The JEC World exhibition that is set to take place from 8-10 March in Paris will introduce, for the first time, four new display areas totalling more than 1,800m2. The so-called Planets will feature innovative and iconic parts, final products, and some of the 2016 JEC Innovation Awards recipients.

The four Planets will be dedicated to Automotive, Aeronautics, Sports and Sustainability. “JEC World is now targeting end-users. They are the decisive customers. To these non-specialists, the composites concept may seem abstract and our challenge is to make composites understandable,” said Frédérique Mutel, JEC Group President & CEO.

“A more accessible presentation of what can be done with composites will be presented during JEC World 2016. It will enable any professional looking for eco-friendly products to compare and adopt composites solutions. We wish to show the final market the composites innovations that bring disruptive changes in design and usage.”

The AUTO Planet

The AUTO Planet will highlight the mutation the sector is experiencing in terms of materials, thanks to composites. Sponsored by Hexion, this area covers all the sub-segments of automotive production, including body-in-white, roof, hood and bonnet, doors and other exterior parts, suspension, interior, under-the-hood applications (including the engine), and wheels.

It will feature products like a Lamborghini Spyder Huracán, a 3D-printed Cobra Shelby, and a Roding electric car; and also serial production parts and more from the new Audi R8, the Audi A6 Avant 2.0 TDI Ultra, the BMW 7 Series, the BMW i8, the BMW M3, the BMW M4, Chrysler models, the Ford Lincoln MKS, the Lamborghini Aventador, the Porsche 911 GT3, and the Mercedes-Benz Unimog & Sprinter.

RTM, HP-RTM, liquid composite moulding (LCM), overmoulded organosheet, compression moulding, pultrusion and 3Dprinting technologies will be showcased through parts and demonstrators.

The AERO Planet

Despite the lack of new legacy programmes with a massive use of composites, the aerospace sector continues to innovate, especially in automation and thermoplastics, organisers report. The AERO Planet will feature products from or for AgustaWestland, Airbus, ATR Group, Fokker, Grob Aircraft, Premium AEROTEC and Sonaca, among others.

The area will cover a wide spectrum of applications, ranging from a complete aircraft (the Red Bird) to 3D printed parts for satellites; a long-haul aircraft door made in a one-shot process; a door frame for the A350-1000; a fuel tank and thermoplastic horizontal tail for a helicopter; a wing for the Airbus E-Fan electric aircraft; a plane tail; and more.

The SPORTS Planet

JEC Group made a strong effort for this Planet. The sports sector may have a lower growth rate, but it is quite extraordinary in terms of innovation and variety of applications, according to organisers.

Famous sport brand names will be presenting their products, including Bauer, Brabo, Canyon, Felt, Head, Prince, Look Cycle, Orbea, Rolo, Salomon, Specialized, Time, Wime, Zodiac Nautic, and others. The SPORTS Planet will also showcase luxury sport watches and mechanisms made of carbon fibre.

The area will be subdivided into four zones – Land, Mountain, On Wheels, and Water – featuring a huge number of dedicated items for all kinds of sports.

The SUSTAINABLE Planet

Economic growth in a sustainable way is the motto of this area. Topics covered include recycling, energy production and storage, water management, building and infrastructure in terms of durability or repair, oil and gas in terms of safety or lower environmental impact, and energy-efficient machinery and equipment.

BMW will present a centre console carrier made of recycled carbon fibre for its Mini Clubman vehicle. The Russian Nanotechnology Centre of Composites (NCC) will present a fully electric composite bus using a modular system. An entirely pultruded bus side panel will also be showcased.

Waste-water and drinking-water management will be highlighted through a tank and a relining system for drinking-water pipes, and the oil and gas sector will be represented by a part for the Mafumeira project.

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