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SME Engage SME Communities Composites Technical Community Future Composites Symposium 2026 Future Composites Exchange Agenda

Future Composites Exchange Agenda

Explore Full Technical Program
Session abstracts, speakers, and detailed descriptions


Tuesday, March 24

11:00 AM
Registration Opens
Campbell Graduate Engineering Center (CGEC) – Lobby/Atrium
11:30 AM - 1:30 PM
SME Composites Technical Community Meeting and Luncheon
CGEC 4th Floor Cafeteria
1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Tour of Clemson Composites Center and Campbell Graduate Engineering Center
CGEC Atrium
1:30 PM - 3:30 PM
Introduction to AFP Tutorial
CGEC Room 423
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Early Arrivals Networking Reception with Student Poster Competition & Exhibit
CGEC Atrium

 

Wednesday, March 25

All sessions will be in the CGEC Auditorium - Room 215

8:15 AM
Exhibit, Registration & Breakfast
9:00 AM - 9:35 AM
Opening Session

FCX26 Chair: Ramy Harik, Director of the Clemson Composites Center, Exxon Mobil Employees Endowed Professor
College Welcome: Sophie Wang, Professor and Warren H. Owen - Duke Energy Professor of Engineering; Associate Dean for Research, CECAS
Department Welcome: Robert Prucka, Kulwicki Professor of Motorsports Engineering Interim Chair
SME Technical Committee Welcome: Nick Gianaris, Principal Technical Consultant, Nexight Group
SAMPE Carolinas Welcome: Rebekah Stacha, CEO, SAMPE

9:35 AM – 10:00 AM
Opening Keynote

Smart Lamination: Erik Lund, CTO, Fives Composite and Automated Solutions

10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Morning Break
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Session 1: Smart Composites & AI in Manufacturing
Moderator: Thor Wuest

10:30 AM – 10:50 AM    Thor Wuest, Professor & Director, University of South Carolina
10:50 AM – 11:10 AM    Dan Rozelman, Technical & Sales Application Manager, Krauss-Maffei Corporation
11:10 AM – 11:30 AM    Ramy Harik, Director of the Clemson Composites Center, Exxon Mobil Employees Endowed Professor

11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Lunch
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Session 2: Future Materials and Processes
Moderator: Rebekah Downes

1:00 PM – 1:20 PM    Rebekah Downes, Associate Professor, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering
1:20 PM – 1:40 PM    Jake Charles, Sales and Business Development Manager, Plasmatreat USA, Inc.
1:40 PM – 2:00 PM    Jeff DeGrange, Chief Commercial Officer, Impossible Objects Inc

2:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Afternoon Break
2:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Session 3: From Characterization Innovation to Commercialization
Moderator: Mick Maher

2:30 PM – 2:50 PM    Marcel Schaefer, Sr. Research Scientist, Fraunhofer USA
2:50 PM – 3:10 PM    Drew Sander, Digital Thread Automation Engineer, Siemens Digital Industries Software
3:10 PM – 3:30 PM    Mick Maher, President, Maher & Associates

3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Pre-Closing Break
4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
Closing Session
Ramy Harik, Director of the Clemson Composites Center, Exxon Mobil Employees Endowed Professor
4:45 PM – 6:00 PM
Industry Networking Reception
CGEC Atrium

 

Thursday, March 26

9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Greenville Tour
Walking tour starting at Coffee Underground (1 E Coffee St, Greenville, SC 29601)
Please arrive by 8:45 AM; tour will begin at 9:00 AM
The group will stop for lunch following the tour