The inaugural International Composites Summit (ICS), London closed its doors after a successful first outing which included presentations, demonstrations and above all, innovations.
Concentrating on strengthening the global composites supply chain and enabling a sustainable future, it wasn’t just the exhibitors who caught the eye – the exotic conference hall carpet was akin to walking on a giant tiger’s back!
Claiming to be the UK's only exhibition focused solely on the composites market, ICS brought the composites industry together to address the worldwide opportunities for sales and growth in our sector.
The ICS’s Open Forum programme covered industries, such as aerospace and automotive, and topics that include supply chain opportunities after Covid-19, new technologies and materials, global market trends, developing export capabilities and the Race to Zero, concentrating on current trends for finance options in helping reduce emissions through composites.
It’s said that variety is the spice of life, and this sentiment can be applied to what many tradeshows and conferences spin us every year. Don’t get me wrong, it’s great to meet old faces, catch up, press the sanitised flesh and recount fond memories, but these events have a responsibility to provide fresh opportunities to meet new and potentially lucrative customers – the kind that they wouldn’t normally expect to see at these events. Opportunities that can help initiate healthy synergies between different manufacturing sectors.
And the ICS offered the best opportunity to discover more about someone - or something - you didn’t know existed. It was a chance to look over someone else’s shoulder and satisfy the remit of gathering together an eclectic and diverse mix of the composites sector.
Hopefully when the dust has settled – and the giant tiger has left the building - the event will have delivered on its promise to exhibitors and visitors alike in terms of allowing them to experience new customers and new products. Congratulations to joint organisers Composites UK and Fluency Marketing - the event was indeed the cat’s pyjamas!
Editor's footnote: 83% of 2021's exhibitors have already rebooked for next year. With most taking a bigger space, ICS 2022 is already set to be bigger and better.
