SPE ACCE 2023 provides combination of presentations, exhibits, networking
The event featured exhibits, speakers, an awards ceremony for scholarships and more.
SPE ACCE included a track devoted to the sustainability of composite materials and processes with regard to the automotive sector. Photo Credit: CW
The 23rd annual Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE, Danburgy, Conn., U.S.) Automotive Composites Conference and Expo (ACCE) event was held Sept. 6-8, 2023, at the Surburban Collection showplace Diamond Banquet and Conference Center in Novi, Mich., U.S. The theme of 2023 was “Composites: The Key to EV Auto and Air Mobility,” emphasizing the importance of composites to automotive electric vehicles (EVs) and the next wave of transportation — electric air transportation. The event was well-received and featured many educational and networking opportunities for more than 450 attendees, including 52 presentations for the technical program. Presentations ranged across a variety of topics, all relevant to composites.
There were also several awards ceremonies and competitions, including the Best Paper Awards, Student Poster Competition, Part Competition and Scholarship Awards.
The Best Paper Awards are given to those who have presented the best papers at the conference, recognizing excellence in technical writing. The winners received the highest average ratings by conference peer reviewers, including members of the ACCE planning committee and other industry experts. The authors of the papers were presented with certificates at the conference, and their papers were highlighted in the ACCE program schedule and will be published in SPE Automotive and Composites Division newsletters and other industry publications.
The Student Poster Competition features students from the U.S. and Canada presenting innovative research related to polymer composite materials and manufacturing technologies for automotive applications. The competition enables students to meet with people in the industry and learn about career opportunities. There are two categories under which students are awarded, the Graduate category and the Undergraduate category.
The Scholarship Awards featured the SPE ACCE scholarships and Dr. Jackie Rehkopf scholarships. Both scholarship programs are administered as part of the SPE Foundation. ACCE scholarships, presented in increments of $1,000 and $2,000, are awarded to students pursuing advanced studies in a composites-related field. Dr. Jackie Rehkopf scholarships are for $2,500.
The Part Competition features a panel of automotive composites industry experts from industry and academia who studied the nine nominations that were submitted prior to the event and subsequently reviewed on-site. Nominations were judged on the impact and trendsetting nature of the application, including materials of construction, processing methods, assembly methods and other enabling technologies that made the application possible. The People’s Choice Award was selected by vote of conference attendees.
Award and competition winners
Related Content
Novel composite technology replaces welded joints in tubular structures
The Tree Composites TC-joint replaces traditional welding in jacket foundations for offshore wind turbine generator applications, advancing the world’s quest for fast, sustainable energy deployment.
Read MoreRecycling hydrogen tanks to produce automotive structural components
Voith Composites and partners develop recycling solutions for hydrogen storage tanks and manufacturing methods to produce automotive parts from the recycled materials.
Read MoreASCEND program update: Designing next-gen, high-rate auto and aerospace composites
GKN Aerospace, McLaren Automotive and U.K.-based partners share goals and progress aiming at high-rate, Industry 4.0-enabled, sustainable materials and processes.
Read MoreNatural fiber composites: Growing to fit sustainability needs
Led by global and industry-wide sustainability goals, commercial interest in flax and hemp fiber-reinforced composites grows into higher-performance, higher-volume applications.
Read MoreRead Next
CANZ 2023 Conference highlights composites sustainability in New Zealand
Returning to Auckland, New Zealand, the two-day event Oct. 12-13 will engage attendees with insightful presentations, innovative ideas, collaborative discussions and a workshop focused on sustainability and improving manufacturing capability.
Read MoreJEC Forum DACH announces Startup Booster finalists
Five finalists based in the DACH region will pitch their composites-related innovations during the October 2023 event in Salzburg, Germany.
Read MoreWomen in the Composites Industry brings together women for networking, educational opportunities
Aiming to support the growth of women in this industry, the WCI industry group and its partners recently held its first live training event hosted by Owens Corning.
Read More