Joint Market and Technology Study “New Potentials for Composite Technologies in Buildings & Infrastructure”
Growing Composite Market for Buildings and Infrastructure
Buildings & Infrastructure (B&I) are growing and resource intense markets: For 2016, a 4 % growth of turnover is expected for the German building sector (1). In terms of resource efficiency but also of design aspects, lightweight solutions and especially composites become increasingly important (2). The overall European market for composites in B&I amounts to 8-10 billion €, which is about one third of the overall market. 34 % of the glass fiber market is related to B&I, for a comparison: the share within the transportation sector is 35 %. The global market share for carbon fibers related to B&I amounts 23 % (3).
Germany, as one of the main drivers for lightweight technology, faces the global competition to retain its technical leadership: AZL – the largest international research and industrial center for lightweight production in Germany, reveals new potentials for composite technologies in Buildings & Infrastructure with a joint market and technology study. This study is the first step of a long term cooperation between players from the composite industry and Buildings & Infrastructure. Within this 6-month study, AZL is determining where and with which applications, products, materials and production technologies new business opportunities will open. The study is open to the more than 70 international AZL Partner Companies from 19 countries companies representing the entire composites value chain as well as to all companies outside the network.
Kick-Off Meeting in November 2016
The 6-months study, which has started in November, is designed as a joint market study involving players along the value chain of the markets of composites as well as Buildings & Infrastructure. This approach allows participants to benefit from the knowledge of all study partners and experts who are involved in the project. Study participants will be a direct part of the study and will be able to influence the progress according to their specific demands. The study is the first step to initiate long term cooperation between players from the composite industry and Buildings & Infrastructure.
This approach has been successfully implemented within a branch independent joint study with 34 participating international companies along the entire value chain.
Interested companies can benefit from the insights into the structures of these highly diversified markets and the specific technological challenges regarding construction, materials, applications and production technologies.
Scope and Outcome
Based on the demand of AZL´s international partner network, an expert team will reveal new potentials for composite technologies in Buildings & Infrastructure within a joint market- and technology study. Drawing on technical expertise, but also a well-grounded knowledge of market specific information, AZL is determining where and with which applications, products, materials and production technologies new business opportunities will open. Therefore, AZL is creating and rating new scenarios for high potential applications and will provide necessary information to support product and service development of participating companies.
In two prioritization workshops, AZL together with the study partners determine the key segments as well as 100 technologies/applications with high market potentials. 10 of these will be investigated in detail including cost analyses. The study will comprise application analyses of 12 market segments, investigation of 100 applications, technology analyses of 25 highlight components and 10 detailed business cases. Besides requirement analyses for materials and production technologies, new concepts for efficient profitable production technologies are developed including cost engineering analysis.
After completion of the study, a new workgroup “Composites in Buildings & Infrastructure” with regular meetings will be implemented to enhance business cooperation and to realize applications with the highest market potential.
Get an overview on all AZL activities related to Buildings & Infrastructure here.
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⇓ Download the Brochure |
This is what our Partners say to the Study:
Justin Jin | CEO
“Our fast developing company is specialised in thermoplastic composite sheets, offering a unique selling point of organosheet in widths up to 3 meters and zero VOC. This is predestined for applications in B&I. We’re thrilled to be part of AZL’s B&I study and expecting broad information regarding applications and potential customers. Furthermore, the networking aspect of the consortial study is one main motivation, to generate new business. I believe this AZL’s B&I study will be a starting point of combining all of the existing composite solutions into Building section and will create other huge value for humanity as well as for composite industry.”
Thomas Wegman | Marketing Manager
“Aliancys is pushing the limits of both composite part manufacturing and performance by taking an integral approach to new product development. B&I is already one of our key markets, where we are working with our customers and channel partners to create exciting new applications. We strongly support taking a structured approach to identify new opportunities for composites, quantifying the benefits these versatile materials can bring and identifying how to make conversion a true success.”
Dr. Andrew Willett |
Manager Advanced Production Processes and Measuring, Belgium
“One of my major contributions to the success of Toyota is the early identification of new technologies, especially related to advanced materials. Besides close cooperation with AZL in various development projects, we regularly use their expertise in market and technology studies. Our engagement within AZL´s first, branch independent, consortial study in 2013 strengthened our insight into the challenges and opportunities for application of composites from the perspective of the supply chain and end users in other industrial sectors.”
