Conference Program
Thursday, November 20th 2025
| 08:30 | Registration Reception Desk Erzherzog Johann Trakt GF |
Plenary Session
Erzherzog Johann Auditorium
Petra Rudolf will chair the Plenary Session
| Time | Topic & Speaker |
|---|---|
| 09:00 | Opening and Welcome On the history and the future of VV Elisabeth Ladstätter, CEO Polymer Competence Center Leoben GmbH Ewald Fauster, Interim Head of the Processing of Composites and Design for Recycling Group, Technical University of Leoben Helmut Antrekowitsch, Vice-Rector for Research and Sustainability, Technical University of Leoben |
| 09:40 | Plenary Talk Composites from Recycled Carbon Fibers David May, Faserinstitut Bremen e.V. (FIBRE) / Universität Bremen |
| 10:40 | Panel discussion on the topic ‘Hazardous’ carbon fibres to be banned from cars?! Following the Plenary Talk, an interdisciplinary panel will discuss the future of carbon fibres in automotive applications and the implications for sustainability, safety, and circularity. Panelist: - Alexia Tischberger-Aldrian, Montanuniversität Leoben - Maximilian Schäfer, SGL Carbon - Elisabeth Moser-Marzi, Moser-Marzi Rechtsanwälte - Jörg Radanitsch, Carbon Cleanup GmbH |
| 12:00 | Lunch Break& Exhibition Erzherzog Johann Trakt FF |
1: Composite Manufacturing Technologies
Erzherzog Johann Auditorium | Session Chair: Ewald Fauster
| Time | Topic & Speaker |
|---|---|
| 13:20 | Potentials for Composites in the Automotive Sector Yannick Blößl, SGL Composites GmbH |
| 13:40 | The First European Carbon Fiber Sheet Molding Compound Material Characterization Benchmark Miro Duhovic, Leibniz-Institut für Verbundwerkstoffe GmbH |
| 14:00 | Minimum Material Parameter Set for Reliable VARI Filling Simulations Christof Obertscheider, Fachhochschule Wiener Neustadt GmbH |
| 14:20 | Artificial Intelligence in Composite Manufacturing: A Technical Perspective Stefan Neunkirchen, FH JOANNEUM |
| 14:40 | Determining the optimal RVE sizing for random-chopped fiber composites John Finder, Technische Universität Braunschweig |
2: Biobased Composites with Advanced Properties
HS Raiffeisen | Session Chair: Katharina Resch-Fauster
| Time | Topic & Speaker |
|---|---|
| 13:20 | Bio-based plastics in composite technology - opportunities, motivation and limits from an industry perspective Irmgard Bergmann, ISOVOLTA GROUP |
| 13:40 | Towards sustainable curing for high-performance epoxy systems: polythiol-based hardeners and bio-based thermolatent catalysts Ilaria Cicco, Technical University of Leoben |
| 14:00 | Biobased epoxy resins with improved thermomechanical properties for high temperature applications Anna Baaba Jacobs, Technical University of Leoben |
| 14:20 | Transitioning Bio-Based Composites into Functional Circular Solutions: Fast-Curing, Repairable, and Recyclable Systems Bharath Ravindran, Technical University of Leoben |
| 14:40 | Eggshell Fillers and Their Effect on Curing in Fully Bio-Based Epoxy Systems Kamil Novotny, Technical University of Leoben |
| 15:00 | Coffee Break & Poster Session Erzherzog Johann Trakt FF |
3: Characterization, Sensing and Testing
Erzherzog Johann Auditorium | Session Chair: Ewald Fauster
| Time | Topic & Speaker |
|---|---|
| 15:50 | Transverse compressibility of fiber-based reinforcing materials Marcel Bender, Airbus / Defence and Space |
| 16:10 | Characterization of Fluid Uptake and Swelling Behavior of Natural Fibres Hannah Rabe, Technical University of Leoben |
| 16:30 | Real-Time Cure Monitoring of Bio-based Resin Composites Günter Wuzella, Kompetenzzentrum Holz GmbH |
| 16:50 | Towpreg Testing at Cryo Temperatures Gabriel Eduardo Rojas Valenzuela, Technical University of Munich |
4: Technical Advances in Fiber-Reinforced Composites: Materials, Performance and Design
HS Raiffeisen | Session Chair: Markus Wohlfahrt
| Time | Topic & Speaker |
|---|---|
| 15:50 | Preparation and Properties of High-Performance Vitrimer Composites Daniel F. Schmidt, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) |
| 16:10 | Development of Lightweight Pressure Vessels for Cryogenic Hydrogen Tobias Dickhut, Universität der Bundeswehr München |
| 16:30 | Validation of a recycling loop in the automotive sector: From hydrogen tank to door panel based on recycling Elium and carbon fibers Boris Duchamp, Institut de Recherche Technologique - Matériaux, Métallurgie et Procédés |
| 16:50 | Considerations and challenges of using recycled materials in the fatigue life design of short-fiber-reinforced parts Dario Kaylani, Polymer Comptence Center Leoben GmbH / Technical University of Leoben |
Sponsor & Exhibitor Session
Erzherzog Johann Auditorium | Session Chair: Elisabeth Ladstätter
| Time | Topic & Speaker | 17:15 | Epoxy-Resin: From the Rheology of the Uncured Resin to the DMA of the Cured Component Matthias Walluch, Anton Paar Austria GmbH |
|---|---|
| 17:30 | FT-IR spectroscopy for polymer analysis – from QC to basic research Cosima Koch, Bruker |
| 17:45 | Elevate the understanding of materials Christian Motzelt, Netzsch |
| 18:00 | Thermoanalysis in minutes Daniel Treffer, MeltPrep |
| 18:15 | Basalt reinforced composites fot the construction industry Wolfgang Fiel, Fiber Elements |
| 18:30 | Carbon cycle one of the growth factors for the plastics industry! Harald Bleier, Österreichischer Carbon Cycle Circle |
| 19:30 | Conference Dinner Asia Hotel & Spa from 22:00: Dinner closes and the evening continues at the bar – a relaxed setting for informal exchange and networking. |
Friday, November 21st 2025
| 08:30 | Registration Reception Desk Erzherzog Johann Trakt GF |
5: Life Cycle Assessment
Erzherzog Johann Auditorium | Session Chair: Ulrike Kirschnick
| Time | Topic |
|---|---|
| 09:00 | Life cycle analysis, a systemic approach Susanne Roßkogler, Technical University of Leoben |
| 09:20 | On the usefulness of company-specific information for LCI improvement Paul Domberger, Technical University of Leoben Anita Hochreiter, Atomic Austria GmbH |
| 09:40 | Assessing sustainability of flax fibres for reinforcement in composites using LCA Nilmini Dissanayake, University of Cambridge |
| 10:00 | Carbon fibre-reinforced plastics from an environmental life cycle perspective - shedding some light on the dark Stefan Albrecht, Fraunhofer-Institut für Bauphysik IBP |
6: Future Trends in Polymer Technology
HS Raiffeisen | Session Chair: Thomas Griesser
| Time | Topic |
|---|---|
| 09:00 | Advancing Epoxy-Anhydride Vitrimers: High Performance, Recyclability, and Industrial Viability Matthias Mayer-Kriehuber, Polymer Comptence Center Leoben GmbH / Technical University of Leoben |
| 09:20 | Recycling End-of-Life Skis: Challenges and Innovations in Composite Material Recovery Christine Bandl, Technical University of Leoben |
| 09:40 | Debonding on-demand: selective disassembly of adhesive joints Milena Gleirscher, Polymer Comptence Center Leoben GmbH / Technical University of Leoben |
| 10:00 | Biodegradable Biopolyester/Rubber Blends – Game Changers in the LCA of Rubber Products? Franz Stelzer, Anita Emmerstorfer-Augustin, Carina Frank, TU Graz |
| 10:20 | Coffee Break & Poster Session Erzherzog Johann Trakt FF |
7: Innovations and Applications of Composites
Erzherzog Johann Auditorium | Session Chair: Ewald Fauster
| Time | Topic |
|---|---|
| 11:20 | Composites for Frequency Applications Patrick Hergan, 4a manufacturing GmbH |
| 11:40 | Innovations in Prepreg Manufacturing and Processing: Trends and Technologies Moritz Salzmann, Syensqo Östringen |
| 12:00 | Thermoplastic Composites – The jack of all trades? Stephan Becker, FACC Operations GmbH |
8: From Processing to Failure: Virtual Strategies for Composite Materials
HS Raiffeisen | Session Chair: Peter Fuchs
| Time | Topic |
|---|---|
| 11:20 | Modelling ultrafast laser drilling: Relevant physics and available numerical approaches Lluís De Miguel Blasco, CIMNEStructural Mechanics Group |
| 11:40 | Limitations of Standard FEA in Composite PCB Pressing: Towards a Hybrid Simulation Strategy Christian Schipfer, Polymer Comptence Center Leoben GmbH |
| 12:00 | One step closer to reliable failure prediction in composites - understanding the interaction between matrix cracking and delamination Vasco Daniel CASTRO PIRES, Technical University of Leoben |
| 12:20 | Awards Erzherzog Johann Auditorium |
| 12:40 | Closing & Farewell Erzherzog Johann Auditorium |
| 13:00 | Lab Tours at ZKT & PCCL Meeting Point Reception Desk Erzherzog Johann Trakt GF |
Subject to change