CAMX 2025 was a reminder that the composites industry is built on collaboration, adaptability and a relentless commitment to innovation. Source (All Images) | CW

CAMX 2025 was a reminder that the composites industry’s true strength lies not just in materials and technology, but in one’s mindset. From the opening remarks to the industry awards, a powerful narrative emerged — innovation is born from collaboration, adaptability and a profound commitment to improving human experience.

With this year’s CAMX based in Orlando, Composites One president and CEO Leon Garoufalis’ kick-off to the conference was fitting, reflecting on Disney World’s approach to customer service — treating every interaction as an opportunity to create something meaningful. This philosophy resonates deeply with the composites community, an area of manufacturing that plays an ever-increasing role in shaping the world around us, from aerospace to renewable energy to transportation to infrastructure.

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Futurist Sheryl Connely delivers CAMX 2025 keynote address.

This year’s keynote address from former Ford futurist Sheryl Connelly further amplified this theme of purposeful innovation. Her message of preparing for the future rather than predicting it aligns perfectly with the composites industry’s ethos. Just as Connelly urged organizations to “lean into the unknown,” themes at CAMX emphasized approaching challenges with curiosity and an open mind.

Nowicki Autosport Design Concept8 frunk hood made with Exxon Mobile’s Proxxima polyolefin thermoset resin.

The CAMX Awards and ACE Awards celebrated this transformative potential. The winner of the CAMX Combined Strength Award was the Nowicki Autosport Design Concept8 frunk hood — the first commercially available Class A surface composite part for a passenger sports car made with ExxonMobil’s Proxxima polyolefin thermoset resin. Built by McClarin Composites using OE-grade 3K twill carbon fiber and the VARTM process, the hood isn’t just a sleek surface — it delivers a premium finish while making smart use of existing epoxy-based tooling and processing infrastructure. The achievement is an example of how cutting-edge materials can redefine what’s possible in automotive design and manufacturing.

Helicoid Industries’ self-sensing and adaptive dual matrix composite electric vehicle (EV) battery enclosure.

The winner of the CAMX Unsurpassed Innovation Award was Helicoid Industries for its self-sensing and adaptive dual-matrix composite electric vehicle (EV) battery enclosure. The sandwich enclosure integrates cooling, fire containment and crash protection, replacing a multi-component aluminum assembly with one lightweight, compact component.

Meanwhile the ACE Award winners represent a wide range of solutions from Fraunhofer’s use of bio-based materials for bike helmets and Re-Wind’s repurposing of a retired GFRP windblade to support a pedestrian bridge to Electroimpact’s rocket nozzle achieved via AFP over water-dissolvable tooling and Kreysler & Associates’ FRP cladding panels for the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, just to name a few. These innovations aren’t just about performance; they’re about reimagining what’s possible.

The technical paper and poster award winners at CAMX are also examples of the composites community’s commitment to pushing boundaries. From advanced manufacturing techniques to material science breakthroughs, these researchers are not just studying composites — they’re expanding the very definition of what composites can do.

Returning to the opening sentiments from the general session, the most compelling thread throughout the conference was the human element. Many of the conversations held on the show floor emphasized that technology serves a greater purpose — improving lives. Whether it’s creating lighter, more efficient EVs, developing sustainable infrastructure or enabling space exploration, composites are fundamentally about human potential.

In the midst of numerous global challenges including supply chain uncertainty and geopolitical tensions, CAMX 2025 was a reminder that the composites industry is built on collaboration, adaptability and a relentless commitment to innovation. We stand at the intersection of science, creativity and human aspiration. As Connelly said in her keynote, we can either create the future we want or endure the future we get. Let’s rise to meet these challenges together.