SETEC 08 Augsburg, Sept. 18th & 19th

Editor’s note: Hot off the press (or pen) and featured this time is a review of Europe’s latest Fall technical conference, held in Augsburg, Germany - as described below. There is also a substantial report from the UK & Ireland Chapter, re past and future doings in their area, along with several “headsup” announcements for coming SAMPE events in Europe, and Russia.

SETEC 03-08, held 18-19 September, in Augsburg, Germany

Prelude

Venue was the attractive south German city of Augsburg, also known as the Fuggar Stadt (Fuggar city) in medieval times, for a famous local business dynasty. Somewhat more recently, the Augsburg region has become a nexus of composite and aerospace activities, making it a very appropriate venue for this conference. Several of the event’s sponsors are located in or near the city, including EADS Defense and Security, the SGL Group (with Hitco Carbon Composites), Eurocopter Germany, MT Aerospace, KUKA Robotics, plus the CCeV (Carbon Composites Association, in English), a recently formed, rapidly growing and widely varied group of German firms utilizing carbon composites. Other event sponsors are Xperion, the IHK Schwaben, together with the City of Augsburg itself. We thank all for their generous support.

General

Under the banner: The Cost-Down Solution for Top Performance, the 3rd SAMPE Europe Technical Conference took place at the IHK Industrie & Handelskammer (Chamber of Commerce) - or congress & exhibition center Schwaben. Activities actually began with an informal welcome aperitif at the center, following registration, the evening before the conference. This was also the first opportunity to view the twenty-four table top displays - plus exhibits by KUKA Robotics and others, who displayed a variety of composite components. A unique aspect of this conference was that a total of FIVE plant visits were offered to attendees. As in the previous two SETEC conferences, lunch was included both days, along with a gala conference dinner and entertainment, as described below.

Technical program and events

Twenty-one top papers - including four keynotes - were presented in a total of six sessions, dealing with applications, sustainable advantages, engineering with CFRP, advanced applications, future success factors, plus new and unusual composite aspects. Although many topics were covered, the conference focus was aerospace and carbon composites. Presentations included talks on industrialization of the carbon composites industry, the global aero structures industry, composite applications in the Airbus A350XWB, the Boeing 787, EADS Baracuda UAV, numerous new composite aero structures components, related M&P aspects, plus much more. While space does not permit elaboration here, those who have detailed specific interest may be able to purchase the CD.

The event began when conference organizer Mark Erath introduced SAMPE Europe President Luigi “Gino” Torre. His welcome took note the unusual positive aspects of offering five plant visits, together with so many sponsors, and expressed sincere gratitude to them, then wished all a very successful and rewarding conference. Next came an address by Ms. Hanelore Leimer, of the Augsburg IHK/Chamber of Commerce, took her turn at welcoming participants. Among other things, she also related the considerable aviation history associated with Augsburg, along with the fact the Rudolph Diesel, inventor of the now ubiquitous diesel engine, first ran his soon to be famous powerplant in this city. An Augsburg city representative then augmented this, noting that some 100 million Euros will be invested by the Fraunhofer Institute, Bavarian government and others, in new composite related developments, over the next five years. The first day’s keynote, sessions and papers followed these addresses, punctuated by the included lunch, plus gratis coffee breaks with tasty snacks and German pastries. Briefly, the first keynote, by Dr. Jan Vordenhalven, SGL Wiesbaden, was entitled “Industrialization of the Carbon Fiber Industry”. His major (and notable) point: although it is an industry, it is not really industrialized yet. At a press conference at noon of the first day, Mark Erath explained SAMPE’s purpose and various activitiest, emphasizing the tie-in to numerous local and regional firms, with the many benefits of membership.

Company tours you say?

At the conclusion of the first day’s presentations, not one but five technical visits were offered to nearby firms. Attendees had their choice of a visit to:

• EADS Aerospace and Defense, in Augsburg;
• the Eurocopter Germany main production facility, at nearby Donauwoerth;
• the SGL Carbon plant and site of a new integrated R&D technology facility in nearby Meitingen;
• the MT Aerospace facility, in the city;
• the KUKA Robotics factory, also in Augsburg

Tour busses brought people out to the various sites, then delivered us back downtown, to City Hall, for the next item on the busy agenda.

The evening of the first day was devoted to socializing, enjoyment and networking. It began with a welcome reception by the mayor of Augsburg, in the fantastically ornate Golden Room of the historic Augsburg Rathaus (city hall), replete with some 3 kg. of gold leaf decoration, partly visible in some of the pictures. It was an honor to be received in this auditorium-sized room. In his address to the group, Dr. Kurt Gribl, Mayor of Augsburg, went over highlights of the cities long history, in addition to more recent industrial developments, including those relating to composites and aerospace. In this elaborate hall, we were also treated to a special performance of the Augsburger Puppenkiste, an amusing puppet show which played to the child lurking somewhere deep within most of us. All of this served as prelude to the SETEC 08 gala dinner in an adjoining room. During the dinner, Mark Erath thanked and made awards to a variety of people who had contributed to the success of the conference - including 16 sponsor awards. Following this convivial evening, SETEC 03 then went on to run through its second full day.

Historical footnote: entirely by coincidence, the world famous Munich Oktoberfest began about 30 miles away, the day after this SAMPE event ended. More than a few conference participants stayed around for the opening weekend, and/or a look at the city of Munich.