STUTTGART, Germany — September 17, 2013 — The four major organisations within the German fibre
reinforced composites industry have announced the foundation of a joint umbrella organisation at
the Composites Europe 2013 trade fair: together they will form the trade association Composites
Germany. The founding members of Composites Germany, which is based in Berlin, are AVK –
Industrievereinigung Verstärkte Kunststoffe e. V. (AVK), Carbon Composites e. V. (CCeV), CFK-Valley
Stade e. V. (CFK-Valley) and Forum Composite Technology in the VDMA (VDMA).
The purpose of this new umbrella organisation is to strengthen the German composites industry
and research, define joint positions and identify common interests. The member organisations will
remain separate and independent. However, they will join forces in areas of special relevance in
Germany, such as high performance composites and automated production techniques.
The organisation will focus its attention on areas such as public relations and representing
the industry’s interests, promoting technology and innovation, participating jointly at trade fairs
and developing event and training concepts. A biannual survey of all the member companies of the
founding associations on the subject of market information was conducted for the first time in July
2013. Work is also already in progress on the theme of standardisation with particular attention
being paid to material properties and testing procedures.
Dr. Michael Effing, Chairman of the AVK and Managing Director of AMAC has been elected
Chairman, a role which will rotate each year between the member associations. “Composites are a key
technology for Germany and this technology has to stay. Especially in the field of lightweight
materials and integrated production technologies for high wage countries it is important that the
four leading composites organisations work closely together and represent the interests of their
members with one voice,” says Michael Effing.
Dr. Elmar Witten, Managing Director of the AVK, was elected Spokesman for the Management of
Composites Germany. “The new Composites Germany website (www.composites-germany.org) presents the
organisation and its activities. But it also enables everyone with an interest in the area of
composites to communicate effectively with the relevant partners in the industry,” says Elmar
Witten.
Posted September 17, 2013
Source: Composites Germany
