SPE ACCE announces first keynote speaker for 2021 event

The executive planning committee for the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE, Brookfield, Conn., U.S.) Automotive Composites Conference & Expo (ACCE, Detroit, Mich., U.S.) announces Dan Dowdall, global business development manager – transportation composites at INEOS Composites (formerly Ashland Performance Materials, Dublin, Ohio, U.S.) as ACCE’s first keynote speaker. During the Sept. 8-10, 2021 event, Dowdall will present “Advancements for Cost-Effective Resin Systems and Composite Applications,” which will outline INEOS Composites’ resin systems for value-driven composites and highlight recent and potential product applications. 

“As auto/truck OEMs and mobility suppliers move in dramatic new directions, one requirement has remained constant — design and material decisions must be cost-effective,” says Dowdall. “Polymer composites are the material of choice for design flexibility, reducing weight and improving performance in automotive applications. However, historically composites were used mainly in lower production applications such as high-performance racing and luxury sports cars due to higher costs associated with composites technologies. Now, composites are also meeting the challenge of being cost-effective, making them more practical for high-volume automotive production applications which will revolutionize the industry.”

Dowdall has more than 30 years of experience in the development of composite materials, processes and applications for auto, truck and industrial markets. Prior to joining INEOS, he held a variety of technical, commercial and management positions with General Motors Co. (Detroit, Mich., U.S.),  Cambridge Industries, Meridian Automotive Systems (Dearborn) and Continental Structural Plastics (CSP, Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S.). Dan has a BSME from Michigan State University, an MBA from Wayne State University, and has participated in nearly every ACCE as a speaker, exhibitor or session organizer/moderator.     

In addition to daily keynote presentations, the three-day ACCE will feature technical presentations, panel discussions, daily networking opportunities and more than 50 sponsors presenting advances in materials, processes and equipment for both thermoset and thermoplastic composites in a wide variety of transportation applications. The Automotive and Composites Divisions of the SPE jointly produce the ACCE to educate the industry about the benefits of composites in automotive, light- and heavy-duty truck, off-highway vehicles and other ground transportation applications.   

Event technical presentations are organized in the following categories:

• Advances in thermoplastic composites
• Advances in thermoset composites
• Modeling
• Additive manufacturing and 3D printing
• Enabling technologies
• Sustainable composites
• Bonding, joining and finishing
• Carbon fiber composites
• Business trends and technology solutions. 

The 2021 ACCE will be co-chaired by 2018, 2019 and 2020 ACCE Technical Program co-chair Dr. Leonardo Simon, professor of chemical engineering at University of Waterloo (Waterloo, Ontario, Canada) returning ACCE 2020 co-chair Dr. Xiaosong Huang, lab group manager of Polymer Composite Systems in GM Global Research and Development, General Motors Co. (Detriot, Mich., U.S.); and Dr. Khaled W. Shahwan, senior technology leader – Advanced Technology and Pre-Development Programs, FCA U.S. (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Auburn Hills, Mich., U.S.). 

The technical program will be co-chaired by Dr. David Jack, professor, Mechanical Engineering at Baylor University (Waco, Tex., U.S.) and Dr. Alex Kravchenko, assistant professor, Composites Modeling and Manufacturing Group, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Old Dominion University (Norfolk, Virg., U.S.).

SPE ACCE have also recently called for student poster competition abstracts and a nomination call for the Automotive Innovation Awards Gala.