CAMX Showcases Composite Industry Leaders

With WECO International and Ceramicx leading the marketplace for reinforced-material technologies, good things are bound to happen. We are happy to share the results of a Ceramicx’s successful entry into the North American composite marketplace.

The occasion was CAMX, the annual USA composite materials exhibition in Orlando. Organizers postponed the event because of bad weather. They moved it from September 2017 to December 2017.

Frank Wilson, Ceramicx founder and director, attended the exhibition with personnel from WECO International, the Ceramicx distributor in North America. WECO Operations Director Tony Tenore lists several positives from the CAMX experience.

• • We connected in person with several of our good customers.
  • We gained knowledge about composite customers outside the aerospace industry.
  • We collected information on our non-Infrared (IR) heating competitors, which greatly benefited us.

Improving Composite Processes

Tenore adds that “we also gained several perspectives on the features of US composite as a whole. For example, we learned what might be considered a commodity item versus something with more critical value.”

Unsurprisingly perhaps,WECO and Ceramicx used the CAMX event to educate the composite industry of Infrared (IR) energy.

“In no way do I seek to discredit the knowledge, ability and capabilities of the sector,” says Tenore. “But the composite industry mainly views heat as a commodity. Once we gain the ability to connect with someone and explore their manufacturing process, infrared (IR) becomes a technological advantage rather than a commodity. This challenge is one that we recognize and relish.”

Tenore also noted that “the majority of composite processes use controls that we consider basic when we compared to WECO/Ceramicx capability. We definitely view this as an advantage. For the right customer, advanced controls will tie in with advanced and precise heat sources.”

“Another key learning point for myself,” adds Tenore, “was the fact that the majority of composite processes remain set in stone once they prove themselves and enter production. This is a double-edged sword. It is great if your company is on the spec, but difficult if you are not there at the beginning. On the upside, the takeaway was to remain vigilant for new applications and to use caution when troubleshooting an older process.”

Getting to Know the Composite Industry

If any exhibitor walked out of the show and did not remember Frank or take Ceramicx literature, I would be very surprised. Frank and Brett Wehner, WECO founder, connected with every single booth at the show. This connection gave us another great source of knowledge about the industry and how it flows.

“All in all, CAMX provided a great experience and gave us the personal knowledge that we not only belong in the industry but can excel in the industry – and far above our competition, since we provide just the right approach to the market,” says Tenore.

WECO president Brett Wehner says, “We were delighted with the interest and opportunities presented to us in Florida. We interacted with several existing customers utilizing our IR solutions as well as finding new names, businesses and opportunities throughout the world involved in aerospace, automotive and industrial processes. In addition, we discussed the benefits of infrared energy being utilized in new uncharted applications.

Wehner’s view is that “Infrared heating and composite processing when taken together is at a fairly sunrise stage in development. However, there is no question that the materials and the IR technology work really well together. We therefore anticipate ‘ground-floor’ growth and opportunity in helping improve composite heat work with Ceramicx infrared products and solutions.”

Tenore added, “Having the added expertise of Tadhg Whooley and Frank Wilson in the booth was a definite and incalculable plus. Their knowledge of heating methods and IR energy made a massive difference, especially when talking to new customers using different materials. Between Ceramicx and WECO, there are very few heat work solutions that have not been heard of or tested in one way or another!”