In February, an agreement was signed by three companies of the composite materials industry: Spanish composites supplier Gazechim Composites Ibérica (Madrid; www.gazechim.es), US dosing and mixing equipment manufacturer Magnum Venus Products (MVP; Knoxville, Tennessee; www.mvpind.com) and Spanish plastics technology centre Aimplas (Valencia; www.aimplas.net). The collaboration, which aims to organise high-level technical information events to foster the use and new applications of composite materials, results in the brand Composites360.

Composites are currently well positioned in the construction and the aviation industries, and evolving in applications in new sectors, such as the automotive industry. The first action for Composites360 is a workshop on 26 - 27 April, focussed on the use of high-performance composite materials by close mould processes (RTM). Speakers will discuss topics relating to materials, product design, quality, process optimisation and manufacturing costs. There will also be a demonstrative section consisting of the production of parts by RTM, including the use of polyester-type resins and epoxy with glass and carbon fibres.