Fueled by rapid infrastructure growth, composites production in Asia is expected to more than double by 2015 to 22 billion pounds, according to a new report from JEC Composites, a Paris-based trade show and industry promotion organization.
China is expected to drive much of that new production, accounting for 43 percent of global growth in composites by 2013 — including 67 percent growth in the building and construction sector and 45 percent in land transportation, JEC said.
The group released its findings June 22 in Beijing, as part of a 2010 annual survey of the global composites market and to promote its upcoming JEC Show Asia, in Singapore.
“A major trend identified is the industrial shift from North America and Europe to Asia,” JEC said.
JEC said Chinese firms are rapidly adopting new composites technologies in sustainable energy areas such as wind power. The fast development of China's auto market also is expected to drive composites appli- cations.
JEC President Frederique Mutel said Asian firms have opportunities to adopt more automation, catching up to efficiency levels of firms in other parts of the world.
“While Europe currently has the highest rate of automation with 83 percent of processes being automated, compared to 68 percent in Asia, there is great potential for manufacturers in the Asia-Pacific region to leverage the innovative advantages of process automation to achieve cost reduction, improved productivity and higher product quality,” Mutel said in a company news release.
JEC also said there is significant composites growth potential in India, including in that country's automotive market, and in the Middle East, Malaysia, Vietnam and Indonesia. The composites market in Asia currently is valued at about US$26 billion, according to JEC.
The group was in China to promote its third annual JEC Show Asia 2010, to be held Oct. 12-14 in Singapore.
JEC said it expects 300 exhibiting companies and 10,000 visitors. The event will focus on “urban solutions” in markets such as mass transit, aeronautics, water and environmentally friendly technologies.
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