The SPE Automotive Composites Conference & Expo (ACCE) team is announcing its Call for Papers, Sponsors & Exhibitors for its 21st annual event September 8-10, 2021 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Michigan located in the Detroit suburbs.
‘Composites: Driving Value by Reducing Weight and Costs & Increasing Performance’ is the theme for the 2021 event. The ACCE features technical sessions, panel discussions, keynotes, and exhibits highlighting advances in materials, processes, and equipment for both thermoset and thermoplastic composites in a wide variety of transportation applications. Networking breakfasts, lunches, and receptions enhance the value of the event that attracts over 800 attendees from across the globe. The Automotive and Composites Divisions of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE®) jointly produce the ACCE to educate the industry about the benefits of composites in transportation applications.
The 2021 ACCE will be co-chaired by 2018, 2019 and 2020 ACCE Technical Program co-chair Dr Leonardo Simon, professor, Chemical Engineering at University of Waterloo; returning ACCE 2020 co-chair Dr Xiaosong Huang, lab group manager of Polymer Composite Systems in GM Global Research & Development, General Motors Company; and Dr Khaled W. Shahwan, senior technology leader – Advanced Technology & Pre-Development Programs, FCA US (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles).
“We’re planning on ACCE 2021 being a live in-person event enabling personal networking with key automotive OEMS, top tier suppliers and other industry leaders which is an ACCE hallmark,” said Simon.
Huang added: “As our company continues to incorporate lightweighting, structural strength and innovative design technologies into our vehicles, I’m looking forward to attending a live event in 2021 to talk directly with suppliers.”
The technical program will be co-chaired by returning 2018, 2019 and 2020 co-chair Dr David Jack, professor, Mechanical Engineering at Baylor University and returning 2020 co-chair Dr Alex Kravchenko, assistant professor, Composites Modelling and Manufacturing Group, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Old Dominion University.
“The ACCE gives industry leaders, faculty and students the opportunity to present their automotive composites research and advance the industry while getting recognised for their contributions worldwide,” noted Jack.
“It is an honour to continue to support the ACCE as technical program co-chair. I greatly value that ACCE supports students with scholarships and career opportunities as we develop the next generation workforce,” added Kravchenko.
The 2020 ACCE technical program will include 80–100 technical presentations on current and future industry advances. The topics are organized into the following categories: Thermoplastic Composites; Thermoset Composites; Modelling; Additive Manufacturing & 3D Printing; Enabling Technologies; Sustainable Composites; Bonding, Joining & Finishing; Carbon Composites; and Business Trends/Technology Solutions. Paper abstracts are requested as soon as possible and are due by April 16th, 2021. Final papers or non-commercial presentations are due June 18th, 2021. Authors who submit full papers (not presentations) in the proper format will be considered for the conference’s Best Paper Awards, which are presented during the event’s opening ceremony. A template for papers can be downloaded from the SPE ACCE website online via http://speautomotive.com/acce-forms. Abstracts can be submitted via email to ACCEpapers@speautomotive.com
A Variety of Sponsorship and Exhibit Options offer companies the opportunity to support the event and promote their products and services to a very targeted and interested audience. Student Poster Competition and Scholarship sponsorships are also available. All sponsorships include passes to the event including access to all keynotes, panel discussions, technical sessions and daily networking opportunities. Sponsorship also includes corporate exposure on SPE ACCE websites, advertising, publicity, social media, signage throughout the event venue and more.
Sponsors to date for ACCE 2021 include Hexion, Ineos Composites, Mitsubishi Chemical, AOC Aliancys, BASF, Engel, Michelman, SAMPE, Composites One, Dieffenbacher, Fraunhofer/Western University, Lotte Advanced Materials and Moldex 3D. Companies interested in supporting the event with sponsorship and showcasing their products and services should contact Teri Chouinard at teri@intuitgroup.com
www.speautomotive.com/acce-conference
