Strong Canadian presence at JEC Composites Show

Visitors will see a larger Canadian presence at the 2007 JEC Composites Show in Paris, France this year.

The three-day event, which kicks off at Porte de Versailles on April 3, will feature a Canadian Pavilion that is 30 per cent larger than it was last year.

“The Canadian Plastics Industry Association (CPIA) started with a small booth there, and it just continues to build,” said CPIA’s Atlantic executive director, Composites Council director and pavilion coordinator Duncan Cross. “In response to last year, the participants said they wanted to see a larger Canadian presence.”

The Canadian Pavilion will be located at stand number C74, and five companies will be featured alongside the CPIA.

“We have a mix of companies from across Canada suppliers, service companies and fabricators,” noted Cross.

This year’s Pavilion will feature Leduc, Alb.-based Fiberex Glass Corporation, a glass fiber manufacturer; EADS Composites Atlantic Limited, a N.S. designer and manufacturer of composites for aerospace, space, defense and commercial industries; Quebec-based composite molder Rene Composite Materials Limited; Etobicoke, Ont. applications engineering company Integran Technologies Inc.; and Montreal-based advanced vinyl ester prepegs developer Simex Technologies Inc.

Additionally, at least one other Canadian company will be exhibiting apart from the Canadian Pavilion at the JEC Composites Show. Virtek Vision International Inc., a Waterloo, Ont.-based provider of laser-based templating, inspection, marking and engraving solutions, will be exhibiting at stand number M40.

Aside from the exhibitors, this year’s show will also have a projected increase in the number of Canadian attendees.

“There are a number of attendees who are going to walk the show, and I guess that’s what’s most encouraging,” explained Cross. “There are a good many people going just to see what it’s all about.”

A delegation from Nova Scotia consisting of the provincial Minister of Economic Development and other Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs) will be attending the show.

Cross also noted that Genevieve Dompierre, the Trade Commissioner for the business development of the composites sector at the Canadian Embassy in Paris, has been visiting companies in Canada over the last week. As part of her outreach program, Dompierre is meeting with composite fabricators and suppliers in Eastern Canada who are interested in European markets.

“The composites industry is a growing industry, and Canada has to be recognized as one of the participants,” said Cross. “We are looking for new ideas, new innovations and new partners.”

The JEC Composites Show is one of the composite industry’s largest events, and organizers are anticipating a packed event this year. Last year’s event featured exhibitions from more than 900 brand names across the world. This year’s proceedings will also feature national and regional pavilions from Germany, China, Brazil, Italy and the US, just to name a few.