Keynote Announced for SPE ACCE 2019

"Chemistry-Driven Composite Innovation - the Future is Now"

Media Contact: Teri Chouinard, SPE Auto. Div. Comm. Chair, 248-701-8003, teri@intuitgroup.com.

TROY (DETROIT), MI—August 1, 2019: The executive planning committee for the SPE Automotive Composites Conference & Expo (ACCE) is announcing the second keynote speaker for their 19th annual event September 4 – 6, 2019 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi, Mich. in the Detroit suburbs.

Gulay Serhatkulu, Senior Vice President, Performance Materials North America, BASF Corp. will present “Chemistry-Driven Composite Innovation – the Future is Now.”  The presentation will outline the challenges facing composites solutions in the automotive industry and what needs to happen to increase the adoption.  She will also highlight examples from BASF and how they are using chemistry to drive composites innovation now and in the future.

“Chemistry-driven innovations drive BASF technology advancements in automotive applications making BASF the #1 chemical supplier to the automotive industry,” said Serhatkulu. “Increasing desire for stronger, lighter, more sustainable material solutions can only be achieved with new chemistries together with creative product designs. This leads to a different way of working, bringing the company offering new chemistries and the part designer closer than ever before.”

In addition to daily keynote presentations, the three-day ACCE features approximately 80 technical presentations, 2 – 3 panel discussions, and over 100 sponsors with approximately 80 exhibiting advances in materials, processes, and equipment for both thermoset and thermoplastic composites in a wide variety of transportation applications.  Daily networking breakfasts, lunches, and cocktail receptions enhance the value of the event that attracts over 900 attendees worldwide.The Automotive and Composites Divisions of the Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE®) jointly produce the  ACCE to educate the industry about the benefits of composites in automotive, light and heavy-duty  truck, off-highway vehicles, and other ground transportation applications.

The technical presentations (30 min. ea.) are organized into the following categories: Advances in Thermoplastic Composites, Advances in Thermoset Composites, Virtual Prototyping, Testing & Modeling, Reinforcement Technologies, Additive Manufacturing & 3D Printing, Nanocomposites, Enabling Technologies, Sustainable Composites, Bonding, Joining & Finishing, Opportunities & Challenges with Carbon Composites, and Business Trends & Technology Solutions.

“Composites – Forming the Future of Transportation Worldwide,” is the theme for this year’s event reflecting the growing global interest transportation OEMs have in learning about the latest plastic composites technologies. The 2019 ACCE is co-chaired by Dr. Alper Kiziltas, technical expert, Ford Motor Company and SPE Automotive Div. vice-chair & education committee chair and Matthew E. Carroll, materials engineering, General Motors Company and former SPE Automotive Div. chair. The technical program is co-chaired by Dr. David Jack, associate professor, Mechanical Engineering at Baylor University and Dr. Leonardo Simon, professor, Chemical Engineering at Waterloo University.

For more information, please visit www.speautomotive.com/acce.

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