The 20th anniversary of Composites United e. V. (CU) is not only a milestone in the history of the association, but also a significant event for the entire industry of high-performance fiber composites. This anniversary provides an opportunity to look back on two decades of innovation, cooperation and outstanding success. Since its inception, the CU has established itself as a central platform that networks companies and research institutions in the DACH region, but also internationally, and has decisively driven the development of fiber composite technologies.
From foundation to merger
The history of the CU begins with the founding of two strong networks: CFK Valley Stade e. V. in 2004 and Carbon Composites e. V. (CCeV) in 2007. Both associations were pioneers in their respective regions and contributed significantly to the development and dissemination of fiber composites.
The success story of CFK Valley Stade e. V. began at the gates of Airbus in Stade-Ottenbeck with the idea of pooling the expertise available locally in order to drive forward and institutionalize development work for the automation of processing the material CFRP. In 2004, the time had come: seven partners – Airbus and CTC, Saertex, Hexcel, the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Applied Materials Research and the city of Stade – were enthusiastic about the idea and founded the association CFK Valley Stade e. V. in May 2004, with a name reminiscent of Silicon Valley in the USA. CFK Valley Stade quickly became a brand with a high international profile and established itself as one of the world’s leading networks for fiber composite technology.
Only a short time later, there was a small group of industries in southern Germany that pursued a similar goal: To tackle the sustainable industrialization of carbon composites by working together on platform topics. This was the foundation stone for Carbon Composites e. V. (CCeV), which was founded in Augsburg in March 2007 by ten players from the regional and national economy. The founding members in the south included the Airbus Group, Airbus Helicopters, SGL Carbon, MT Aerospace, KUKA, the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the Institute of Aircraft Design at the University of Stuttgart, the University of Augsburg, the Swabian Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the City of Augsburg. The network in the south quickly grew to become the largest competence network in the German-speaking region and after ten years already had over 300 members covering the entire value chain of high-performance fiber composites.
In May 2004, seven members founded the association CFK Valley Stade e. V., whose name is reminiscent of Silicon Valley in the USA. These include: Airbus and CTC, Saertex, Hexcel Composites, the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Applied Materials Research and the city of Stade.
The foundation stone for Carbon Composites e. V. (CCeV) was laid in Augsburg in March 2007. The founding members include the Airbus Group, Airbus Helicopters, SGL Carbon, MT Aerospace, KUKA, the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the Institute of Aircraft Design at the University of Stuttgart, the University of Augsburg, the Swabian Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the City of Augsburg.
Selected milestones 2004 – 2019
A first important milestone towards national coordination of activities in the field of fibre-reinforced composites was the joint initiative to form the trade association Composites Germany in 2013. CFK Valley e. V. and CCeV as well as the AVK and VDMA associations joined forces to pool the interests and strengths of the German composites industry and thus strengthen the competitiveness of this sector at national and international level.
In their joint work, the mutual interests of CFK Valley e. V. and CCeV and their members quickly became clear. This was evident, for example, in the organization of similar event formats or trade fair appearances. Since their foundation, both associations have been present with their members at the most important international industry trade fairs, such as JEC World in Paris, Hannover Messe and Composites Europe. Both Stade and Augsburg have been intensively involved in training and further education from the outset by initiating subject-specific courses of study and seminar programs, teacher training and a trainee program. Further overlaps in the range of services offered by the two organizations can be seen in the work in the area of norms and standardization, in similar communication offerings or in the regular provision of market information.
Above all, it became clear what other valuable synergy effects could arise for the industrial application of fiber composite technology. The obvious idea of merging the two associations therefore became firmly established among those responsible and the members of both associations. With increasing globalization and the growing demands of the industry, it was decided in 2019 to merge these two associations – a strategic step that combined forces and led to the founding of Composites United e. V.
General Meeting 2019 – Handshake between Managing Directors Alexander Gundling (left) and Dr. Gunnar Merz (right) of the new CU
September 2020: The CU Board of Directors meets for its first meeting in Berlin. The strategic direction of the CU in key areas of activity was discussed.
Development and growth of the association as a whole
Since then, the CU has continued to develop and, with around 350 members, is now one of the world’s largest networks for fiber-based multi-material lightweight design. In particular, the higher number of members of the association as a whole enables us to advance our work in terms of quality and quantity. The potential of multi-material lightweight design for the widest possible range of applications can thus be made even better known and the challenges of technological solution approaches can be accepted even more easily and led to success.
The organization of the association in the DACH region via regional departments, which was prepared by the CCeV, was continued in the CU. The CU Nord, CU West, CU Ost, CU BW clusters and the leading-edge MAI Carbon cluster, as well as the affiliated associations CU Austria and CU Switzerland, enable close support for members in line with regional specifics in terms of economic, technological and political conditions. The CCeV founded specialized networks for high-performance ceramics and lightweight design with fiber composites in the construction industry back in 2008. In “Ceramic Composites” and “CU Bau”, the members were able to address the potential and challenges of these materials and applications at an early stage and thus achieve a leading technological and scientific position in their fields.
The branch offices established by CFK Valley e. V. in Japan, Korea, India and China will remain under the umbrella of the CU. The cooperations are intended to open up these interesting markets for CU members, promote joint R&D projects and develop sustainable, international business relationships. In addition, there is now also an intensive exchange and cooperation with partners in the USA, Scandinavia, the Benelux countries and Eastern European countries such as Poland and Ukraine.
On March 12, 2014, CFK Valley Japan was founded at the National Composite Center (NCC) at Nagoya University as the first international branch of the former CFK Valley e. V. on the occasion of JEC World in Paris. The MoU was signed by Professor Herrmann, the Technology Executive Board of CFK Valley e. V., and Prof. Ishikawa, the head of the NCC at Nagoya University.
2023: A delegation from the partner network PKTK – Polish Cluster of Composite Technologies visits the CU office in Stade.
Following the merger, the CU increased its commitment to political work, focusing on Berlin in addition to its regional activities and opening the capital city office in 2020. With this presence in Berlin, the CU was able to network even more closely with important partners and contacts from politics and business and became easier to reach for international partners. Through its involvement in the Strategy Advisory Board of the Lightweight Design Initiative of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection (BMWK), the CU, together with the other partners in this committee, has played a key role in the BMWK’s lightweight design strategy, anchored lightweight design in the coalition agreement of the current federal government and thus established it as a key technology for Germany.
2023: CU CEO Dr. Gunnar Merz is elected as one of the spokespersons for the BMWK’s Lightweight Design Initiative Strategy Advisory Board.
In the picture from left to right: Werner Loscheider (BMWK) and André Kaufung (Lightweight Design Initiative office), Dr. Gunnar Merz (CU), Prof. Dr. Hans-Georg Herrmann (Saarland University), Anemon Strohmeyer (Association of the German Wood-Based Panel Industry), Susanne Szech-Koundouros (BMWK) and Wolfgang Heidrich (Aluminium Deutschland e. V.) after the election of the new spokespersons for the Lightweight Design Initiative.
(Image: ©Initiative Leichtbau)
2023: The CU places the topic of lightweight design at EU level.
Together with the VDMA and the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU), the CU, on behalf of the Strategy Advisory Board of the Lightweight Design Initiative of the Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), invited participants to Brussels on May 4, 2023 with the aim of promoting cooperation between science, industry and politics at European level.
The association’s extensive range of services has been further expanded since the merger. For example, the new information series “CU Knowledge” was introduced for specialist public relations work, which presents the current state of knowledge on selected topics such as CFRP recycling. New international event formats, such as “LightCon”, which was launched in collaboration with Deutsche Messe AG, have further increased the visibility of lightweight design topics. The coronavirus pandemic promoted the development of digital offerings, such as the popular and well-established “Webseminar Wednesday”. Existing activities were given a significant boost by digitalization, with over 50 cross-industry working groups, some of which are in English, for the targeted transfer of knowledge and experience as well as a close exchange between research and industry.
Selected milestones 2020 – 2024
Influence on the industry: milestones and innovations
Over the past two decades, Composites United e. V. has made significant contributions to the further development of high-performance fiber composites. Numerous innovations and technological breakthroughs, which are used in industry today, have been promoted by the close cooperation within the network. During this time, the members of the CU have implemented numerous projects that have advanced the use of fiber composites in both existing and new markets, such as the construction industry. The machining and processing methods for CFRP components have been developed from the status of “manufacturing technology” to economic, industrial series maturity, largely through the projects of our leading-edge cluster MAI Carbon. Key technologies for the production of the CFRP-based A350 aircraft were developed and brought to industrial application in the Stade area of the former CFRP Valley around Airbus.
Sustainability is currently a key issue for the association and its members. The CU is working intensively on reducing CO₂ emissions and the consumption of resources and is promoting projects that aim to make the production and use of composite materials more environmentally friendly. This also includes the development and implementation of technologies to promote a circular economy for fiber composites and the promotion of the use of renewable raw materials with natural fibers and bio-based plastics.
Future prospects: The next 20 years
The CU invites its members to actively shape the future of the global composites industry together. Together, we not only want to remain technological leaders, but also focus on the sustainability of fiber composites and international cooperation. Each member has the opportunity to advance innovative solutions for key issues such as climate and resource protection.
With a clear focus on research and development, we will drive forward new materials and production technologies to open up new applications in areas such as construction, renewable energies and medical technology, as well as improve efficiency in existing industries. Together with its members, the CU wants to play a pioneering role in the development and implementation of reuse and recycling technologies for composite materials and at the same time further advance the use of bio-based materials. This not only brings ecological benefits, but also opens up new business opportunities as the demand for sustainable products increases worldwide.
In order to master global challenges together, the CU will continue to expand its international partnerships. This includes not only participation in international trade fairs and conferences, but also closer cooperation with other international networks and organizations. On the other hand, the association will continue to work on expanding its membership base and strengthening the network by promoting exchange and cooperation. This will ensure that the CU remains a strong, dynamic community that can work together to meet the challenges of the future in the field of fiber composites.
Become part of a committed network that is determined to actively shape the future of the composites industry and master the challenges of tomorrow together.
2024: The currently elected Executive Committee of Composites United e. V.:
From left to right: Marc Fette (CTC – Composite Technology Center GmbH), Dr. Steffen Kress (Mubea Aviation GmbH), Dr. Gabriele Gärtner (Ingenieurbüro Gabriele Gärtner gg-projet), Prof. Dr. Klaus Drechsler (Chair of Carbon Composites at the Technical University of Munich & Fraunhofer IGCV), Dr. Heike Illing-Günther (STFI – Sächsisches Textilforschungsinstitut e. V.), Dr. Hauke Lengsfeld (Schill + Seilacher “Struktol” GmbH), Dr. Gernot Kalkoffen (Carbon Truck & Trailer GmbH) and Prof. Dr. Jens Ridzewski (IMA Materialforschung und Anwendungstechnik GmbH).
Thanks to members and partners
This anniversary is also an opportunity to thank the members and partners of the CU. Without the high level of personal commitment to the cause, the successes of the last 20 years would not have been possible, whether as an honorary member of the CU Executive Committee, on the Executive Boards of the regional and specialist departments or as a leader of one of the many working groups. The basis of our success is the cooperation and support of the many companies, research institutions and individuals who are involved in the CU. We would like to thank everyone who has accompanied us on this journey. Together we have achieved a great deal and together we will continue to be successful in the future.
We are celebrating 20 years of Composites United
We will celebrate our anniversary in style. On November 26 and 27, 2024, we have invited members and partners as well as many former companions to Stade, where it all began. Together, we would like to look back on two decades of success, honor milestones and look ahead to the future of our network.
Anniversary celebration in November 2024 in Stade, where it all began in 2004.
You can look forward to inspiring keynotes from high-ranking speakers from politics and business, an impressive exhibition in the Solar Hall and exclusive tours of the composites ecosystem in Stade. The event also offers the perfect opportunity to network with industry leaders and innovators.
Click here for the anniversary celebration.
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