In China especially, the impact of the recession has been muted and a latent demand for housing and infrastructure has created double-digit growth in construction and an increased demand for all types of consumer goods.  While a lack of awareness of the availability and advantages of composite products is a challenge in that market, massive increases in demand will force more acceptance, Timmins said.  Specific products that are seeing increased demand include cooling towers, bathtubs, pools, FRP panels, bridge decks, grating, doors, windows, grating and rebar.

Other potential markets include Brazil, Russia and India that all have a built-up need for housing and energy efficient materials.   A rise in urbanization and more government housing create more demand in these areas.  Sadly, natural disasters such as floods and earthquake have created a need for prefabricated construction in undeveloped areas, but more happily, international showcase events such as the Olympics and expos create an urgent need for construction and cost efficiency.

Forecasters see a future of robust growth in international markets of 7 percent by 2015, Timmins said, while domestic recovery in North America will be gradual.  Demand for construction will remain low while raw material prices will increase but there will be less ability to pass those costs on to the financially-pinched consumer.

The composites industry—along with many others during the recession—has been “hammered” since late in 2007, MacNeil said, but he predicts it will grow 3 percent to 5 percent this year, then 8 percent to 12 percent annually from 2011-2014.

MacNeil pointed out that history is on the industry’s side. Using economic charts as illustration, he showed that U.S. growth in composites has far outperformed GDP, as well as competing industries such as steel and aluminum—and it’s not even close. “We can still safely say it’s a growth industry,” he said. “We’ve certainly slowed down, but we haven’t observed the peak and rapid decline associated with a mature industry. Better yet, we’ve always ratcheted back up after periods of decline.”

He showed that two indicators from the Conference Board’s Leading Economic Index predict economic growth in the second quarter of 2010. “It’s more reinforcement that recovery is on the way,” he said.

MacNeil also discussed how trends and developments in industries important to composites manufacturing, such as automotive, construction and wind, should help the industry rebound. “We’re not a one-trick show, and we’re not dependant on one sector of the economy,” he said. Also, the inherent advantages of composites (lightweight, strong, non-corrosive) should help to spark new applications, he said, but it’s also important to monitor issues such as regulation and offshore competitors.

“Remember, we are in quite a hole,” MacNeil said. “We took a nosedive in 2009, and we’ll be struggling to get out of that for a couple years. But we will get there.”

Then again, he might be among the first to admit that predicting economic matters isn’t an exact science. In a touch of levity that drew audience laughter, he presented his definition of an economist—”an expert who will know tomorrow why the things he predicted yesterday didn’t happen today.”

COMPOSITES 2010 Attendees lined up at registration on opening day

Attendees began flocking to COMPOSITES 2010 this morning like an Elvis impersonator on a jumpsuit sale. Attendees from around the world, a few tired from either jet lag, a few rounds of slot machines or both,  lined up to register at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.  Cast polymer and solid surface manufacturers also have the opportunity to participate in the International Countertop Expo (ICE), which co-located this year with the COMPOSITES 2010 show. “This is my first time here and I already love it,” says Ishmael Rahamut, managing director of Trinidad and Tobago-based Top Décor. “This is a great place for us to network and with ICE next door, I think it will be a great show.”

The first day of the convention will focus on education, including education sessions on lean manufacturing, closed molding and CCT (certified composites technician) tutorials.  In addition, there will be six new networking receptions designed to allow attendees to make the most of the three-day event. The new receptions will focus on emerging markets, pultrusion, infrastructure, building and construction, architecture and ICPA.

Later today, composite consultant Ray MacNeil will address attendees in the general session on the economic outlook of the composite industry and keynote speaker Mitt Romney, Republican presidential nominee in 2008 and former governor of Massachusetts, will focus on key business developments affecting the composites industry.

For up to the minute highlights of COMPOSITES 2010, follow Composites Manufacturing magazine on Twitter.

“Everybody knows the U.S. infrastructure is in horrible shape and this is a one of the solutions,” he says. “We think this can solve a lot of the bridge issues for short and medium span bridges and in so doing can help increase the role of composites in infrastructure.”