CAMX 2022: 10 reasons to attend

You have probably heard by now that CAMX 2022 is coming up this month, Oct. 17-20 in Anaheim, Calif., U.S. CAMX is North America’s largest conference and a trade show targeted toward the composites manufacturing industry.

It can be difficult sometimes to justify to yourself, and those to whom you report, that attending a trade event has value sufficient to offset the time and capital commitment. If you’re struggling to do that for CAMX 2022, I hereby offer these 10 compelling reasons to attend the show.

1. In-person connections. If COVID taught us anything, it’s the importance of in-person interactions. There is real value in the composites industry gathering in one place to learn, share ideas, collaborate, network and just plain socialize. I think this alone can and should justify CAMX attendance, but if it’s not enough...
2. Conference. CAMX is a trade show and conference. The conference is multi-faceted, offering a variety topics in a variety of environments. Your options include technical papers focused on original research and education sessions focused on case histories. You’ll also find speaker panels and featured sessions that emphasize many of the topics that are shaping the industry today. You might also check out “Good Day, CAMX,” on Wednesday morning, which features a panel on next-gen thermoplastic composite aerostructures. And don’t forget the keynote speaker, Michael Steep — he’s talking Tuesday morning about supply chain challenges and opportunities. Expert tip: The conference offers great opportunities to meet and interact with subject matter experts, and you can’t have too many subject matter experts in your life.
3. Awards. CAMX offers two awards programs — the CAMX Awards and the Awards in Composites Excellence (ACE). The CAMX Awards, given in two categories, will be announced at the General Session on Tuesday morning. The ACE winners, presented in six categories, will be announced Tuesday afternoon on the show floor. Expert tip: The award winners tend to soak up a lot of attention, but be sure to visit the exhibit areas for each award program on the show floor. There are always interesting technologies and products among the non-winners. 
4. New products/technologies. Every year, CW asks CAMX exhibitors to send us information about the products and technologies they will feature in their booths. We heard from 118 exhibitors this year — a record. Looking through these “previews,” it’s clear that there are many new products and technologies being introduced at the show. You can find some of the previews in the September and October issues of CW. All can be found online at www.compositesworld.com/hashtag/camx. But it’s best if you just go to the show and see for yourself. 
5. Education. If you’re new  — or relatively new — to the composites industry, CAMX offers myriad opportunities to get to know it better. I already mentioned the conference programming, and you can add to that Composites One’s Demo Zone. The Demo Zone is large glass-enclosed space on the show floor (booth L23) where Composites One and the Closed Mold Alliance demonstrate manufacture of composite parts using a variety of materials, tools and processes, including infusion, resin transfer molding, silicone bag molding and prepreg and autoclave processing. Expert tip: The demos attract large crowds and are great for socializing.
6. Meet a CW editor. CW’s entire editorial staff will be at CAMX. We are pretty decent folks who are always happy to talk composites. Stop by CW’s booth (D22), say hello and take a selfie with us.
7. CAMX Show Daily. CW publishes the CAMX Show Daily, a good old-fashioned daily newspaper that will keep you up to speed on show happenings. You will likely have a Show Daily thrust into your hands as you enter the show. This is a thrilling experience.
8. CW, the magazine. If you love the feeling of receiving CW each month via mail or email, it’s even better in person. We’ll have the September and October issues available at our booth. Stop by and pick one up.
9. Steps. If, like the rest of the world, you are now counting your steps each day, CAMX offers a great opportunity to stay on target. You should hit 10,000 steps with a full-day, robust tour of the exhibit hall.
10. Disneyland. CAMX is, literally, next door to Disneyland. Every amusement park is chock full of composites. Consider it a research venture.