IBEX 2016: New access to composites

Steve Potts spoke about epoxy infusion in production boatbuilding (left) and Future Materials included exhibits on recycled carbon fiber materials and parts (right).
SOURCE: Soundings Trade Only, CompositesWorld.

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The 2016 Intl. BoatBuilders’ Exhibition & Conference (IBEX) — held Oct. 4-6 in Tampa, FL — drew more than 6,000 attendees and was a sold-out show for exhibitors, featuring 556 marine industry suppliers. Even though Hurricane Matthew disrupted attendance from industry professionals throughout the East Coast, the show was still a great success, with a record-breaking 750 attendees at the Oct. 4th Industry Breakfast, where the new partnership between IBEX and METSTRADE was announced.

New Partner METSTRADE
RAI Amsterdam have purchased a 50% stake in IBEX from WoodenBoat Publications Inc., publisher of Professional BoatBuilder magazine. All future IBEX events will be produced by RAI Amsterdam and the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA, Chicago, IL, US).

RAI Amsterdam organizes app. 500 events in the Netherlands and abroad and operates the RAI Amsterdam Convention Centre. As owners and producers of METSTRADE (The Marine Equipment Trade Show), the world’s largest marine trade exhibition, it works with 1400+ exhibitors from some 50 countries and welcomes over 22,000 visitors annually from all over the world.

“Together, IBEX and the METSTRADE Show will be more collaborative to ensure all of the latest worldwide industry developments, training and products are being brought to the professionals attending each event,” said Ids Boersma, Executive Vice President of RAI Exhibitions. “As the new co-owners of IBEX, we will work together to grow an international presence of marine manufacturers and technology at IBEX while giving European businesses more access to U.S. professionals.”

Professional BoatBuilder magazine plans to stay involved in IBEX as a technical education partner, as well as an exhibitor.

Technical Education Continues
As the marine industry’s largest technical trade event in North America, IBEX continues to offer first-class technical sessions and seminars (see below), as well as access to cutting edge composites information via new attractions like Composites Tech Talks and Future Materials.

SOURCE: Scout Boats, IBEX, Soundings Trade Only.

Composites Tech Talks
A new event in the IBEX Composites Pavilion for 2016, Composites Tech Talks was held from 5-6pm on Day One of the show and featured game-changing developments in composites, presented in a TED Talk-like format. Sponsored by Composites One and Magnum Venus Products, attendees enjoyed drinks and food at the Composites One booth, while listening to the following:

• Ryan Williams, senior scientist for N12 Technologies (Cambridge, MA, US) explained the development and real benefits to composite structures of its easy-to-use, drop-in nanotechnology products: NanoStitch and Surface Layer System.
• Steve Potts, founder and president of Scout Boats (Summerville, SC, US) discussed his company’s recent switch to closed-mold resin infusion and epoxy resin for its 42-ft luxury sport fish model featuring a mirror-finish black hull. He explained why they made the transition and noted that the 38-ft and 35-ft models are also now made with epoxy infusion.
• Alan Taylor, president of Rapid Composites LLC (Sarasota, FL, US) presented that despite his company’s small size, it routinely processes composite parts for automotive, defense and UAV applications with cycle times ranging from 11 minutes down to less than 60 seconds. He also announced recent investment in these technologies by Firestone Fibers & Textiles.
   

Future Materials
This interactive exhibit, co-curated by Professional BoatBuilder magazine and CompositesWorld, features the latest composites products and technologies from aerospace, automotive, sporting goods, industrial and academia/research that marine industry professionals might not normally get to see close-up.

Located in the center of the IBEX Composites Pavilion, visitors can walk through Future Materials at their own pace, picking up the various samples and parts, and learn more via display cards and articles. A full list of the companies and products displayed with links to additional information is available here.

One of the companies included in Future Materials 2016, 3A Composites Baltek Inc., also won the IBEX 2016 Innovation Award in the Boatbuilding Methods & Materials category for its BANOVA high-quality, ultra-lightweight balsa wood veneer products. Used widely or structural components, interior fittings and furniture in the marine market, BANOVA enables lighter components and thus more efficient boats. All BANOVA products come from 100% FSC certified resources.

Composites Technical Sessions and Seminars
Composites were featured in the following IBEX 2016 Exhibitor Workshops (Tech Talks), extended-length Super Sessions and technical seminars: