Bicycles get their own conference; composites a highlight

JEC Group and the US-based Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) will jointly hold the first international conference on bicycle technology from 8-9 December 2015 at Courtyard Brussels, Belgium.

Cyclitech 2015, is the first international conference devoted to composite technology for bicycles. The conference will examine the use of composites in bicycle design, including safety and performance aspects, and the implications for mass-market bicycles of recent composite innovations for high-end bikes. Speakers will focus on safety aspects of the frame and complete bicycle, failure analysis, failure prevention and design in relation to strength and performance; contribution of high-end racing bikes in mass production bikes, design and trends, as well as carbon composites process innovations, new materials and more plastics to replace metal and save weight.

Among 40 speakers from Europe, Asia, and the Americas will be experts from Union Cycliste Internationale, Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, Corima, Cervelo, KTM Technologies, Oxeon AB TeXtreme, and BMC. In addition to technical presentations, there will be roundtable and panel discussions with professional riders and the press.

“The all-plastics bike is closer than we think,” said Willem De Vos, CEO of SPE. “The market for non-metal bicycle frames and components is constantly growing, and recent successes of composites in specialty or racing bikes will lead the way to their application in high-volume markets.”

Cycling is becoming more and more popular, and a recent study forecasts the bicycle market to grow to $65 billion by 2019, noted Frederique Mutel, President/CEO of the JEC Group. “This is the first time that we have dedicated a full conference to a niche market such as bicycles,” she said.

“The market of non-metal bicycle frames and components is constantly growing. Several innovations in composite applications for this industry are leading the way for high-volume composites in other sectors. The 'full plastic bike' is nearer than we think,” says De Vos, CEO.

With the encouraging registration, the partners are already planning for Cyclitech 2016 to be held in the US.