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Submit abstracts to SPE ACCE 2025 student poster competition

Graduate, undergraduate, community college and high school students are encouraged to submit poster titles and abstracts on composites technologies related to automotive, ground transportation by July 31, 2025.

SPE Thermoforming Division calls for Parts Competition entries

A new category — thermoforming parts used in assemblies — has been added to the biennial competition, which can be submitted to until May 5, 2025.

SPE ACCE 2025 issues call for papers, sponsors and exhibitors

Submit a paper or technical presentation, or become a sponsor and/or exhibitor for SPE ACCE 2025, celebrating its 25 years Sept. 3-5 in Novi, Michigan.

SPE automotive names winners for 53rd annual automotive innovation awards program

SPE’s annual Automotive Innovation Awards highlighted several composite part designs in vehicle safety, comfort and efficiency.

SPE ACCE sustainability panel explores circular automotive barriers

A discussion led by panelists from Volkswagen of America, Plastics Recycling, Rebuilders Automotive Supply and ReMA will shine a light on the topic of recycling and circularity in the automotive space.

SPE recognizes ACCE, Rehkopf scholarship winners

A total of eight scholarships have been awarded to students pursuing research in a composites-related field, to be presented at SPE ACCE 2025.

SPE recognizes Tom Russell with 2024 Lifetime Achievement Award

A founder and retired partner at Allied Composites Technology LLC, Russell will be recognized at the November SPE Automotive Innovation Awards Gala for his contributions to composite materials use in passenger vehicles.

Fourth keynote rounds out SPE ACCE 2024 conference

A focus on academia-driven contributions to the composites industry will be highlighted by Dr. Srikanth Pilla of the University of Delaware’s Center for Composites Materials.

Third keynote is revealed for SPE ACCE 2024

Amanda Nummy, a polymer engineer from Hyundai America Technical Center Inc., is presenting an overview of the company’s global strategies for sustainability.

SPE ACCE 2023 provides combination of presentations, exhibits, networking

The event featured exhibits, speakers, an awards ceremony for scholarships and more.

Thoughts from the trade show floor

As the trade show season kicks off, CW editor-in-chief Scott Francis shares observations from industry events.

Gefran hosts Manufacturing Day for students to support education outreach

Undergraduate and graduate students are invited to tour Gefran’s North Andover, Mass., U.S. facility on Oct. 6 to learn more about career opportunities in manufacturing.

SPE ACCE 2023 presents fourth keynote

Dr. Ryan Hahnlen and Dr. Srikanth Pilla will be sharing their collaborative work on a cost-effective CFRTP door assembly, and what the application represents for lightweighting the automotive industry.

SPE announces 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award winner

Kevin Pageau, owner and president of International Marketing Alliance, and a major contributor to the SPE Automotive Division Lifetime Awards Program, will be honored at the awards gala on Nov. 8.

Third keynote is announced for annual SPE ACCE event

Gregory E. Peterson, chief engineer at aviation technology startup Airspace Experience Technologies, will be sharing his views on the trends and opportunities found in the transportation industry.

SPE introduces second keynote for ACCE 2023

General Motors’ Jason Coryell will be talking sustainability initiatives in automotive in his presentation, “A Role for Composites in GM’s Vision for Simulation-Driven & Sustainable Material Impact.”

SPE ACCE 2023 innovative parts competition is open for nominations

Any register conference participant may nominate original equipment, aftermarket or prototype composite parts for automotive, truck and UAM applications by July 30, 2023.

Auto EPCON 2023 conference calls for papers

Presentations related to a variety of engineered plastic materials and techniques can be submitted until Feb. 24, 2023, for the one-day event in Troy, Michigan.

New polymer expands composites options in demanding environments

Aromatic thermosetting copolyester offers unique properties, availability in multiple form factors.

KTM Technologies motorsport component earns SPE Automotive Award

Brake disc protection comprises a balance of flax fibers and bio-based polyamides for almost 70% savings in CO2, improved recycling properties.

Protocol aims to improve testing of thermal runaway for composite EV battery enclosures

Hyundai-Kia and Forward Engineering developed a resistive, heater-based material test, recently published as a UL standard, to aid and speed composite battery enclosure development.

Carbon fiber in automotive: At a dead end?

For decades, carbon fiber has failed to break through into mainstream automotive applications as the composites industry has hoped it would. Alternative composite applications suggest future opportunities still remain bright.

SPE Automotive Division names 36 finalists for annual Automotive Innovation Awards Gala

Category and grand award winners selected by the Blue Ribbon judging round Oct. 1 will be announced during the gala on Nov. 10, 2021. Submissions are described below.

SPE announces ACCE and Rehkopf scholarship winners for 2021 conference

The three scholarship winners will be honored at the SPE ACCE event taking place Nov. 2-4, 2021.

Composites in architecture: A hidden opportunity

Many applications in the aerospace and automotive industries apply equally to architecture, such as the use of FRP. Other opportunities for traditional composite materials may lie in seeking out creative applications.

The Society of Plastic Engineers reveals ACCE and Rehkopf scholarship winners

A total of five scholarships sponsored by the SPE Automotive and SPE Composites Divisions were awarded to students pursuing advanced studies in a composites-related field.

SPE Automotive Composites Conference and Exhibition 2020 announces second keynote

The virtual event, occurring Sept. 9-11, announces Dr. Deborah Mieleweski, senior technical leader at Ford Motor Co. as its second keynote speaker.

SPE issues call for scholarship, award nominations

The SPE Automotive Division is looking for nominations for this year’s Automotive Innovation Awards and ACCE student scholarship recipients.

Composite insert as a structural reinforcement for A-pillars

A Porsche structural A-pillar reduces weight and increases strength with a hybrid part combining thermoplastic composites, steel and structural foam.

2019 SPE Automotive Innovation Awards winners announced

Among the winners and finalists, a wide range of technologies demonstrate composites’ benefits for ground transportation.

Plastic-metal hybrid auto structure named SPE Hall of Fame winner

The plastic-metal hybrid front end automotive structure, built by Ford Motor Co. with LANXESS glass fiber-filled PA6 resin, reduced costs and weight compared to all-steel structures.

Automotive composites draw international crowd to Detroit

19th SPE ACCE features broad technology overview of evolving automotive composites industry.

Can the automotive industry turn to face the change?

SPE ACCE speakers speculate about how changing consumer behaviors might shape the automotive industry.

SPE announces 2019 ACCE Best Paper award winners

The three winning authors will present their papers at the SPE ACCE conference this week in Novi, Michigan.

SPE ACCE 2019 announces third keynote

Edward D. Moss, engineering group manager for Corvette Body Structure, will discuss “Composites on the New Chevrolet Corvette" at SPE ACCE September 4 – 6, 2019 in Novi, Mich., U.S.

SPE announces 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award winner

Michael J. Whitens, retired formal global director at Ford Motor Co., will be honored at the SPE Automotive Innovation Awards Gala on Nov. 6.

Auto industry explores engineering thermoplastic performance improvements

Polyamides, carbon fiber prominent at 2019 SPE AutoEPCON.

SPE Automotive Innovation Awards expands aftermarkets category

Parts competition nominations are due by Sept. 6, 2019, and “Hall of Fame” award nominations are due May 31.

48th auto-plastics competition highlights changing industry

Additive manufacturing, autonomous vehicles, greener parts featured prominently.

SPE recognizes first injection molded thermoplastic energy absorber

The award-winning energy absorber is made with XENOY Polycarbonate/Polybutylene Terephthalate (PC/PBT) resin from SABIC.

Automotive tipping point?

CW Editor Jeff Sloan predicts a tipping point for autocomposites after attending this year’s Society of Plastics Engineers’ Automotive Composites Conference and Exhibition (SPE ACCE).

SPE recognizes winners of ACCE and Rehkopf scholarships

Scholarship winners were honored at annual SPE ACCE conference in Novi, MI, US on Sept. 5-7.

Composite + metal: Hollow-profile hybrid technology

LANXESS extends plastic-metal hybrids to tubular structures.

SPE ACCE 2018 preview

Mobility composites are expected to draw an international crowd to this annual Motor City gathering.

Green composites: Chicago compounder introduces recycled CF-reinforced PA 6/6

With fiber from aerospace and sporting goods and resin from automotive, thermoplastic composite lowers cost, increases sustainability.

SPE launches new brand identity and website

New brand identity and website reflects who SPE as a Society is today – signals current and prospective eco-friendly plastic innovations.

SPE ACCE 2018 keynote to highlight carbon fiber pickup box

Mark Voss, engineering group manager at General Motors Co. will discuss the creation of the new “CarbonPro Box” on the 2019 MY GMC Sierra Denali.

Dr. Suresh Shah named SPE Lifetime Achievement Award Winner

Shah is a technical specialist, with over 30 years of experience and more than 45 Intellectual Properties including patents and trade secrets - more than 40% of these are in production, which is far more than the 4% industrial average.

Highlights: SPE ACCE 2017

The Society of Plastics Engineers Automotive Composites Conference and Exhibiton (SPE ACCE), held Sept. 6-8 in Novi, MI, US, remains the composites industry’s go-to event for the latest on technology and equipment for automotive composites design, tooling and fabrication.

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