Working groups are technical working groups within our network. The working groups meet regularly to discuss specific topics. The topics are extremely varied and deal with technical issues, but some also have a marketing focus. We also offer working groups on new topics at regular intervals. If you have a need for a new topic, please contact us.
The opportunity to participate in our working group is open exclusively to all AVK members. If required, any number of employees from our member companies can take part in any desired working group.
Our working groups
- Chair: Prof. Dr. Hans-Josef Endres/Institute of Plastics and Circular Economy – LUH
- Objectives: Pooling the interests of all companies in the composites industry on the subject of recycling and initiating joint plans and projects
Next working group meeting: not yet scheduled
Digitization (joint AVK/CU working group)
The Digitalization Working Group is a collaborative event organized by AVK and CU. It bundles the activities of both networks in this area and is intended to provide members with a joint information and discussion platform.
The working group covers the entire range of topics from Industry 4.0 to Artificial Intelligence and places particular emphasis on bringing together members with a wide range of previous experience.
Next working group meeting: 07.11.2024, 11 am – 4 pm
Location: Polynt company, 56357 Miehlen
! Joint working group meeting with CU on the topic of digitalization (topics ranging from Industry 4.0 to artificial intelligence)
EATC – European Alliance for Thermoplastic Composites
- Chair: Sreenivas Paruchuri/Grammer AG
- Objectives: Exchange of companies and organization of marketing activities to promote LFT (Long Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastics) / GMT (Glass Mat Reinforced Thermoplastics) on an international level
- The EATC has its own website
Next working group meeting: 11.02.2025, 11:00-15:00
Location: AVK office, Am Hauptbahnhof 12, Frankfurt am Main
Continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastics
- Chair: Dr. Sebastian Schmeer/Leibniz Institute for Composite Materials (IVW)
- Goals: Establishment of continuous fiber-reinforced thermoplastics in the automotive sector
Next working group meeting: 05.03.2025, 13:30-15:30
Location: JEC World 2025, Paris Nord Villepinte
EPTA – European Pultrusion Technology Association
- Chair: Luigi Giamundo/ATP srl
- Objectives: Exchange of experience and organization of measures to promote the growth of the pultrusion industry
- The EPTA has its own website
Board meeting: November 19, 2024 (8:30-10:30 a.m.)
General Meeting: November 19, 2024 (11:00-12:30 a.m.)
Workshop “Shredding of pultruded parts”: November 19, 2024 (14:00-16:00 hrs. )
- Chair: Heike Wolfangel/Wolfangel GmbH
- Organization of marketing activities to promote products manufactured using the RTM process
- The EURO-RTM-Group has its own website
Next working group meeting: not yet scheduled
Fiber and semi-finished product analysis
- Platform for mutual exchange in the fields of fiber analysis, fiber morphology, fiber processing and fiber processing
Next working group meeting: not yet scheduled
- The working group deals with the interaction of composites with other materials/materials such as metals or hybrid structures in general and the different processes that are suitable for joining depending on the application and quality requirements
Next working group meeting: not yet scheduled
Joint Additive Manufacturing Committee (with DGM)
- Joint regular exchange on additive manufacturing, incl. the topic of 3D printing for composites, with the DGM – German Society for Materials Science
Next working group meeting: 22.11.2024
Location: AVK office, Am Hauptbahnhof 12, Frankfurt am Main
GRP in pipe/tank and plant construction
- 1st Chair: Prof. Dr. Jens Ridzewski/IMA Materialforschung und Anwendungstechnik GmbH
- 2nd Chair: Sabine Dinger/Ineos Composites
- Objectives: Exchange of market participants in GRP pipe/tank and plant construction
Next working group meeting: 14.01.2025, 11:00-15:00
Location: AVK office, Am Hauptbahnhof 12, Frankfurt am Main
Details
“The AVK working group “GRP in pipe/tank and plant construction” has decided to use the current public working status of standard EN 13121-3-2016-10 (status: October 2016). The working group recommends that users of this standard also use this working status. The working group is of the opinion that the status of EN 13121-3-2016-10 corresponds to the current state of knowledge.”
Dimensioning/design
GRP tanks are often an excellent choice. There can be uncertainty, especially with regard to the appropriate selection of materials and dimensioning as well as the correct information on the type plate to be attached. The working group has developed a corresponding Paper with notes on dimensioning and material selection of GRP containers – Specially created for the topic of temperature.
Additional documents were also created:
- Notes on the dimensioning of GRP containers on the subject of pressure
- Requirements/designs of type plates on GRP containers
- Notes on verifying the degree of curing of GRP containers and pipes
Information brochures
Are you looking for information on applications? You can find a free information brochure on the details page .
Composites have excellent properties for use in the infrastructure sector and beyond. The American Composites Manufacturers Association(ACMA) has compiled some information on its own website.
Current (August 2018)
The working group has dealt with the topic of GRP in the construction and infrastructure sector and has produced an article describing the advantages of GRP in pipe, tank and plant construction.
Statics – earthquake design and nozzle loads
- Chair: Dr. Ralf Troschitz, BASF SE
- Sub-working group of the “GRP in pipe/tank and plant construction” working group
Next working group meeting: 12.12.2024, 11:00-13:00
Location: Online (Zoom meeting)
Details
Dimensioning/design
GRP tanks and containers are often an excellent choice. The prerequisite for successful use is a structural design that meets the requirements and verification of this. The essential principles for this are laid down in EN13121-3, among others.
The statics working group has set itself the task of developing further assistance and instructions for specific issues.
EARTHQUAKE LOAD CASE:
Important information on the consideration of the earthquake load case for plastic containers is available for download under the following link:
Notes on the design of GRP containers for the earthquake load case
SUPPORT LOADS:
The working group is currently working on the topic of nozzle loads on plastic containers and apparatus. The following working paper from the statics working group provides an overview of this.
- Chair: Peter Rengers/Rengers Kunststoffverarbeitungs GmbH & Co. KG
- Objectives: Exchange of experience and organization of marketing activities for the promotion of GRP swimming pools
Next working group meeting: 10.03.2025, 10:00-12:00
Location: Online (Zoom)
Characterization of semi-finished products for liquid impregnation processes
- Chair: PD Dr.-Ing. habil. David May
- The working group focuses on one of the most popular process groups for the production of fiber-plastic composites, the liquid impregnation process. In this process, a fiber structure close to the final contour is impregnated with a low-viscosity and therefore usually thermosetting resin system using positive and/or negative pressure
Next working group meeting: not yet scheduled
- Chair: Dr. Jaap van der Woude
- Objectives: To create a platform for the exchange of experience on the actual impact of composites on the environment and the associated opportunities and risks. A common language policy on the topic of sustainability is also to be developed for customers and the public.
Next working group meeting: 15.05.2025, 11:00-15:00
Location: AVK office, Am Hauptbahnhof 12, Frankfurt am Main
Natural fiber-reinforced plastics
- 1st Chair: Dr. Barbara Güttler/Leibniz Institute for Composite Materials, TU Kaiserslautern
- 2nd Chair: Prof. Dr. Luisa Medina/Hochschules Kaiserslautern
- Objectives: Organization of marketing activities to promote natural fiber reinforced plastics on an international level
- The Natural Fiber Reinforced Plastics Working Group has its own website
Next working group meeting: 13.05.2025
Location: AVK office, Am Hauptbahnhof 12, Frankfurt am Main
- Chair: Michael Pundt/BÜFA Composites GmbH & Co. KG
- Objectives: Exchange of experience between market players from the fields of hand lay-up and fiber spraying
- Main areas of work: quality management, education/training/further training and marketing.
Next working group meeting: not yet scheduled
- Chair: Michael Polotzki/Menzolit S.r.l.
- Objectives: Coordination of work on material optimization of SMC (Sheet Mould Compounds) and BMC (Bulk Mould Compounds)
- The SMC/BMC working group has its own website
Next working group meeting: 29.04.2025, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Location: AVK office, Am Hauptbahnhof 12, Frankfurt am Main
Event information: SMCCreate 2025
Date: November 04/05, 2025
Location: Prague, Czech Republic
Further information
Thermoplastic Composites Tubes & Profiles
- Chair: Dr. Elmar Witten
- Target group of the expert task force:
- Tape manufacturer
- Manufacturer of thermoplastic composite pipes
- Testing institutes
- End users of thermoplastic composite pipes
- Automotive
- Boats and ships
- Aviation
- …
Next working group meeting: 04.02.2025, 11:00-15:00
Location: AVK office, Am Hauptbahnhof 12, Frankfurt am Main
Environmental protection and occupational safety
- Chair: Dirk Punke/BÜFA Composite Systems GmbH & Co. KG
- Objectives: Exchange on current requirements regarding environmental protection and occupational safety that are relevant for companies in the composites industry
Next working group meeting: 24.02.2025, 12:00-16:00
Location: AVK office, Am Hauptbahnhof 12, Frankfurt am Main
- Objectives: Expansion of the market potential for hydrogen pressure tanks made of composites by bringing together all participating companies and developing common goals and actions
Next working group meeting: 13.03.2025, 11:00-15:00
Location: AVK office, Am Hauptbahnhof 12, Frankfurt am Main
Material properties and requirements for e-mobility
- Chair: Peter Ooms
- Objectives: Development of possible applications for composites materials in the context of new e-mobility concepts
Next working group meeting: 18.03.2025, 11:00-15:00
Location: AVK office, Am Hauptbahnhof 12, Frankfurt am Main
Basic information on the players and their fields of action in the area of e-mobility can be found here.
Materials testing and thermal analysis
- Chair: Prof. Dr. Jens Ridzewski/IMA Materialforschung und Anwendungstechnik GmbH
- Objectives: Exchange on material and component testing and analysis of composites
Next working group meeting: not yet scheduled