Elmar Witten, the AVK: “The transport sector and the construction & infrastructure sectors are key to our development potential”

Can you remind us of the history of AVK and its place in the composites landscape in Germany?

The AVK is the oldest association of the plastics industry in the world. It was founded in 1924 and since then it has represented the interests of all companies in the value creation of the composites industry. AVK focuses on the German market but is also open to non-German companies and has an international orientation. In Europe, the AVK is an active member of the “EuCIA” and, in Germany, of the founding organisation of “Composites Germany” and of the supporting organisation of the “GKV” (German Association of the Plastics Processing Industry).

During the JEC Forum DACH, you will celebrate your 100 years! What does this represent for you?

For us, the JEC Forum DACH is the most important business event on the German-speaking market for the composites industry. While our AVK working groups focus on individual topics (sectors, applications), the entire industry meets at the JEC Forum DACH. The meeting once a year is the perfect setting for our 100^th anniversary celebration.

What are your priority areas of work for the months and years to come?

The framework conditions of the German economy are currently very difficult for the industry in general, and also for the composites industry. This makes it all the more important for companies to exchange ideas with other companies in networks and to work in associations. An important current focus of the association’s work is the challenges, but also the opportunities that arise from the topic of “sustainability”.  In particular, we are working with our companies on recycling solutions. “Digitalisation” also offers opportunities that our predominantly medium-sized industry is not yet fully exploiting. However, it is also important for us to get involved in standardisation and standardisation topics in order to create more acceptance for our materials.

Since we are talking about the DACH Forum, what are your expectations for this new edition?

We expect the JEC Forum DACH to bring suppliers and buyers together again this year in such a way that new projects can be implemented, and innovations can be promoted.  The event is the ideal platform to effectively hold many discussions with the right business partners in a short time.

What are the main centres of innovation and reflexion that you expect for this 2024 event?

We expect a lot of news, especially on the topics of sustainability and recycling. Innovations in the key application industries for composites will also be presented: new solutions in the transport sector, in the construction and infrastructure sector, in the electronics as well as in the leisure and sports sectors.

You recently told JEC that, like the economy and industry in general, the composites industry was facing major challenges in Europe, and in the DACH region in particular: how have things evolved over the last few months?

The development is still difficult at the moment. Our regular 6-month market survey shows that companies’ expectations are very low, both in terms of general business development and of the development of their own company. All the more reason for our members to take advantage of the opportunities to network with other companies and to organise business meetings such as the JEC Forum DACH.

It is regularly said that the electrification of the automotive sector represents a great opportunity for the composite materials industry, but at the same time, the German automotive industry shows real signs of weakening: how do you analyse this peculiar situation?

The generally great opportunities of e-mobility on the German market are limited by the discontinuation of state subsidies for users and buyers. Sales of electric vehicles are stagnating at the moment. In addition, some potential for composites (e.g. in the battery sector) is reverting to conventional materials. Nevertheless, there are also many opportunities for the substitution of other materials in the automotive sector, e.g. in the commercial vehicle sector or for agricultural vehicles.

You also told JEC that the building and construction market had a strong development potential in Germany, but that there were still obstacles to be removed: is the situation going in the right direction?

It is going in the right direction by looking for new applications together with our members and actively contributing to the topic of standardisation. Even though the construction industry in Germany is weakening at the moment, there is a lot of potential for infrastructure projects (e.g. bridges) or even for façades, etc.

How do you see the global composites market evolving in the years to come?

As in previous years, the composites industry is expected to move in line with the general economic development. The largest application segments are the transport sector as well as the construction and infrastructure sectors. These 2 areas are also very relevant to the economy and, as a supplier industry, our future potential depends on their development.

At a time when sustainable development is on everyone’s lips, how does Germany approach this – huge – challenge?

The topic of sustainability is now relevant for all companies in the composites industry. The requirements of users/customers are becoming even greater. However, German companies are well prepared for this. We support them in this by actively addressing the topic in our working groups and also by working on it at the European level in the EuCIA.

Cover photo: Elmar Witten, AVK.