COMPOSITES EUROPE got off to an optimistic start with the latest statistics from AVK (the German Federation of Reinforced Plastics) predicting European production of glass fibre reinforced plastics (GRP) in 2010 will be approximately 25% up on last year. This is higher than AVK anticipated at this time last year. AVK releases the results of its annual survey of the European market on the first day of its conference, which is held alongside the COMPOSITES EUROPE exhibition. This year, Dr Elmar Witten, managing director of AVK, announced estimated European production volumes of 1.015 thousand tonnes this year, compared to 815 thousand tonnes in 2009, and 1.058 thousand tonnes in 2008. Although these are estimated figures based on interviews with raw materials suppliers, they do indicate a promising return of business.
