[pageLogInLogOut]

#Composites

The 30 finalists selected for the JEC Innovation Awards 2019

JEC Innovation Awards celebrate the fruitful cooperation between players of the composite community. Over the past 15 years, the JEC Innovation Awards have brought in 1,800 companies worldwide. 177 companies and 433 partners have been rewarded for the excellence of their composite innovations. The JEC Innovation Awards reward composites champions, based on criteria such as partner involvement in the value chain, technicality or commercial applications of innovations.

3D PRINTING, A NEW CATEGORY IN 2019

In 2019, 30 finalists have been selected by an international jury of experts from more than a hundred applications. They compete in 10 categories, among which the new 3D printing one. "The JEC Innovation Awards program is emblematic and recognizes pioneers in composite innovation. 3D printing plays a new role in our industry. The combination of lightweight, resistant materials that allow great design freedom, with a technology that allows complex shapes, is of interest to manufacturers. Many manufacturers have started using it to print automotive parts, aircraft parts, or building walls”, analyses Franck GLOWACZ, Innovation Content Leader at JEC Group. “Due to the very high level of the nominees, the JEC Innovation Awards ceremony should be very rich! ”

A PRESTIGIOUS INTERNATIONAL JURY

  • Anurag BANSAL, Manager Global Business Development, ACCIONA Infraestructuras
  • Christophe BINETRUY, Professor, EC Nantes
  • Robert BUCHINGER, CEO, SUNLUMO Technology
  • Grahame BURROW, Global President, MAGNA EXTERIORS
  • Dominique DUBOIS, CEO, CARBOMAN Group
  • Karl-Heinz FUELLER, Manager Hybrid Materials, Concepts and AMG, DAIMLER
  • Sung HA, Professor, HANYANG UNIVERSITY
  • Murat OGUZ ARCAN, COO, Composites, Construction and Business Development, KORDSA
  • Henri SHIN, Director – R&D Composites Innovation Center, KOLON
  • Kiyoshi UZAWA, Professor/Director (Ph.D), INNOVATIVE COMPOSITE CENTER


Nominated for a JEC Innovation Award:
AEROSPACE • APPLICATION

Compo Tech Plus SPOL, s r.o. (Czech Republic):
COMPOSITE AILERON STRUCTURE CURED IN ONE STEP - Aileron structure for a span-wise box section connected by a robot-wound fibre layer with one-step curing. Process: automated production with no sandwich core structure or secondary bonding.

Deutsches Zentrum für Luft – und Raumfahrt E.V (Germany):
PRIMARY STRUCTURE FOR SOUNDING ROCKETS - A thermoplastic composite component replacing a purely metal primary structure and allowing weight reduction through tailored thermomechanical properties.

Herone (Germany):
INJECTION FORMING OF GEARS ON CF-PAEK DRIVE SHAFTS - Injection forming of CF-PAEK composite profiles with CF-PEEK – a smart progression of the overmoulding technology to reach the next- level of connection strength for integral composite profiles.

 

Nominated for a JEC Innovation Award:
AEROSPACE • PROCESS

Applus+ Laboratories (Spain):
A+ GLIDE FORMING: AUTOMATED MANUFACTURING PROCESS - A+ Glide Forming is a new continuous process used to form CFRP stringers with complex contours in only one shot. This is a versatile, high- productivity and low-investment forming solution.

Cecence (UK):
FULLY FST COMPLIANT 16G COMPOSITE AERO SEATBACK - Rapid hot compression moulded, fully composite 16g carbon seatback with FST compliance built in to its core, negating the need for fire proof dressing and with an out of mould paint ready surface.

Profactor GmbH (Austria):
ZERO-DEFECT MANUFACTURING PROCESS - The development is a zero-defect manufacturing process for large composite parts. It uses inline monitoring and decision support systems to avoid defects showing up only during final NDT.


Nominated for a JEC Innovation Award:
AUTOMOTIVE • APPLICATION

Hexcel (UK):
COMPOSITE PATCHES FOR IMPROVED NVH PERFORMANCE - By locally reinforcing optimised aluminium subframes with Hexcel’s HexPly® carbon patches, the noise and vibration performance can be significantly improved while keeping additional weight to a minimum.

Kandge Composites CO., LTD. (China):
LIGHTWEIGHT CARBON FLOOR LCF - Highly-integrated carbon composite rear floor for low weight, outstanding safety and improved vehicle performance. Cost-efficient, high-volume application globally engineered and mass produced in China.

Polyscope Polymers (Netherlands):
COMPOSITE GUIDE RAILS FOR A ROLLER-BLIND SUNROOF - The first time that a thermoplastic composite successfully replaces aluminium for guide rails on roller-blind sunroof modules.


Nominated for a JEC Innovation Award:
AUTOMOTIVE • PROCESS

Evopro Systems Engineering Kft. (Hungary):
FAST MANUFACTURING OF COMPLEX TP COMPOSITES - Automated, short-cycle-time production of thermoplastic polymer composites with a special focus on high functional integration, complexity and recyclability of the parts, based on T-RTM technology.

Hyundai Motor Group (South Korea):
EVOLUTION OF PAINTING FOR CFRP AUTO BODY PANELS - This innovation sheds light on the challenges of achieving a Class A surface finish using on-line/in-line painting processes. It proposes a new method for producing a CFRP trunk lid based on PCM and SMC processes.

Mubea Carbo Tech GmbH (Austria):
FIBERJECT – 3D THERMOPLASTIC COSMETIC CARBON PARTS - Fiberject manufacturing of complex-shaped, fully-integrated and high-accuracy cosmetic carbon parts for high volumes using a thermoplastic matrix.

Nominated for a JEC Innovation Award:
CONSTRUCTION & INFRASTRUCTURE

Arkema (France):
BENDABLE TP COMPOSITE REINFORCEMENTS FOR CONCRET - Readily bendable thermoplastic composite bar and cable for reinforced and prestressed concrete revolutionizing the durability of construction.

Gazechim Composites Iberica (Spain):
CONTRIBUTION OF NANOTECHNOLOGY TO COMPOSITES - Gazechim Composites Iberica designed, developed and implemented a large, avant-garde design-inspired canopy for its headquarters in Valencia. The self-supported structure leverages graphene-based nanotechnology.

Solico Engineering BV (Netherlands):
COMPOSITE DIKE STABILIZATION SYSTEMS - A new dike stabilization method was developed by JLD International. All the structural parts in this system are made of composite materials. These parts were designed by Solico Engineering.


Nominated for a JEC Innovation Award:
SUSTAINABILITY

Jiva Materials Ltd. (UK):
SOLUBOARD® - Jiva and Eco-Technilin created Soluboard®, a revolutionary bio-composite material manufactured with Eco-Technilin’s FlaxTapeTM. Soluboard® is designed to redefine the way PCBs are manufactured.

Porsche AG (Germany):
SERIES PRODUCTION OF BIO-BASED COMPOSITES - The small series of a motorsport car show the high potential of renewable resources by using their specific properties for the lightweight construction of a door and rear wing.

Technical University of Denmark (Denmark):
BIO4SELF – SELF-REINFORCED PLA COMPOSITES - Bio-based, easy-to-recycle self-reinforced composite materials using high-stiffness PLA fibres for use in sports, automotive and medical applications.


Nominated for a JEC Innovation Award:
SPORTS & HEALTHCARE

KTM-Technologies GmbH (Austria):
FMC FOR THE KTM CARBON SKID PLATE - The first structural composite skid plate produced using an FMC/NCF/elastomer hybrid. This direct production line with a one-shot process enables the best product-market fit in series production in terms of properties and costs.

Refitech Composites (Netherlands):
CARBON FIBRE HANDLE FOR GUIDE DOGS - A lightweight carbon fibre handle for guide dogs replacing the old metal version.

Toray Industries, Inc. (Japan):
TORAYCA® ET40 PREPREG WITH SUPERIOR FORMABILITY - The TORAYCA® ET40 prepreg achieves superior levels of formability with complex shapes while keeping mechanical properties equivalent to conventional continuous-fibre UD prepreg.


Nominated for a JEC Innovation Award:
3D PRINTING

CEA (Netherlands):
CFAM PRIME - An additive manufacturing machine that can produce fast (average throughput 15 kg/hr), large and complex fibre-reinforced thermoplastic objects (2x4x1.5) using continuous glass or carbon fibre.

Compo Tech Plus spol s r.o. (Czech Republic):
OPTIMISED 3D-PRINTED INTERNAL BEAM STRUCTURE - Designed for automation and dynamic machine structures. Optimised with manufacturability in mind. 3D-printed internal structure tailored to improve the static and dynamic properties of CFRP beams.

Continuous Composites (USA):
CONTINUOUS-FIBRE 3D PRINTING - Continuous Fibre 3D Printing (CF3DTM) combines composite materials with a 3D printing process, creating a mouldless out-of-autoclave process. The result is a drastic reduction in cost and lead times.


Nominated for a JEC Innovation Award: 
LAND TRANSPORTATION

Composites Evolution Ltd. (UK):
TRAIN SEAT SUPPORT FROM A BIO-BASED PREPREG - A lightweight, fire-resistant cantilevered train seat support produced from a carbon fibre-reinforced bioresin prepreg composite.

Saertex GmbH & CO KG (Germany):
MOULDED STRUCTURAL COMPOSITE REFRIGERATED TRAILER - A moulded structural composite refrigerated trailer, offering 20% weight saving and 28% improved thermal performance, manufactured in serial production.

Stratiforme Industries (France):
ACCUM: UNIVERSAL COMPOSITE CATENARY CANTILEVER - ACCUM is a universal composite catenary cantilever validated from 750V to 25kV and suitable for all standard and specific railtrack profiles, designed for easy supply, installation and maintenance.


Nominated for a JEC Innovation Award:
INDUSTRY & EQUIPEMENT

Airborne (Netherlands):
DIGITAL COMPOSITE MANUFACTURING LINE - The digital composites manufacturing line is a breakthrough technology for mass production, converting thermoplastic composite tapes into lightweight laminates at high speed at radically lower cost.

AZL AACHEN GMBH (Germany):
ULTRA-FAST CONSOLIDATOR MACHINE SYSTEM - Modular production system for the mass-production of individual tailored blanks based on a piece flow approach in combination with laser-assisted thermoplastic tape placement with in-situ consolidation.

Compo Tech Plus SPOL, s r.o. (Czech Republic):
MILLING TOOL AND TOOL HOLDER MADE FROM A COMPOSITE MATERIAL - Milling tool and tool holder made from a hybrid composite-steel material, reducing weight and increasing machining speed and accuracy.


More News from JEC Group

#Composites

JEC Forum Southeast Asia 2026 highlights Taiwan as a strategic hub for the global composites industry

The third edition of JEC Forum organized in Southeast Asia brought together 350+ participants from 22 countries for three active days of high-level Business Meetings, conferences, and networking, emphasizing Southeast Asia’s growing role in the global composites market. Held for the first time in Taipei from 23 to 24 June 2026, following the successful first editions in Bangkok, JEC Forum Southeast Asia 2026 confirmed its position as the region’s leading business platform dedicated to the composites industry.

#Composites

JEC World 2026 confirms its standing as the unmissable event for composites and their applications

JEC World 2026 confirms its position as the leading global event for the composite materials industry and its applications across multiple sectors, bringing together the entire composites ecosystem in Paris for three days of business, innovation, and collaboration. True to its Pushing the Limits motto, the 2026 edition delivered outstanding results despite travel disruptions worldwide. The numbers speak for themselves: more than 1,400 exhibitors from over 50 countries, including over 150 first-timers, presented a global panorama of products, equipment, and services across the entire composites value chain.

#Composites

JEC Composites Startup Booster: 2026 winners announced

The leading global startup competition for composites and advanced materials has crowned its 2026 champions, ahead of a landmark 10th anniversary edition next year. The winners of the JEC Composites Startup Booster 2026 were announced on Wednesday, 11 March, at JEC World, recognizing the most promising emerging companies reshaping the future of composites and advanced materials.

#Composites

JEC WORLD 2026 opens: Paris becomes the World Capital of composites

JEC World 2026 opens tomorrow, March 10, at Paris Nord Villepinte, bringing together the entire composites ecosystem for three days of exhibitions, conferences, technical sessions, strategic industry gatherings, and business meetings. As the “festival of composites”, JEC World is also a destination for a broad spectrum of other professional visitors, eager to discover how these advanced materials can offer sustainable solutions to their industries.

More News on Composites

#Composites

Fewer pores, greater impact tolerance: Peter Dornier Foundation Prize 2026 honours material research on fibre-reinforced composite components for aerospace industry

Microscopically small pores that form during manufacture, or barely visible impact damage, can severely impair the load-bearing capacity and service life of fibre-reinforced composite components. Two young researchers have presented groundbreaking work in this field and will both be awarded the 2026 Peter Dornier Foundation Prize: Dr.-Ing. Benedikt Neitzel from the Technical University of Ilmenau for his doctoral thesis on pore minimisation in the RTM process, and Johanna Buschmann, M.Sc., for her master’s thesis, completed at the German Aerospace Centre, on the improved impact tolerance of 3D fabrics compared to 2D laminates.

#Composites

Carbon Revolution wins Composites Australia Engineering Team Excellence Award

Carbon Revolution has won the Engineering Team Excellence Award at the 2026 Composites Australia Annual Industry Awards.

#Composites

MEL Composites supports ELA Aviation with advanced composite materials

MEL Composites is supplying advanced composite materials and process consumables to ELA Aviation for the production of its next-generation gyroplanes. The collaboration underlines MEL Composites’ growing role in advanced aerospace mobility, providing lightweight materials designed to improve aircraft performance, manufacturing efficiency and structural reliability.

#Man-Made Fibers

DYNEEMA® and NP Aerospace advance personal protection for military servicewomen

Dyneema®, owned by Avient Corporation, an innovator of materials solutions, is supplying its high-performance unidirectional (UD) materials to world-leading armor manufacturer NP Aerospace, enabling the production of armor systems designed specifically to fit the female body. With 2,000 new armor systems, including 4,000 plates, made in the United Kingdom (UK) and delivered in June 2026, this collaboration addresses a long-standing lack of high-quality personal protection specially built for female defense and security personnel.

Latest News

#Man-Made Fibers

Ministry of Industry Delegation visits NatureWorks’ second global manufacturing site at Nakhon Sawan Biocomplex

NatureWorks Asia Pacific Limited welcomed a high-level delegation led by Mr. Varawut Silpa-archa, Minister of Industry, to its manufacturing site at the Nakhon Sawan Biocomplex (NBC). The visit follows the successful inauguration of the site on April 29, 2026, and highlights the role of public-private collaboration in advancing Thailand’s sustainable industrial development and bioeconomy ambitions.

#Recycling / Circular Economy

Indorama Ventures advances circularity tthrough PETValue Philippines' “Zero Waste to Landfill Partnership” with Republic Cement

Indorama Ventures Public Company Limited, a global sustainable chemical company, is advancing the circular economy through a new Zero Waste to Landfill initiative at its recycling site PETValue Philippines, further demonstrating how collaboration across industries can maximize resource efficiency and reduce waste.

#Associations

IVGT membership: expertise that pays off

For energy-intensive textile companies, government compensation mechanisms are an important economic factor. The IVGT successfully supports its member companies in applying for state aid and thereby regularly contributes to significant financial relief.

#Research & Development

Networking Day 2026: Industry stakeholders unite around textile recycling

In 2026, the Industry Research Group (IRG) Polymer Recycling once again brought together some of the key stakeholders in textile recycling for its annual Networking Day. This year, the event took place at EREMA’s premises in Ansfelden, Austria. It brought together key players from across the textile recycling value chain for a day of structured exchange and in-depth discussions.

TOP