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At JEC World 2019, 11 Innovation Awards winners were announced in a ceremony on March 13. The ceremony was opened by Bertrand Piccard, the founder and visionary behind Solar Impulse, the first zero-fuel aircraft with perpetual autonomy.

The jury then announced the composite innovation champions selected among 30 finalists, from more than a hundred entries, and the public awarded its prize.

"JEC Group supports innovation and has created the Composites Reference Prize to reward industry champions and promote their innovations. Every year, we receive more than a hundred applications from all over the world," explains Franck Glowacz, composites expert at JEC Group.

2019 winners:

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Aerospace Application: Herone (Germany) and partners TU Dresden (Germany) and Victrex Europa (Germany)

 They won for their injection forming of gears on CF-PAEK drive shafts. 

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Aerospace Process: Profactor GmbH (Austria), and partners Airbus Defense and Space GmbH (Germany), Danobat (Spain), Dassault Systems SA (France), FIDAMC- Fundación para la Investigación, Desarrollo y Aplicación de Materiales Compuestos (Spain), IDEKO S. COOP (Spain), InFactory Solutions GmbH (Germany), M. Torres Diseños Industriales SA (Spain), Profactor GmbH (Austria)

They won for their zero-defect manufacturing process for large composite parts. 

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Automotive Application: Polyscope Polymers (Netherlands)

Polyscope Polymers won for its composite guide rails for a roller-blind sunroof.

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Automotive Process: Evopro Systems Engineering Kft. (Hungary) and partners eCon Engineering Kft. (Hungary), HD Composite Zrt. (Hungary), Université de technologie et d'économie de Budapest, Faculté de génie mécanique (Hungary) et Académie hongroise des sciences, Centre de recherche en sciences naturelles (Hungary)

They won for their automated, short-cycle-time production of complex thermoplastic polymer composites.

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Construction & Infrastructure: Arkema (France) and partners Arkema (France), National Cooperative Highway Research Program - NCHRP (USA), Sireg (Italy), Université de Miami (USA)

They won for their bendable thermoplastic composite bar and cable for reinforced and prestressed concrete.

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Sustainability: Technical University of Denmark (Denmark) and partners Centexbel (Belgium), Comfil (Denmark), Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft (Germany)

They won for their Bio4self self-reinforced PLA composites.

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Sports & Healthcare: KTM-Technologies GmbH (Austria) and partners KTM-Technologies GmbH (Austria), Mitsubishi Chemical Carbon Fiber and Composites GmbH (Germany)

They won for their composite skid plate produced using an FMC/NCF elastomer hybrid.

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3D Printing: Continuous Composites (U.S.) and partners Air Force Research Lab (U.S.), FCA / Comau (U.S.), Lockheed Martin (U.S.), Siemens (U.S.)

They won for their continuous fiber 3D printing process, CF3D. 

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Land Transportation: Stratiforme Industries (France) and partners Armines Douai (France), CEF Centre d'essais ferroviaires (France), SNCF Réseau (France)

They won for their ACCUM universal composite catenary cantilever.

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Industry & Equipment: AZL AACHEN GmbH (Germany) and partners AZL Institute of RWTH Aachen University (Germany), Conbility GmbH (Germany), Covestro Deutschland AG (Germany), Engel Austria GmbH (Austria), Evonik Industries AG (Germany), Fagor Arrasate S. Coop. (Spain), Faurecia Composite Technologies (France), Fraunhofer IPT (Germany), Laserline GmbH (Germany), Mitsui Chemicals Europe GmbH (Germany), Mubea Carbo Tech GmbH (Austria), Philips Photonics (Germany), SSDT Shanghai Superior Die Technology Co. (China), Toyota Motor Europe NV/SA (Belgium)

They won for their modular production system for the mass-production of individual tailored blanks.

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Public Price: Cecence (U.K.) and partners Acro Aircraft Seating LTD (U.K.), FTI (U.K.)

They won for a fully FST compliant 16-gram carbon fiber composite aero seatback.

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Visit for more information and photographs from all of the winning entries.