Each year, the JEC Composites Innovation Awards celebrate outstanding achievements and collaborative efforts within the composites industry. Over the past 27 years, this prestigious program has engaged more than 2,100 companies worldwide, recognizing 258 organizations and 670 partners for their innovative breakthroughs and impactful partnerships. The awards focus on projects that demonstrate strong partner engagement across the value chain, technical complexity, and significant commercial potential.

Open to companies, universities, and R&D centres, the competition highlights groundbreaking innovations and concepts born from collective intelligence and collaboration. More than just a ceremony, the awards provide a global stage to unveil and showcase visionary projects, inspiring an expert audience eager to explore the future of composites.

After the pre-selection of the 33 finalists, one winner will be selected in each of the 11 categories:

Aerospace – Parts
Aerospace – Process
Automotive & Road Transportation – Parts
Automotive & Road Transportation – Process
Building & Civil Engineering
Circularity & Recycling
Design, Furniture & Home
Digital, AI & Data
Maritime Transportation & Shipbuilding
Renewable Energies
Sports, Leisure & Recreation

The international jury representing the entire composites value chain includes:
•Pr. Christophe BINETRUY, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Ecole Centrale Nantes – Nantes Université 
•Ms. Tamara BLANCO, Composite Materials & Processes Engineer & Expert, Airbus 
•Mr. Dale BROSIUS, Executive VP/Chief Commercialization Officer, IACMI—The Composite Institute 
•Mr. Cédric DUPAS, Senior Expert – Manuf. Eng Composites Structures Composite Completion & TP Welding Manager, Daher
•Dr. Karl-Heinz FÜLLER, Manager Future Outside & Materials, Mercedes-Benz 
•Dr. Sung Kyu HA, Professor, Hanyang University 
•Ms. Jen HILL, Board member of Composites UK, Director, B&M Longworth 
•Mr. Guy LARNAC, Technical Domain Coordinator for Materials, Structures and Industrialization, Ariane Group 
•Pr. Véronique MICHAUD, Head of the Laboratory for Processing of Advanced Composites, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne 
•Pr. Kiyoshi UZAWA, Director / Professor, Innovative Composite Center, Kanazawa Institute of Technology 
•Ms Müge YENMEZ, CTO & Region General Manager, Composite EMEA, Kordsa 

The Winners of the JEC Innovation Awards 2025 will be revealed during
the JEC World 2025 Premiere, on January 13th, in Paris and online live.

This exclusive event will feature the highlights of JEC World 2025, the announcement of the 20 startups selected for Startup Booster competition, and the winners of the JEC Composites Innovation Awards.

Discover below the finalists in each category!

Aerospace – Parts

AEGO X Aircraft Composite Seat Leg

BONNY-SUREWIN WORLDWIDE (TAIWAN)
www.bonnyworldwide.com

Partners:
• Aerospace Industrial Development Corporation – AIDC (Taiwan)
• Gao-Shiang Advanced Material Technology CO., LTD. – CREAT FUTURE (Taiwan)
• Microtex Composites S.r.l. (Italy)

Developed a one-shot manufacturing process for uninterrupted prepreg fiber structures that aim to replace current Commercial aircraft passenger metal seat leg designs

The production of CFRP (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer) seat legs is cost-effective due to a rapid curing process and fewer components, minimizing maintenance needs. Utilizing lightweight, epoxy-based CFRP reduces fuel consumption, CO₂ emissions, and waste. A one-shot manufacturing process combined with a multi-mold design further decreases production costs for carbon fiber aircraft seats. Additionally, studies on carbon fiber recyclability enhance sustainability, offering eco-friendly solutions for aviation..

Key benefits:

• Weight saving
• Fuel Sustainable based light weight CFRP material
• Cost saving for manufacturing
• Reduction of seat leg parts for low maintenance
• The carbon fiber be recycled by low energy

Multifunctional Fuselage Demonstrator – MFFD

Airbus Operations GmbH (GERMANY)
www.airbus.com

Partners:
• Airbus Aerostructures GmbH (Germany)
• Aernnova Aeropaces and affiliates (Spain)
• Diehl Aviation Laupheim GmbH (Germany)
• DLR – German Aerospace Center (Germany)
• FIDAMC (Spain)
• Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e. V. (Germany)
• GKN Fokker Aerospace B.V.(Netherlands)
• NLR – Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre (Netherlands)
• SAM XL (Netherlands)
• TU Delft (Netherlands)
• Saab AB (Sweden)

Full scale demonstrator of a typical single aisle commercial aircraft fuselage section made out of thermoplastic composite materials covering novel design & built concepts, elementary parts manufacture for automation as well as thermoplastic welding for sub- and major component assembly.

A CleanSky2 funded consortium of 12 European organizations led by Airbus investigated thermoplastic composites for commercial fuselage applications. More than 40 different technologies have been developed, real size parts manufactured and assembled considering high-rate production. On purpose, technologies have been set up in a competitive environment to maximize learning and push existing boundaries. Ultimately, the team delivered together the Multifunctional Fuselage Demonstrator MFFD. This 8m x 4m MFFD barrel is the world’s 1st and largest R&T platform made out of thermoplastic composite materials.

Key Benefits:
• 180-540kg CO2 emission reduction for one flight
• Dustless joining through thermoplastic welding
• Auxiliary material reduction through in-situ
• Process time reduction through automation
• Pre-equipped large scale modules

Thermoplastic Composite Exit Guide Vane

Competence Center CHASE GmbH (AUSTRIA)
www.chasecenter.at

Partners:
• FACC Operations GmbH (Austria)
• Institute of Polymer Product Engineering (Austria)
• LIT Factory (Austria)
• Victrex Europa GmbH (Germany)

The innovation demonstrates a design and manufacturing solution for an Exit Guide Vane (EGV) made of high-performance thermoplastic composites, focusing on significant weight reduction, automation, and high-rate manufacturability, achieved through an advanced hybrid molding approach.

EGVs are characterized by their complex geometry and high production volume, as they are specifically designed for aerodynamic purposes and are used in a large number of aircraft engines. Based on a metallic EGV, a technology demonstrator was realized by combining LMPAEK UD tapes and a short fiber-reinforced PEEK compound. The implemented four-stage production strategy includes specifically developed tooling solutions and comprises pick-and-place tape stacking of a tailored ply stack, direct forming by 3D-consolidation, CNC machining, and local injection overmolding.

Key benefits:
• Significant reduction in component weight
• High production rate solution for EGVs
• Efficient automation-supported process chain
• Corrosion and high hail impact resistance
• Technology adaptable for various EGV types

Aerospace – Process

FibreLINE

Loop Technology (UNITED KINGDOM)
www.looptechnology.com

Partners:
• FANUC (United Kingdom)
• Zund (United Kingdom)
• National Composites Centre (United Kingdom)

FibreLINE is a revolutionary system for the high-rate manufacturing of composite structures. It provides end-to-end automation for preforming, significantly accelerating the production rate of carbon fibre and other composite components in the aerospace, defence and renewable energy industries.

FibreLINE cuts, sorts and sequences carbon fibre and other composite material before shaping and placing it onto a mould where it is inspected and heat staked, made ready for the next stage of production. One configuration of FibreLINE has FibreFORM at the centre – a pick and place end-effector that can form large pieces of material into the required 3D complex shape and place it incredibly precisely whilst managing shear forces to ensure no damage is done to the fibres.

Key benefits:
• High deposition rate
• Highly accurate and repeatable
• Modular and scalable
• Reduces factory footprint
• Opportunities in downstream assembly

Induction Welded Thermoplastic Torsion Box

DAHER (FRANCE)
www.daher.com

Partners:
• VICTREX (United Kingdom)
• IRT Jules Verne (France)
• ENSAM Angers (France)
• KVE (Netherlands)

Use unidirectional fiber with thermoplastic matrix LM-PAEK to manufacture a horizontal tail plane with no fixation on the aerodynamic surface. Then, we tested mechanically that part to show the viability of this technology for torsion boxes application.

Today, flying welded parts are based on PPS fabrics material and flat to flat welded surfaces. Our innovation is to use unidirectional fibers & LM-PAEK thermoplastic matrix, with curved welded surfaces. We used Automated Fiber Placement to manufacture optimized spars and skins & to layup flat blanks, that were Direct Stamped® to produce ribs and stiffeners. The stiffeners were assembled by co-consolidation, while the consolidation of the skin, to obtain a self-stiffened skin.
The parts were assembled by induction welding to obtain a closed box.

Key benefits:
• Improvement of the part aerodynamic surface
• Weight saving
• Assembly cost saving
• Design for composite
• Reduction lead time & consumable items

Innovative process for CFRTP fuselage skin panel

Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd (JAPAN)
global.Kawasaki.com

Partner:
• JAMCO Corporation (Japan)
• Toray Industries, Inc. (Japan)
• SURUGA ENGINEERING, INC. (Japan)
• Kawasaki Hydromechanics Corp. Japan)
• SUNWA TRADING CORPORATION (Japan)

Development of the continuous press process to fabricate of large-scale thermoplastic stiffened panels, which have high weight efficiency by using complex skin/stiffener thickness changes and high-stability hollow-type stiffeners. This OoA process reduces flow time and enables high-rate production.

Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (KHI) and partners have developed a method called “local co-consolidation” for fabricating complex skin panels using thermoplastic composites. This method combines temperature distribution in molds and progressive feeding of a movable lower mold against a fixed upper mold, along with simultaneous welding/integration of stringers during skin consolidation. Benefits include faster production of stiffened panels compared to autoclave processes, no need for large presses, and one-process joining of multiple stringers to the skin with stable quality.

Key benefits:
• CFRTP stiffened panel with thickness changes
• High stability hollow-type stringer
• Stable skin/stringer welding w/ co-consolidation
• Reduction of production cost w/ co-consolidation
• Shorter flow time with continuous press process

Automotive & Road Transportation –Parts

Lightweight Thermoplastic Convertible Roof Beam

Röchling Automotive SE (GERMANY)
www.roechling.com

Partners:
• Envalior Deutschland GmbH (Germany)
• Mercedes-Benz AG (Germany)

Röchling Automotive leads a consortium, including Mercedes-Benz, Envalior, and Valmet , to develop a groundbreaking thermoplastic roof beam for a premium convertible. This innovation, replacing traditional magnesium with advanced composites, enhances lightweight performance and design flexibility.

Röchling Automotive presents a groundbreaking innovation in the Mercedes-Benz CLE Cabrio: a thermoplastic roof beam that seamlessly integrates the headliner with the windshield frame. Developed in collaboration with Bond Laminates by Envalior and Mercedes Benz, this solution eliminates the traditional visible plastic trim, achieving a sleek, uninterrupted aesthetic. Using a hybrid molding process, this lightweight component surpasses the design limitations of magnesium while reducing weight by 700 grams and the number of parts by 50%. Experience the future of automotive design with the CLE Cabrio.

Key benefits:
• Lightweight, fully recyclable design
• Freedom and flexibility in design
• Advanced simulations optimize production
• Proven in series application
• High mechanical performance and durability

SOCA – Sustainably Optimised Composite Automotive

JLR (UNITED KINGDOM)
www.jaguarlandrover.com

Partners:
• Far-UK Ltd (United Kingdom)
• CCP Gransden Ltd (United Kingdom)
• iCOMAT Ltd (United Kingdom)

The project purpose is to decarbonise the manufacturing of composite component for automotive applications, focusing first on low volume and carbon fibre parts. The main challenges were to reduce the CO2e footprint while maintaining the performance and light-weightiness.

The SOCA project moves a step closer to net-zero lightweight automotive structure, (re)using the TUCANA project award-winning design. SOCA achieves 55% lower environmental footprint through sustainable material and technology innovations, while delivering the same structural performance and weight save. SOCA demonstrates that composite can compete with aluminium, including CO2e. This success was made possible by APC UK funding support, JLR’s optimised design & continuous supply-chain engagement, Far-UK’s expertise in sustainable engineering, iCOMAT’s RTS technology unique manufacturing capability, and CCP Gransden’s experience in manufacture and assembly.

Key benefits:
• GWP/CO2e reduction of CFRP component by up to 70%
• Circular & high-performance recycled carbon fibre
• Compatible with current molding process
• Same performance as original design
• Competitive cost, parity when volume scale-up

Xencor™ HPPA LGF Steering Gearbox Outboard Housing

Syensqo (BELGIUM)
www.syensqo.com

Partners:
• ZF Automotive Germany GmbH (Germany)
• Volvo Car Corporation (Sweden)

A thermoplastic outboard housing developed by ZF for Volvo’s EX90 vehicle and manufactured using Xencor™ HPPA long glass fiber (LGF) reinforced, achieving 40% weight reduction, enhanced corrosion resistance, and durability.

Traditionally made of metal, this outboard housing is made of Syensqo’s Xencor™ HPPA long glass fiber-reinforced material that reduces weight by 40%, improves energy efficiency, and offers exceptional dimensional stability and resistance to corrosion. It also enhances the vehicle’s overall performance in demanding environments such as high temperatures and humidity. Syensqo and ZF’s collaboration enables a significant leap in sustainability, offering a recyclable solution that lowers both manufacturing costs and environmental impact.

Key benefits:
• Lightweighting
• Improved corrosion resistance
• Enhanced sustainability

Automotive & Road Transportation – Process

Thermoplastic composites with recycled PET matrix

FORVIA (FRANCE)
www.forvia.com

Partners:
• IRT Jules Verne (France)
• CMO (France)
• IMT Nord Europe (France)

A new process to manufacture thermoplastic composite semi-pregs has been developed, offering high flexibility. It enables the use of recycled PET, which is mixed with long chopped fibers or continuous woven fabrics to yield materials with properties similar to those of prime organo sheets or GMT.

Thermoplastic composite semi-pregs are manufactured using recycled PET mixed with fibers or fabrics to create materials similar to prime organo sheets or GMT. This batch-based process involves stacking layers of glass fabrics and thermoplastic films to create low CO2 footprint organo sheets and GMT sheets with 25 wt% and 60 wt% of recycled content, respectively. Automotive battery housings or body-in-white reinforcements can be produced by compression molding, enabling near net shape molding and combining organos and GMT for high mechanical properties.

Key benefits:
• TPC with high recycled content (25 to 60 percent)
• TPC with low CO2 footprint (1.5 kg CO2/kg)
• Low cost organo sheet
• High mechanical properties (strength and modulus)
• High flexibility of process

Thermoplastic Sandwich Moulding Technology

Fraunhofer IMWS (GERMANY)
www.imws.fraunhofer.de

Partners:
• Daimler Truck AG (Germany)
• ElringKlinger AG (Germany)
• ThermHex Waben GmbH (Germany)
• edevis GmbH (Germany)
• ENGEL Austria GmbH (Austria)

Thermoplastic sandwich moulding technology enables the fully automated production of 3D-moulded components in a material-efficient lightweight sandwich construction. The potential of this innovative hybrid technology was demonstrated using a storage compartment cover from a truck driver’s cab.

The large-scale production of functionalized, 3D-moulded lightweight sandwich components was successfully demonstrated by the partners of a collaborative R&D project. With the produced demonstrators of the storage compartment cover, the implementation of the thermoplastic sandwich moulding technology could be proven for the first time on a real component structure. The 3d shaping of the part is realized by thermoforming of a semi finished thermoplastic sandwich panel in a closed tool, which also enables additional functionalization by injection moulding for integration of hinges and fasteners.

Key benefits:
• Light and stable sandwich construction
• Reduced use of materials
• Efficient processability suitable for large-scale
• Integral design and functional integration
• Recyclability thanks to thermoplastics

UV Pultrusion for manufacturing GFRP Links

German institutes of textile and fiber research Denkendorf (GERMANY)
www.ditf.de/en

Partners:
• IST METZ GmbH & Co. KG (Germany)
• Mubea Fahrwerksfedern GmbH (Germany)
• Steinhuder Werkzeug- u. Apparatebau Helmut Woelfl GmbH (Germany)
• Allnex Belgium SA/NV (Belgium)
• BYK-Chemie GmbH (Germany)
• Johns Manville Slovakia, a.s. (Slovakia)

An innovative, energy-efficient, and high-productivity selective curing UV pultrusion process has been developed for manufacturing corrosion-resistant, GFRP link rods. The rods are up to 40 % lighter than steel counterparts and have been reshaped inline making them ideal for automobile applications.

The innovative UV pultrusion process for producing Glass fiber-reinforced polymer (GFRP) link rods revolutionizes composite manufacturing. Curing the material with UV light in an optically transparent die enables faster production (about 2 m/min for 122 mm² profiles) and precise control over material properties. Selective UV curing allows in-line reshaping, ensuring the manufacturing of complex geometries. The GFRP link rod is 40% lighter than steel, enhancing fuel efficiency and durability. This process improves efficiency, reduces costs, and delivers lightweight, corrosion-resistant components for automotive applications.

Key benefits:
• 40% weight reduction vs. steel for fuel efficiency
• Corrosion resistance, durability and lifespan
• High productivity with energy-efficient UV curing
• Customizable properties via selective curing
• Sustainable materials

Building & Civil Engineering

DACCUSS House Wall (Direct Air Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Safe Storage)

TechnoCarbon Technologies GbR (GERMANY)
www.technocarbon.com

Partners:
• DITF – Deutsche Institute für Textil+Faserforschung (Germany)
• LSL – Labor für Stahl- und Leichtmetallbau GmbH GmbH (Germany)
• Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (Germany)
• AHP GmbH & Co. KG (Germany)
• WSSB – Technical University Munich (Germany)
• University of Hamburg (Germany)
• Peer Technologies GmbH & Co. KG (Germany)
• GREIN.com srl (Italy)
• Convoris Group GmbH (Germany)
• RecyCoal GmbH (Germany)
• ITA, Institut für Textiltechnik der RWTH Aachen University (Germany)
• LISD GmbH (Germany)

CFS (Carbon Fiber Stone) is an innovative material combining carbon-negative stones and bio-based fibers. It serves as an eco-friendly replacement for CO2-intensive concrete in house walls. Each square meter of CFS wall captures 59 kg of CO2, whereas traditional cement walls release 98 kg of CO2.

Algae-oil based green PAN-Carbonfiber reinforced stone plates form highly carbon-negative house walls. This innovation integrates multiple new materials and structural improvements. The design features stiffening structures creating a stable intermediate layer filled with carbon negative biochar granulate for insulation. The use of plutonic stone, its waste is best suitable for enhanced weathering, addresses pressing construction challenges: boosting energy efficiency, while ensuring access to cheaper and utmost scalable materials. Carbon negativity of well-combined materials is crucial for combating climate disaster, as they turn walls into carbonsinks.

Key benefits:
• Lightweight structures from cheap, abundant stone
• Adjustable flexibility for over 1,000 applications
• Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) from ambient air with
• CO2-negative material, no incremental improvement
• Scalable technology aligned with the 1.5°C goals

Glass Fibre Composite Coastal Flood Gate

Infra Composites B.V. (NETHERLANDS)
infracomposites.com

Partners:
• BAM (Netherlands)
• Rijkswaterstaat (Netherlands)

Design of a GFRP composite flood gate that complies with all regulations relevant to Dutch water defense structures. Certify strength and long design life of the gate. Build a composite gate complying with tolerances for watertightness, applying ballast and hoisting devices for operation of the gate.

First application of a full glass fibre composite flood gate (9 m wide, 6 m high and 1.25 m thick) in a main sea water defense structure. The glass fibre composite flood gate protects against spring tides and storm surges, including expected sea level rises and climatic effects of global warming. The gate is not prone to corrosion in saltwater conditions which is beneficial for durability and costs of maintenance. It opens up the way to wider application of composite in water defense structures.

Key benefits:
• Strong and non-corrosive GFRP flood gates
• High durability in salt and dirty water conditions
• Low maintenance costs, significant savings
• Cost-efficient, high strength at low costs
• Low environmental footprint

Paradis bridge, 43m all composite trusswork bridge

FiReCo (NORWAY)
www.fireco.no

Partners:
• CSUB (Norway)
• Consto (Norway)
• Vestland Fylkeskommune (Norway)
• Royal HaskoningDHV (Netherlands)
• Multiconsult (Norway)

The Paradis bridge is the world’s longest truss bridge made in composites. It is a pedestrian and bicycling bridge, 7m wide, and has a free span of 43m. A Vierendeel truss work is used as the main load carrying system. It crosses over both a city train track and a public road.

Paradis bridge is made in a factory.  It has a unique design which minimises the need for secondary laminations and adhesive bonding without bolting. A prefabricated bridge concept opened for efficient transportation, lifting, and a short installation time at location, which demonstrated a unique erection process for light weight composite bridge structures. Furthermore, the bridge has hardly any need for maintenance during lifetime. The Paradis bridge project has demonstrated a potential for composite bridges which will encourage and increase the use of composite in civil engineering.

Key benefits:
• Minimum maintenance cost
• Very short installation time at location
• Minimum amount of secondary lamination
• Alternative erection process for bridges
• Increase use of composite in civil engineering

Circularity & Recycling

A350 production scrap into MFFD rod

herone GmbH (GERMANY)
www.herone.de

Partners:
• Teijin Carbon Europe GmbH (Germany)
• COLLINS AEROSPACE (Netherlands)
• SPIRAL RTC (Netherlands)

Repurposing production scrap from Airbus A350 clips to create thermoplastic composite rods for the Multi-Functional Fuselage Demonstrator (MFFD), offering a circular and sustainable solution by leveraging the recyclability of high-performance thermoplastic composites.

Our innovation transforms production scrap from the Airbus A350 into high-performance thermoplastic composite rods for the MFFD crown module. Scrap from Collins Aerospace is compounded by SPIRAL into granulate, molded into inserts, and co-consolidated with Teijin slit tape. These lightweight rods replace metallic parts, offering recyclability, toughness, and short cycle times.
By avoiding 20 kg of CO2 emissions per kg of recycled material and reusing production scrap, this collaborative approach marks a first step towards circularity in aerospace.

Key benefits:
• Circular Material Flow in aviation
• CO2 Reduction: 20 kg of CO2 emissions per kg
• Weight Savings: Replace metallic components
• Cost-Efficiency: Lower virgin material usage

Induction Heating based rCF Reclaiming

ILSUNG Composites Corporation (SOUTH KOREA)

Partners:
• Korea Textile Machinery Convergence Research Institute (South Korea)
• Institute of Textile Machinery and High Performance Material Technology (ITM), Technische Universität Dresden (Germany)
• Wagenfelder Spinnereien GmbH (Germany)
• Cramer&Co. GmbH (Germany)
• Hyundai Motors Corporation (South Korea)

Carbon fiber is sensitive for electromagnetic field with specific frequency range. In this technology, the temperature on the surface of carbon fiber including in the CFRP ramp over the 1200℃ in few second. Thus, the CFRP waste are not required that the shredding improves the pyrolysis efficiency.

Our novel induction heating (IH)-based pyrolysis technology efficiently recycles carbon fiber reinforced polymer composites (CFRP) without reduction of fiber aspect-ratio. By utilizing high-frequency magnetic fields, it generates rapid, localized heating in carbon fibers, enabling efficient polymer matrix incineration. This method is 100,000 times more energy-efficient than traditional sources (solvent, hot-air etc.), supports continuous production, and preserves the mechanical performance of reclaimed carbon fibers (rCF), retaining 96% of their original strength. The process offers significant environmental and economic benefits by reducing waste and preserving material integrity.

Key benefits:
• High performance & High aspect-ratio of rCF
• Efficient reclaiming process
• Reclaiming of raw materials for composites
• Closed-loop technologies for carbon fiber
• Cost reduction for carbon fiber

The Vanguard – Durable Skateboard made with T-RTM

Kape GmbH (AUSTRIA)
www.kapeskateboards.com

Partners:
• BASF SE (Germany)
• KraussMaffei Group GmbH (Germany)

We’ve created a fully recyclable skateboard using a lightweight polyamide particle foam core, dry glass fibers, and recycled e-caprolactam. This results in a durable, high-performance, and eco-friendly skateboard that reduces waste and outperforms traditional wooden boards.

We’ve created a fully recyclable skateboard using a polyamide particle foam core, dry glass fibers, and recycled e-caprolactam. This design and technology ensures durability, lightweight performance, and sustainability. The advanced casting process seamlessly bonds materials, reducing waste and ecological impact. This innovation outperforms traditional wooden skateboards and has scalability potential across industries such as sports and automotive, offering a cutting-edge, eco-friendly solution.

Key benefits:
• Fully recyclable composite skateboard
• Durable, lightweight, lasts 8x longer than wood
• Sustainable, made with recycled PA6 materials
• Cheaper, less waste, and energy-saving production
• Scalable technology for use in other industries

Design, Furniture & Home

POLAB VALDUR Thermoset Composite Lighting

Professional Lighting POLAB (SWEDEN)
www.polab.se

Partners:
• Tekno Press AB (Sweden)
• DAJAVA Design (Sweden)
• Signify LED Electronics (Netherlands)
• LumenRadio AB (Sweden)

A sustainable LED street lighting solution using thermoset composites with pending patented heat dissipation technology, offering superior performance, durability and reduced environmental impact.

Developed and designed by DAJAVA Design, VALDUR is a revolutionary street lighting fixture crafted entirely from advanced thermoset composite. Manufactured by Professional Lighting POLAB and precision-molded by Teknopress a Swedish leader in thermoset component manufacturing. The design incorporates a pending-patent heat dissipation system, ensuring optimal thermal performance. VALDUR combines exceptional durability, corrosion resistance, and a significantly reduced CO₂ footprint. Lightweight, non-conductive, and easy to install, it thrives in harsh environments. Integrated wireless controls enable smart adaptability, setting a new benchmark for sustainable, high-performance street lighting.

Key benefits:
• Endures marine and industrial environments
⦁ Significantly reduces CO₂ emissions
⦁ Lightweight and easier to install
⦁ Provides excellent electrical insulation
⦁ Integrated smart wireless control

SoundPlank

COMPOSYST GmbH (GERMANY)
composyst.com

Partner:
• Mountain Photonics GmbH (Germany)

The innovation revolves around our unique hi-fi system made out of carbon fibre and wood, embodied in a free-hanging hybrid plate which we have named SoundPlank.

The SoundPlank is a stylish hi-fi system leveraging composite materials for high-end audio quality. It features a hybrid CFRP-wood plate with a “sound spider” distributing sound through six arms. Suspended from a matching frame, the SoundPlank vibrates freely as a surface loudspeaker. Using our patented VAP® vacuum infusion process and in-house 3D-printed molds, we ensure precise thickness and customization with woven carbon fiber and wood laminates. Combining elegance and performance, the SoundPlank offers exceptional sound in a sleek, unconventional design.

Key benefits:
• Unique hi-fi system made out of carbon fibre
• Sleek, stylish design
• Optimal use of material properties (CFRP + wood)
• Nearly limitless design variations

Stylish and recyclable carbon fiber furniture

Cobra International (THAILAND)
www.cobrainter.com

Partners:
• Aditya Birla Chemicals Ltd. – Advanced Materials (Thailand)
• Burapha University (Thailand)
• HANKUK CARBON CO., LTD. (South Korea)
• LUXARA DESIGN CO.,LTD. (Thailand)

Cobra and its partners have coordinated the design, engineering, material selection and manufacturing of a range of innovative carbon fibre-based furniture. The furniture uses the recyclable epoxy resins, along with other production waste, and recycled raw materials.

Cobra, Aditya Birla Group, Burapa University, Hankuk Carbon, and Luxara Design Studio present a recyclable composite meeting table and barstool. The Liana table uses Recyclamine resins, high-modulus prepreg and Cobra’s production-waste BMC material for its structure. Neolith, a 100% sustainable artificial marble with 52% recycled content, and Hankuk woven carbon fabric provide the exceptional surface finish. The Loop barstool uses a looping design style, and again, it uses Recyclamine resins and Hankuk carbon over a recyclable PET core for a high-end yet sustainable seating solution.

Key benefits:
• Thin yet strong, only achievable with carbon fibre
• Lightweight yet durable for lasting performance
• First recyclable carbon fibre furniture
• Upcycling composites waste
• A step towards circularity

Digital, AI & Data

CrossTrack Composites Manufacturing Software Suite

JETCAM International s.a.r.l. (MONACO)
www.jetcam.net

Partners:
• Bombardier Aerospace (Canada)
• Airborne (Netherlands)

CrossTrack solves problems in compoosite manufacturing that ERP can’t. It provides location, consumption and life tracking of pre-preg and other life-based materials – from raw material through to kits. It can integrate with ERP, freezers, autoclaves, etc., and provides a full traceability report.

CrossTrack, developed since 2002, bridges ERP gaps in tracking composite materials. Using MS SQL Server, it handles roll and ply location and life tracking, providing an automated path from CAD file to NC. It imports and tools automatically for multiple machine types/brands, enabling highly efficient nesting and assembly creation. ERP integration supports JIT and static nesting, allocating material by expiry and avoiding defects. CrossTrack optimises material usage, reduces waste, boosts throughput, connects to other hardware/software, and ensures full traceability with minimal user input.

Key benefits:
• Quantifiable ROI with material nesting efficiency
• Drastic reduction in programming time
• More throughput on the CNC
• Full traceability of raw materials and parts
• Tight integration, with MES, ERP, freezers, etc.

DigiTwin: 3D Imaging, Analysis & Digital Twinning

New Frontier Technologies (AUSTRALIA)
newfrontiertech.com.au

Partners:
• CTLab – Australian National University (Australia)
• Digital Composites Factory (Germany)

The innovation is a digital twin of as-manufactured composite components based on advanced CT imaging and machine learning, which effectively maps fibres and defects from 3D images to create a detailed finite element mesh for high-fidelity performance simulation of composite components.

3D imaging and digital twin simulations enable unsurpassed quality analysis and performance prediction for composite components. High-resolution x-ray computed tomography (CT) captures micron-scale internal features (voids, fibres) of manufactured parts, and our machine learning algorithms segment these features to enable precise measurement of void content and distribution, part geometry, and fibre content and orientation. A 3D mesh, with all internal features accurately mapped, is then generated and incorporated into a digital twin for high-fidelity finite element performance simulation of the as-manufactured part.

Key benefits:
• Enhanced quality assurance in composites
• Defect removal & accurate performance prediction
• Cost efficiency through waste reduction
• Reduced development cycle and time-to-market
• Increased composite products sustainability

Enhancing Cured Laminate Compensation with AI

Magestic Technologies (USA)
www.magestictech.com

Partner:
• Lockheed Martin (USA)

CLC can leverage AI to improve processes based on historical manufacturing data, cutting productions costs per serial part created. Thickness trends per zone are analyzed to bring parts within tolerance after the first cure cycle eliminating a costly secondary cure cycle for compensation plies.

The Cured Laminate Compensation (CLC) process uses Magestic’s TruPly Comp software to ensure composite laminates meet engineering tolerances by addressing thin zones with compensation plies. Lockheed Martin’s analysis of historical data revealed recurring thickness issues, allowing for process adjustments to the laminate manufacturing process to potentially eliminate secondary CLC steps which would save 8-9 days per part. Successful testing on multiple F-35 part numbers demonstrates the potential for integrating AI into TruPly Comp to scale these efficiencies across composite manufacturing.

Key benefits:
• Reduce production cost and cycle time
• Gain insight quickly from historical data via AI
• Engineering tolerances met within one cure cycle
• Concepts implemented and proven at Lockheed Martin
• CLC is commercially available for manufacturers

Maritime Transportation & Shipbuilding

FIBRE4YARDS

International Center for Numerical Methods in Engineering – CIMNE (SPAIN)
www.cimne.com/3610

Partners:
• Curve Works (Netherlands)
• Robtrusion (Spain)
• 10XL (Netherlands)
• Compass Ingeniería y Sistemas SA – CompassIS (Spain)
• Institut de Recherche Technologique Jules Verne – no-profit and private R&D centre (France)
• INEGI (Portugal)
• Técnicas y Servicios de Ingeniería SL (Spain)
• Bureau Veritas (France)
• Lodz University of Technology (Poland)
• L-UP SAS (France)
• ZAFIRO Business Solutions Kft (Hungary)

FIBRE4YARDS has developed new composite production technologies to redefine shipbuilding by adopting a modular construction and automated processes. In addition the project has developed new design tools and a production software based on IoT.

FIBRE4YARDS improves production, minimizes environmental impact, enhances quality and reduces costs of shipbuilding. This is achieved by using new automated processes in the shipyard such as additive manufacturing, reusable moulds that can adopt double curvature shapes, curved pultruded profiles, stamped thermoplastics and new connection technologies to facilitate the assembly of all parts. FIBRE4YARDS has also designed a complete sensing system that feeds a digital twin of the shipyard, and new software tools to incorporate the new production processes into the ship design.

Key benefits:
• Improve production of fibre shipbuilding
• Improve the quality of produced ships
• Minimize environmental impact of shipbuilding
• Minimize the cost of shipbuilding
• Technologies exportable to other sectors

Foil infinite

Avel Robotics (France)
www.avelrobotics.com

Partners:
• OpenSea Labs – MiniLab project (France)
• ComposiTIC (France)
• IRMA (France)
• Victrex (United Kingdom)

Avel’s hydrofoil have a footprint of 45KgCO2eq /Kg of foil. The new process we have developed is 30% more sustainable, reaching 30KgCO2eq/Kg. Materials and technologies used are easily transferable to aeronautical industry, placing our innovation as a pathfinder to recycle full composite structures.

The infinite foil is composed of three thermoplastic materials that each brings key feature properties to the specific functionalities of the different substructures composing the parts. The development of this product combines material expertise from Victrex, thermoplastic processing skills (AFP and OOA curing) from IRMA/Compositic, the hydrofoil manufacturing know-how developed by Avel, and the products specifications brought from end-user MiniLab. Beyond recyclability, thermoplastic offers other technical advantages to hydrofoils, that will be demonstrated on board MiniLab during a race across the Atlantic in autumn 2025.

Key benefits:
• TP offers CO2 footprint improvement of 30%
• TP offers recyclability + reduced scrap rates
• TP offers reduced production time
• TP offers improved steering mechanical properties
• TP offers better chock absorption properties

New Certification Approach for Patch Repair

Bureau Veritas (FRANCE)
marine-offshore.bureauveritas.com

Partners:
• TotalEnergies S.E. (France)
• Petrobras (Brazil)
• Naval Group (France)
• Siemens (Belgium)
• Cold Pad (France)
• InfraCore Company (Netherlands)
• Université Gustave Eiffel (France)

StrengthBond Offshore is a Joint Industry Project which aimed to develop a methodology for assessing the strength of bonded repair.

This innovative methodology uses non-standard specimens for toughness tests, called “equivalent interface”. Their design with multi-material substrates representing the interfaces of composite repairs on metals significantly reduces the number of tests needed for characterization. The fracture toughness of the weakest interface, obtained from these specimens, is used in numerical models with Cohesive Zone Modelling to predict full-scale composite repair behaviour. The comprehensive qualification process encompasses all phases, from design and manufacturing to operational surveys of the composite patch repair.

Key benefits:
• Cold solution for repairing
• Restore the structural integrity
• Cost-effective solution
• Qualified methodology for bonded repair

Renewable Energies

DTM Wind Blade Tooling by 6m Wide 3D Printing

University of Maine (USA)
www.composites.umaine.edu

Partners:
• Oak Ridge National Laboratory (USA)
• Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (USA)
• TPI Composites, Inc. (USA)
• Ingersoll Machine Tools, Inc. (USA)
• Techmer PM (USA)

Additively manufactured blade tooling comprised of steelwork approximating the required shape, an insulating subfloor machined to the required shape, a thermoplastic print floor, and a thin 3D printed layer, with integrated heating wires coextruded during 3D printing or installed beneath the floor.

A design for rapid direct-to-mold tooling is presented.  A steel framework is first fabricated to roughly approximate the tool shape.  A thick insulating layer of structural foam or softwood is affixed to the steelwork, machined to shape, and covered with a print floor.  A 3D printed layer is then deposited and machined to the exact tool shape.  Heating is provided either by resistive wires coextruded during 3D printing, or by a flexible electrical heating layer beneath the print floor.

Key benefits:
• Increasing the recyclability of wind blade tooling
• Reducing time-to-market for new wind blade designs
• Reducing worker exposure to hazardous emissions
• Creating skilled jobs while reducing manual labor
• Reducing the cost of wind blade shell tools

rComposite® for vertical wind blades

Northern Light Srl (ITALY)
nlcomp.it

Partners:
• Windcity (Italy)
• Arkema (France)
• Bcomp (Switzerland)

Our innovation is a fully recyclable vertical wind turbine blade made from rComposite®, our patented recyclable composite material, designed to drastically reduce waste and promote circularity in the wind energy industry.

Our composite innovation, rComposite®, is a recyclable material made from thermoplastic resins and low impact raw materials. For the vertical wind turbine blade, we use a mix of glass, flax and recycled carbon fibers combined with thermoplastic resins. The blade is produced through vacuum infusion technology, ensuring optimal fiber-resin ratio and mechanical properties while maintaining recyclability at the end of its lifecycle. Our rComposite® technology is verified by DNV for recyclability and recycled content.

Key benefits:
• Circularity
• Reducing environmental impact
• Reducing waste

ZEBRA – Zero wastE Blade ReseArch project

IRT Jules Verne (FRANCE)
www.irt-jules-verne.fr 

Partners:
• Arkema (France)
• CANOE(France)
• ENGIE (France)
• LM Wind Power (Denmark)
• Owens Corning (France)
• SUEZ (France)

The ZEBRA project’s aim is to demonstrate the technical, economic, and environmental relevance of thermoplastic wind turbine blades on a full-scale demonstrator, with an eco-design approach to enable a high recycling rate.

The ZEBRA project objective is to develop innovative material and processes to improve sustainability of wind energy blades. Two full scale thermoplastic wind turbine blades (62.2 and 77.4 meters) have been manufactured by LM Wind Power with Arkema’s Elium® resin and Owens Corning’s Ultrablade® fabrics and tested using accredited methods. Recycling solutions have been developed, to generate recycled Elium® monomer and to recover glass fiber at pilot scale and a complete Life Cycle Assessment as shown the environmental benefits of ZEBRA blades.

Key benefits:
• Closed-loop recycling of glass fiber wastes
• Optimization of use of resources for raw materials
• Proven thermoplastic based design on wind blade
• Generation of recycled Elium® through thermolysis
• Environmental benefits of closed-loop ZEBRA blades

Sports, Leisure & Recreation

Cockpit – handlebar

ENGEL Austria GmbH (AUSTRIA)
www.engelglobal.com

Partners:
• DOMO Chemicals (Germany)
• Plastic Innovation (Austria)
• Simoldes (Portugal)
• ARTEFAKT DESIGN GmbH & Co. Kg (Germany)
• Canyon (Germany)

In collaboration with our partners, we have developed a cockpit handlebar for bicycles. This new handlebar is a tool-falling component, reinforced with short glass and continuous carbon fibers. It is manufactured as a hollow structure by injection molding, with a cycle time of less than one minute.

The cockpit handlebar is produced with gas-assisted injection molding. The part is first filled with glass-reinforced polyamide 6, afterwards the unsolidified core is displaced by gas injection. Carbon fiber tapes reinforce key areas and reduce deflection by up to 10%. An automated handling system transfers the tapes to a holding system in the mold. Optimized process control ensures that the tapes are firmly bonded to the injection molding material. The hollow design, including carbon fiber reinforcement, ensures that the part is strong yet lightweight.

Key benefits:
• Immediate usability – no postprocessing needed
• Novel design with maximum functionality
• Sustainability by targeted material utilization
• Engineered for local-for-local production

Honey Roots Technology

The Gun Sails von Osterhausen GmbH (FRANCE)
kanoa-surfboards.com

Partners:
• RWTH Aachen University (Germany)
• Aditya Birla Chemicals – Advanced Materials (Germany)
• Chemnitz University of Technology (Germany)
• Norafin Industries GmbH (Germany)
• Evonik Operations GmbH (Germany)
• JACKON Insulation GmbH (Germany)

A recyclable sustainable surfboard construction realized through a 3D laminate that is improving the mechanics of the finished part and eliminating the need for infusion consumables. The material choice is consequently biobased or recycled while maximizing performance and minimizing CO2 footprint.

Honey-Roots-Technology is a fiber reinforced 3D-structure that is superficially anchored in the core. The HRT-Laminate shows superior mechanics while enabling an infusion process that has significantly reduced wastage. With a layup consisting of lyocell and cellulose, a core out of lignin and recycled content, the majority of the material composition is from wood origin. Thanks to the biobased and recyclable resin system the board demonstrates full recyclability. The final result is a long-lasting performance surfboard with a minimized footprint and designed for circularity.

Key benefits:
• 3D structure for better mechanics+fatigue strength
• 100% natural fiber, recycled and bio based core
• Truly recyclable composite part
• Moldless process with 99% reusable auxiliaries
• 100% European supply chain to further reduce CO2

Revolin Sports Helix Pickleball Paddle

Revolin Sports INC. (USA)
www.revolinsports.com

Partners:
• Helicoid Industries INC. (USA)
• EcoTechnilin (France)

The Helix Paddle is a paddle for pickleball intentionally designed with planet-friendly, natural, renewable bio-composite materials arranged in a customized Helicoid™ layup architecture to offer unmatched performance and durability.

Revolin Sports, in collaboration with EcoTechnilin and Helicoid Industries, has created the Helix pickleball paddle. This advanced paddle features a flax-thermoplastic laminate arranged in a cutting-edge helicoidal architecture and a polymer honeycomb core, creating a lightweight, high-strength, vibration-reducing sandwich panel with a high-spin surface. Using an automated robotic manufacturing process, it’s produced with precise quality, low waste, and fast cycle times. The paddle is made with a homogeneous thermoplastic material and is recyclable. Future plans include reusing this material to create fully circular products.

Key benefits:
● Increased durability by 40%
● Reduced vibrations that cause noise and fatigue
● Increased sweet spot size by 20%
● Greatly reduced CO2 footprint from cradle to grave
● Able to capture material value through recycling

PRESS CONTACTS

CLC Communications – Tél. +33 (0)6 46 54 94 51
Jérôme Saczewski – Christelle Grelou – Ingrid Jaunet – Anaëlle Djadjo
[email protected]  – [email protected]  – [email protected]

JEC
Elodie Chauderlot
[email protected]

About JEC  
JEC Group is a non-profit organization entirely dedicated to promoting composite materials and fostering their applications globally.
Publisher of the JEC Composites Magazine, the industry’s reference magazine, JEC organizes several events around the world, including JEC World, the leading international exhibition dedicated to composites and their applications, which takes place annually in Paris. JEC media, events and digital channels connect a global community of professionals from the composites industry and beyond, to enable knowledge transfer, create networking opportunities, and highlight innovation.
JEC: Connecting the World with Composites
www.jeccomposites.com