(EnergyAsia, November 13, Thursday) — More than 300 companies representing some of the world’s leading names in the composites industry displayed their technologies and innovations at Asia Pacific’s first international composites show at the Suntec Exhibition Centre in Singapore from October 22 to October 24.

More than 8,000 visitors attended the exhibition while the conference attracted more than 800 delegates. Asian visitors accounted for more than 82% of the visitors from the 58 countries that attended the event over three days.

The show was organised by the Paris-based JEC Group which organises the annual JEC Paris Composites Show.

JEC Group president and CEO Frederique Mutel said:  “The composite sector is very lively, with global annual growth at six percent and with the Asia Pacific region accounting for 36% of the global composites market. By 2015, the region’s contribution would climb to about 46% of the global business.”

The highlight of the launch ceremony was the presentation of the inaugural JEC Asia Innovation Awards 2008. Created in 1998, the awards are aimed at identifying, promoting and rewarding the most innovative solutions worldwide.

The recipients of the 2008 JEC Asia Innovation Awards included Huntsman Advanced Materials, Texlink Compotech (Dongguan) Co. Ltd, Korea Railroad Research Institute, Fuji Clean Co. Ltd and Cell Power Corporation. JEC also presented an honorary award to Kanemasas Nomaguchi for his contribution to the composite industry.

“The composite solutions presented at the JEC Asia Show are numerous – which is precisely what the region is calling out for. The environment is very much ready for this, either directly with energy-source products like wind turbines and solar panels, or in-directly with lightweight structures like aircrafts and vehicles that consume less and lower energy costs,” Mrs Mutel said.

“Thanks to the relationships we have built over the past decade with the region’s composites associations, we have been able to get them to be closely involved. JEC is a group undertaking. Together, we are determined to provide the best programme for the composites industry, participants and user visitors from Asia Pacific and the rest of the world.”

Due to the success of this year’s show, JEC Show Asia will be made an annual event. The next edition will be held in Singapore from October 14 to 16 next year. The JEC Group has already reserved 11,500 sq m of floor space, which is a 75% increase from this year’s 6,500 sq m floor space.