JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #114 - July 2017 - 23

New potential for composite technologies in buildings and infrastructure

Fig. 4: Study
proceeding

the pilot phase, 438 applications
and components and a catalogue
of 40 main challenges were presented to the participants. During
the first report meeting, the participants had the opportunity to
vote, after the presentation and
discussions with the researcher in charge, for the components
and applications of their personal interest. The vote resulted in a
selection of 25 high-ranked components, which were qualified for
the next stages of investigation in
the subsequent phases.
Market and technology analysis
The second project phase is currently in process. It started with
two workshop meetings to discuss the selected components
within the consortium and to record and document participants'
input. During the workshops, external experts will be included
to provide additional expertise
in the market-specific meetings.
They will give keynote presentations and answer the questions

of the consortium members. To
document the results of the second project phase, an evaluation of the selected components
will be compiled based on market-and technology-driven criteria. To start the detailed analysis,
component information such as
geometrical dimensions, norms
and standards as well as a description of the value chain will
be specified. During the second
report meeting, the participants
will have the opportunity to vote
again for their favourite components. During this selection period, the number of components
will be reduced from 25 to 10.
Business cases
The last stage of investigation is
based on the business cases of
the 10 highest ranked composite components. Through the different stages, information will be
collected regarding the individual components and the following business cases will be built
on this database. A final business

case will contain a market summary, an overview of the potential critical technological requirements and a documentation of
competitive technologies and
materials. Furthermore, an analysis of the properties of the current production process, a recommendation for future process
improvements and a calculation
of the cost structure will be documented. At the end of the study,
the participants will have a systematic and structured overview
of market conditions and technological opportunities. In addition to the documentation, they
will benefit from the experience
gained from the discussions and
the expert input they get during
the different stages.

steel and concrete. Only in minor segments, such as concrete
strengthening or sewer renovation, are composites the current
state of the art. But if the specific advantages of composite products are worked out, standards
and regulations are established
and the required customer confidence is created, the construction
sector can provide diverse business opportunities for composite materials and components.
Especially considering the current development of market conditions and technological opportunities, composite solutions can
increase their market share and
widen their field of application.
With time still remaining to join
AZL's joint market study on
New Potentials for Composite
The future of
Technologies in Buildings &
composites in B&I
Infrastructure, this could be the
Composite components have start for further industrial project
been used in construction for partners.
years, but they are still niche
More information:
products, rarely used in a market
michael.emonts@azl-aachen-gmbh.de
traditionally dominated by wood,
kai.fischer@azl-aachen-gmbh.de

Fig. 5: Market segmentation

N°114 July 2017

/ jec composites magazine

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #114 - July 2017