passion is combining science with empathy.
Keith, Wood and countless other young and experienced composites professionals will help form the future of the industry.
“Composites is an industry that is moving forward — it’s pushing the envelope and working on addressing needs for the future,” said Maxey.
Be sure to join ACMA and SAMPE in Orlando, Fla., from Sept. 8 – 11 next year for CAMX 2025 to continue shaping a bright future for composites and advanced materials.
Join us for the North American Pultrusion Conference from May 6 – 8, 2025, in Chicago, where industry leaders will share expert insights and the latest innovations in pultrusion technology. Hosted by ACMA in collaboration with the European Pultrusion Technology Association (EPTA) and World Pultrusion Conference (WPC), this event will feature the latest standards, technologies and trends in pultrusion, including two keynote presentations from top experts. A dynamic onsite exhibit hall will showcase innovative products, parts and tools in pultrusion. Sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities are available. Contact John Catapano at jcatapano@acmanet.org to explore options. Visit acma.today/NAPC2025 to learn more and register.
The kickoff of the ACMA Family Business Network (FBN) at CAMX 2024 brought together family-owned businesses in the composites manufacturing sector to foster collaboration and growth. With a mission to empower these businesses through networking, mentorship and advocacy, the FBN supports the unique challenges they face. Thanks to our founding sponsor, Bestbath, this initiative offers members opportunities to connect, share insight and access valuable resources.
Join us at the next FBN event during the North American Pultrusion Conference in May 2025, and become an ACMA member to access exclusive programs like FBN, designed to help your family business thrive. Get involved at acmanet.org/FBN.
Enhance your company’s training capabilities by enrolling key team members in the Certified Composites Technician (CCT) Instructor Course, taking place June 4 – 5, 2025, at the Polynt Composites Application Center in Kansas City, Mo.
This hands-on program is designed for experienced CCT professionals, equipping them with advanced instructional techniques to become in-house trainers. By certifying your staff as CCT instructors, your company can build a self-sustaining training program, fostering leadership and continuous workforce development. Space is limited to 16 candidates — secure your spot today! Visit acma.today/CCTInstructorCourse for more details.
ACMA is excited to announce the upcoming launch of its LCA+EPD Calculator. Developed in collaboration with Smart EPD and Trinity Consultants, this cloud-based tool will allow ACMA members to generate third-party verified environmental product declarations (EPDs) with ease. Designed to simplify the process, manufacturers can input high-level product information and instantly receive verified EPDs to share with architects, designers and contractors. As green procurement policies take effect, this tool will help composites companies stay competitive in sustainable markets.
Stay tuned for more updates on the launch at acmanet.org/LCA+EPD.
North American Pultrusion ConferenceMay 6-8, 2025Chicagoacma.today/NAPC2025
Family Business Network EventMay 6, 2025Chicagoacmanet.org/FBN
