Hannover. A new trade fair for lightweight construction will be launched in June 2020 in Hannover. Named "LightCon", the new fair will showcase the latest trends and solutions in the field of lightweight construction, spanning all materials, technologies and sectors of industry. The event will initially run as a two-day conference and supporting trade fair on the theme of lightweight construction, taking place every year thereafter. The new fair's organizer is Deutsche Messe, with Composites United as the technology sponsor. Both partners have already formalized their plans in a joint Memorandum of Understanding.

LightCon will kick off next year with a conference and supporting exhibition on 23 and 24 June. From 2021 onward, LightCon will evolve into a full-fledged trade fair, with the conference remaining an integral component. In addition to Composites United, related networks and associations from other technology fields have confirmed their participation, allowing LightCon to cover the entire spectrum of lightweight construction themes.

"LightCon provides an ideal platform for the international lightweight construction sector," said Dr. Jochen Köckler, Chairman of the Managing Board at Deutsche Messe. "As a key technology for numerous sectors of industry, lightweight construction continues to gain ground because it increases the cost-effectiveness, performance and sustainability of applications. We are delighted to have Composites United as a partner. Here, two strengths come together: Composites United, with its proven technological expertise, and Deutsche Messe as a professional producer of events with its own global network and infrastructure."

Composites United is the world's biggest network for fiber-based, multi-material lightweight design. The association was formed this spring through the merger of CFK Valley and Carbon Composites. "Lightweight design across various materials and industries requires an annual platform with international appeal," remarked Dr. Hubert Jäger, spokesperson for the Composites United executive board. "LightCon gives us the chance to leverage the established international event concepts of our two founding associations and apply them to the field of lightweight construction in its entirety while establishing a new, groundbreaking format in partnership with the experts at Deutsche Messe." Dr. Gunnar Merz, General Manager of Composites United, summarized the benefits of lightweight design for the economy as a whole and the significance of LightCon for the association's member companies as follows: "By adopting an innovative, multi-material lightweight construction approach, manufacturing enterprises not only stand to gain in terms of their bottom line, but also with regard to resource conservation and climate protection. For our member companies and institutions, LightCon will considerably expand their networking and business opportunities."

As a vertical trade fair, LightCon covers the entire supply chain for lightweight construction cutting across all materials – from applied research, materials, engineering design and development tools to prototyping, component testing, production technology, joining and fastening technology and recycling. At the same time, a high-caliber conference will provide original insights into cutting-edge multi-material lightweight design. Composites United will contribute its broad, forward-looking technical expertise to the conference portion of LightCon, thus establishing LightCon as an industry event for the entire lightweight construction market. The previous conference formats of Composites United and its two founding associations, Carbon Composites and CFK Valley, will be discontinued in favor of LightCon.

On the attendance side, LightCon is aimed at developers, design engineers, designers, buyers and management at all levels of user industries such as transport and mobility (road and rail), aerospace, mechanical engineering, shipbuilding, construction, wind energy and the sports and recreation industry.

Deutsche Messe has been active in the field of lightweight construction for some time now. In recent years, it has been one of the key themes at HANNOVER MESSE , which will continue to be the case in the future. Lightweight design also plays an important role at the political level. This constellation led to this year's 1st Lightweighting Summit, sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy at HANNOVER MESSE under the patronage of German Economics Minister Peter Altmaier. Preparations are currently underway for a second edition of the Lightweighting Conference of the German Economics Ministry (BMWi) in April of 2020.

With the staging of LightCon, Deutsche Messe is significantly expanding its commitment to lightweight construction. In addition to the annual conference plus trade fair in Germany, the new brand is going to be rolled out worldwide.

Signature: from left to right: Prof. Dr. Hubert Jäger, Olaf Daebler, Dr. Jochen Köckler, Maria Christina Mihm, Dr. Gunnar Merz