#Composites

2025-05-28

Launch of the first JEC Forum Middle East

JEC is proud to announce the signature of a strategic collaboration agreement with the OSP and IFC Promosalons, the representative of JEC in the region. The major agreement aims to organize a series of events dedicated to Composite Materials held in Saudi Arabia for the first time in the Middle East starting in June 2025. The events will facilitate the creation of opportunities for local and international companies and accelerate the adoption of sustainable materials across multiple industries in the region.

This three-year agreement formalizes the long-term cooperation with OSP, and aims to:

+ Enhance and increase awareness of the sustainability and efficiency of polymer-based applications

+ Promote non-metallic materials as enablers of industrial diversification

+ Facilitate innovative technologies being transferred and increasing industrial partnerships between local and international stakeholders

With the ambitious Saudi Vision 2030 roadmap and large-scale investments in advanced materials, Saudi Arabia is actively diversifying its economy through innovation. Fiber-reinforced composites are central to this transformation, with applications in mobility, building & construction, renewable energy, oil & gas, infrastructure, and many more.

JEC is honored to be part of this momentum and looks forward to creating strong business opportunities, driving innovation, and supporting industrial development in the region.

“This agreement is a significant milestone for JEC. It reflects our shared ambition to accelerate innovation and collaboration in the Middle East, and to supply our communities with networking opportunities in all geographical areas. Saudi Arabia and the Middle East in general is a fast-growing market for Composite Materials and we are looking forward to working with the OSP to build bridges between companies in the region and potential suppliers and customers abroad”, says Thomas Lepretre – VP Sales, Events and Operations, JEC Group.

"Our partnership with JEC marks a new era for the composites industry in Saudi Arabia. This collaboration not only aligns with our commitment to sustainable development but also enhances our drive to diversify the economy through innovative materials. Together, we are paving the way for significant advancements in environmentally efficient solutions and industrial partnerships, ensuring that the Kingdom remains at the forefront of the composites market", states Mohammad Al Tayyar – Program Director of the OSP (ADD Environmental/Sustainability angle).

This partnership paves the way for the launch of two major new events in the Kingdom:

JEC COMPOSITES TALKS - June 24, 2025 - Dammam Saudi Arabia

- June 24, 2025

+ Grand Hyatt Al Khobar, Dammam,

Saudi Arabia

The JEC Talks Middle East will take place for the first time in Saudi Arabia, in the City of Dammam. This exclusive event, on invitation only, is offering a high-level insight day to explore Saudi Arabia’s and the Region’s composites ecosystem, and will be followed by exclusive site visits to leading companies in Dammam.

JEC FORUM MIDDLE EAST 2016

- June 23–24, 2026

+ Riyadh – Saudi Arabia

The first edition of a Business Meetings-based event gathering the entire regional and international composites value chain.

JEC World 2026 reveals the list of finalists for the Innovation Awards

Each year, the JEC Composites Innovation Awards recognize collaborative, innovative, and ambitious projects that illustrate the potential of composite materials. Created in 1998, this benchmark program aims to identify, promote, and reward the most innovative composite solutions worldwide. In 28 years, the JEC Composites Innovation Awards have attracted more than 2,200 participating companies from around the world. A total of 269 companies and 811 associated partners have been recognized for the excellence of their innovations.

JEC World 2025: a record-breaking 60th edition driven by innovation and circularity

After 3 dynamic days of intense business interactions, expertise sharing, and knowledge exchange, the 60th edition of JEC World 2025 has reaffirmed the pivotal role of the composites industry in building a more sustainable future. Under the unifying theme “Pushing the Limits,” the event showcased the extraordinary versatility and innovation of composite materials that continue to redefine lightweighting, performance, and design possibilities for an increasing number of applications.

JEC Composites Startup Booster 2025 winners

In just eight years, JEC Composites Startup Booster has established itself as a global reference for entrepreneurship in the composites industry in 2025. Over a hundred entrepreneurs, startups, and university spin-offs submitted their applications, with 20 selected as finalists. From March 4 to 6, these finalists have the opportunity to present their projects before an expert jury on the JEC World stage.

MEL Composites delivers advanced hull infusion for Técnico Solar Boat’s hydrogen-powered São Gabriel 01

MEL Composites has reinforced its partnership with Técnico Solar Boat through the successful hull infusion of the São Gabriel 01, an 8m long, 2.4m wide, hydrogen-powered hydrofoiling vessel. Designed to compete at the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge in July 2026, the São Gabriel 01 is the team’s most technically demanding project to date and showcases the future of sustainable marine engineering by combining advanced composite manufacturing with clean energy systems.

“Action helps us change what we do!”

DAY 0 takes place deliberately before PERFORMANCE DAYS begins. It is conceived as a space for reflection, dialogue and active engagement — a moment to pause before the fair, rethink established systems and address sustainability not as a trend, but as a fundamental transformation challenge. Under the guiding metaphor “Turn the Tap Off”, DAY 0 focuses on root causes rather than symptoms, systemic change rather than isolated solutions, and collective responsibility rather than individual silos.

Pets in fashion: functional and sustainable textiles find new market at Intertextile Apparel

China’s pet economy is booming, especially amongst younger generations, and pet apparel – from designer outfits to functional garments – was a RMB 3.5 billion (over USD 500 million) market in 2024, growing more than 20% annually¹. To help exhibitors harness this trend, Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics – Spring Edition 2026 will launch the Pet Boutique, presenting a range of innovative, sustainable materials that prioritise both functionality and comfort for pets.

VAUDE eliminates PFAS from all products

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are now detectable worldwide – in drinking water, soil and the human body. These so-called “forever chemicals” are considered hazardous to health and potentially carcinogenic, as they do not break down and remain in the environment permanently. Despite these risks, PFAS are still used in a wide range of products. More than 15 years ago, VAUDE made a strategic decision to gradually eliminate PFAS from all product categories.

Lenzing AG to become majority owner of TreeToTextile AB and accelerates industrialization of new fibers

The Lenzing Group is taking another strategic milestone by acquiring a controlling majority in the Swedish innovation company TreeToTextile AB. This step strengthens Lenzing’s position as a leading provider of sustainable, wood‑based specialty fibers and expands its innovation pipeline with a highly scalable, patent‑protected technology platform. The transaction is executed through the issuance of new shares.