ACMA announces keynote speakers for Thermoplastic Composites Conference 2020

 

 

The American Composites Manufacturers Association (AMCA, Arlington, Va., U.S.) has announced two featured keynote speakers for its Thermoplastic Composites Conference 2020, which will be held in San Diego, Calif., U.S. April 29 through May 1: Randy Wilkerson, technical fellow at The Boeing Co. (Chicago, Ill., U.S.) and Patrick Blanchard, technical leader at Ford Motor Co. (Dearborn, Mich., U.S.).

According to ACMA, Boeing and Ford Motor Co. are maximizing the opportunities for advanced material systems and subsystems in cars, trucks and aircraft with dynamic applications of high-performance thermoplastic solutions.

Wilkerson’s presentation, “Aerospace Applications for High Performance Thermoplastic Composites,” will review the background, progress that has been made and innovative needs required to realize the benefits of thermoplastic composites for Boeing’s technology roadmap developed to meet the growing needs of the commercial aircraft industry.

Blanchard will cover technology trends toward lightweight, resilient materials solutions in the automotive and trucking sectors, and how new functionality is required to meet future vehicle use cases and propulsion systems.

 

 

ACMA has also announced two optional guided tours available for conference participants:

General Atomics: Wednesday, April 29

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (San Diego, Calif., U.S.) produces world-class remotely piloted aircraft for military applications. The vertical integration manufacturing model is unique to the industry and occupies over 750,000 square feet in one location. Tour attendees will see the majority of manufacturing areas and the lean tools that are used to manage the operations. 

Collins Aerospace: Friday, May 1

In 2020, Collins Aerospace (Chula Vista, Calif., U.S.) celebrates its 80th anniversary, and since opening its doors, has been a leading private employer in the region and a leader in the design and manufacturing of highly engineered structures for the aerospace industry. This campus tour will include a visit to the site’s Test Labs. 

Registration for guided tours is limited, and can be found on the event website along with registration to the conference. Registration rates increase after April 7, 2020.