Anne-Carole Barbarin: How does the JEC Italy 2025 Forum look like and what will be its central theme?
Roberto Frassine: The JEC Forum Italy 2025 is set to be a major event for the Italian composites industry. This second edition aims to foster connections among suppliers, buyers and R&D centres within the composites sector and its central theme revolves around innovation and sustainability in composite materials. The key sessions of Assocompositi technical conferences will address cutting-edge production technologies, including 3D printing and hybrid methods for high-performance thermoplastics. Additionally, the event will spotlight advancements in the automotive and railway sectors, emphasising the role of composites in enhancing performance and sustainability. Last but not least, a significant focus will be on the circularity of composite materials, with discussions on Italian recycling solutions and European initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable practices within the industry.
A-CB: Can you remind us of the history of Assocompositi and its place in the composites landscape in Italy?
RF: Assocompositi was founded in 2005 and turns 20 this year! As the Italian leading Association, we count about 80 industrial members and we represent the entire composites value chain, including raw materials producers, processors, technology providers, research centres and universities operating across major composite sectors such as marine, transportation, aerospace and infrastructure. The Association was created with the aim of promoting the culture of composite materials and supporting the growth of the sector in Italy, but today Assocompositi plays a significant role also in the international landscape thanks to its connections with other European bodies and sector groups.
A-CB: You hosted a Country on Stage session at JEC World 2025: what is the position of the composites industry in Italy and what are the economic prospects?
RF: The 2025 Country on Stage conference has successfully explored Italy’s industry solutions for the advancement of composite materials circularity, showing the different recycling options that are available today in our country. Italy’s composites market is thriving, thanks to rising demand in aerospace, defence and wind energy. The country ranks 4th in Europe, producing about 162,000 tonnes—14.2% of the continent’s total. Key sectors include marine, transport, aerospace, construction and wind. The marine industry, in particular, had a record year in 2023, with €4 billion (US$4.53 billion) in exports—a 15.9% increase—driven by Italy’s global leadership in superyacht production.
A-CB: Is Lombardy, one of the strongholds of Italian industry, also a historic cradle of the composites industry?
RF: Absolutely, Lombardy has long been a key region for the development of the composites industry in Italy. As one of the country’s most industrialised areas, it hosts a dense network of companies, research centres and universities that have played a crucial role in advancing composite technologies. Over the years, Lombardy has become a hub for innovation and production, particularly in sectors like aerospace, automotive and construction, where high-performance composites are increasingly in demand. Its strategic location and strong manufacturing tradition continue to make it a driving force in the Italian and European composites landscape.
A-CB: Since we are talking about JEC Italy Forum, what are your expectations for this new edition?
RF: We expect JEC Forum Italy 2025 to be a key meeting point for the entire Italian composites’ community. Set against the stunning backdrop of Villa Erba on Lake Como, the event will offer a unique atmosphere that perfectly complements its focus on innovation and collaboration. It’s an important moment to highlight Italian industry strengths in a truly unique setting and to overview the evolution of the market on crucial topics such as innovation and sustainability.
A-CB: And what are the main centres of innovation and reflection that you expect for this 2025 event? In terms of end-user applications, the program is particularly focused on transport, doesn’t it?
RF: One of the most critical and dynamic areas of innovation we expect to be highlighted at JEC Forum Italy 2025 is the development of industrial solutions for the circularity of composite materials. This represents a decisive challenge for the entire sector.
This year, the Transportation session of our conference will offer a unique deep dive into cutting-edge applications within the Italian railway sector, with a special focus on Very High-Speed Trains (VHST). A standout feature of the session will be the presentation of a ground-breaking project involving the design, construction and testing of a side skirt made from composite material reinforced with carbon fibre.
A-CB: Prof. Frassine, it is impossible not to talk to you about EuCIA and the challenges of sustainable development in Europe, especially since you will be giving a keynote on the subject: what are the latest advances to date?
RF: EuCIA is actively engaged in several initiatives aimed at promoting circularity, reducing environmental impact and aligning with the European Union’s Green Deal objectives. In collaboration with JEC Group, EuCIA released the 2024 Composites Sustainability Report, which outlines the latest trends, technologies and strategies driving sustainability and circularity in the composites industry and serves as a comprehensive resource for stakeholders seeking to implement sustainable practices within the sector. During JEC World 2025, EuCIA has launched the European Circular Composites Alliance (ECCA), aiming to set and achieve targets on the use of recovered and recycled composites. The Association is also a partner in several EU-funded projects, such as REFRESH and EOLIAN, which are dedicated to advancing the sustainability and circularity of composite materials. We are also working to monitor the evolution of the EU Directive on end-of-life vehicles (ELV) and we are currently preparing for the forthcoming publication of the Clean Economy Act, expected in 2026, which will focus on the development of trans-regional circularity poles.
A-CB: And at a time when sustainable development is on everyone’s lips, how does Italy approach this -huge- challenge?
RF: Italy supports sustainable development by promoting research and innovation in circular solutions for composite materials. Assocompositi, in collaboration with EuCIA, has published the technical guide “Circularity of Composite Materials: A Guide for Beginners” and has established a Sustainability Committee that involves major Italian players from various application sectors. This committee is currently working on updating the national standard for the end-of-life management of composites. The most mature technologies for composite waste treatment include co-processing in cement kilns, mechanical grinding and pyrolysis. Further processes are under development, potentially enabling high value-added recovery (upcycling) of composites, such as fluidised bed thermal processes, thermochemical processes (solvolysis) or electromechanical processes (high-voltage pulse fragmentation). Driven by research and innovation, new composite materials are entering the market, specifically designed to be more easily recyclable at end-of-life—such as composites with “cleavage” thermosetting matrices, vitrimer-based systems or thermoplastic composites produced via reactive moulding. Italian industry and research have been actively working on many of these promising solutions for several years.
A-CB: How important are startups in the Italian composites sector, and can you tell us a few words about the startups that will be participating in this JEC Forum?
RF: Startups play a crucial role in driving innovation within the Italian composites sector, particularly in advancing sustainability, digitalisation and advanced manufacturing techniques. The JEC Forum will feature the JEC Startups’ Innovation Session, showcasing 5 startups pioneering new manufacturing processes and sustainable recycling methods in the composites field. The participating startups are: Graphene-XT, specialised in developing eco-friendly nanomaterial-based coatings using high-quality graphene; Hikari, which offers sustainable composite materials by replacing petroleum-based components with renewable sources; MaCh3D, providing a smart material testing platform that enables material quality assessments, integrating innovative hardware with AI-enhanced cloud services; Recarbon, focused on recycling carbon fibre waste into ready-to-use intermediate; SphereCube with its innovative 3D printer capable of processing thermoset resins and continuous reinforcements.
These startups exemplify the dynamic and innovative spirit of Italy’s composites industry, addressing key challenges and pushing the boundaries of what is possible in materials science and engineering.
A-CB: How do you see the global composites market evolving in the years to come?
RF: The global composites market in 2025 is projected to reach approximately US$125.6 billion, with forecasts indicating a rise to US$213.3 billion by 2034. In the next future it will be shaped by key megatrends such as sustainability, lightweighting, digitalisation and performance optimisation. We expect increased adoption of circular economy principles, with growing investments in recycling technologies. Secondly, the push for lightweight yet durable solutions in sectors like aerospace, automotive, construction and green energies (wind and hydrogen) will continue to fuel demand for high-performance composites. These materials will remain essential in meeting efficiency and emission goals. Digitalisation is another major driver. Smart manufacturing technologies, including automated fibre placement, AI-driven quality control and digital twins, will reshape production processes, making composites more cost-effective and scalable. We also foresee a stronger role for startups and collaborative R&D ecosystems, especially in Europe, where innovation and sustainability are deeply linked. Initiatives like the JEC Forum and EU-backed research projects are fostering breakthroughs in material science, processing and end-of-life solutions.
JEC kindly reminds all participants to register in advance (on-site registration will not be available under any circumstances).
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