When visiting the many industry tradeshows around the world, I’ve come to realise that there can be many different interpretations of the word ‘busy’. Having just returned from the JEC World Paris composites show, this adjective just doesn’t do the event justice.

Show organisers, exhibitors and visitors all have their own views regarding what constitutes healthy attendance figures, but at JEC World, there were more queues than at your average call centre.

Packed aisles, packed stands, JEC World packed them in with its sheer exhibitor presence and composites joie de vivre. Inside the halls, I was jostled by the throng of visitors rubbernecking to get a better view of the latest innovative products, whilst among the welter of warm welcomes and benevolent backslaps, old acquaintances were renewed and new and mutually beneficial partnerships established.

With many aerospace sector exhibitors at the show, there was particular interest in conference held in the Agora 6 conference hall. Airbus’ head of Wing of Tomorrow Programme, Sue Partridge told the rapt congregation about the company’s ‘Wing of Tomorrow’ programme. According to Sue, all primary and secondary structure components have been manufactured for three wings, the first wingbox assembly is complete, a test facility is being readied, and folding wing tip ground-based demonstrator production has begun. Proof, if proof were need that shows like JEC continue to provide that ‘I saw it here first’ moment. 

Let us all hope that another fantastic turnout in attendance for JEC’s organisers will allay any industry turbulence - economic or otherwise – that has sometimes preceded many tradeshows in recent years. Based on this evidence and the weight in numbers of happy visitors and exhibitors alike, I will be surprised if the aerospace composites materials industry isn’t still growing, thriving, fizzy, and busy for some years to come!