Saxony once again enjoys record participation at JEC in Paris

The trade fair is the most important international platform for showcasing Saxony's diverse solutions and expertise in the field of composite materials. The relevance of the fair as a showcase for the location and the industry is also underlined by the visit of Minister of Economic Affairs Dirk Panter.

"Saxony combines technological excellence with practical research and is an international hotspot for fiber composite technologies. The cooperation between companies and research institutions from various industries — from textiles to plastics technology to mechanical engineering—creates synergies and innovations that are visible at the Saxony joint stand at JEC. In addition, the exhibitors cover a broad spectrum of the value chain, which makes them interesting for suppliers, manufacturers, and decision-makers alike, promising a successful trade fair. We are also delighted to present the winner of the 'JEC Innovation Award 2026' at our stand, which will be a special attraction at the trade fair," explains WFS Managing Director Thomas Horn.

Exhibitors at the SAXONY! joint stand
• BELCHEM GROUP, Freiberg,
• Cetex Institut gGmbH, Chemnitz,
• Circular MTC e.V., Chemnitz,
• CMMC GmbH, Chemnitz,
• Connova Deutschland GmbH, Großröhrsdorf,
• Elbe Flugzeugwerke GmbH (EFW), Dresden,
• Fraunhofer IKTS, Dresden,
• Hegewald & Peschke Mess- und Prüftechnik GmbH, Nossen,
• herone GmbH, Dresden,
• Hightex Verstärkungsstrukturen GmbH, Klipphausen,
• LAKOWA Gesellschaft für Kunststoffbe- und -verarbeitung mbH, Wilthen,
• Leibniz Institute for Polymer Research, Dresden,
• MIKROMAT GmbH, Dresden,
• PAMA paper machinery GmbH, Freiberg,
• RUCKS Maschinenbau GmbH, Glauchau,
• Saxon Textile Research Institute (STFI), Chemnitz,
• Schmietex Engineering GmbH, Hohenstein-Ernstthal,
• Silbaerg GmbH, Chemnitz,
• Chemnitz University of Technology, Institute for Lightweight Structures,
• Chemnitz University of Technology, Textile Technologies,
• WH Lipex GmbH, Puchheim,
• ZIM-KN "H2Select" (c/o Cetex Institut gGmbH), Chemnitz.

The industry's leading event is a meeting place for all key players and showcases the entire value chain of the composite materials industry. It presents innovations in the field of composite materials, offers strategic insights into industry trends, and is an international platform for networking and meeting relevant decision-makers.

The SAXONY! joint stand is organized by WFS on behalf of the Saxony State Ministry for Economic Affairs, Labor, Energy, and Climate Protection (SMWA).

JEC Award goes to Saxony again 

This year, Saxony was once again delighted to receive a JEC Award. Researchers from the Chair of Lightweight Structures and Polymer Engineering at Chemnitz University of Technology were honored with the "JEC Innovation Award 2026" in the "Automotive and Road Transportation – Process" category. Together with industry and research partners, they have developed a novel manufacturing process for thermoplastic battery housings. The award-winning "GroKuBat" (large-scale production-capable plastic battery housing) project provides an answer to one of the most pressing questions in the automotive industry: How can heavy metal components in electromobility be replaced safely, quickly, and more sustainably? 

"The Chair of Lightweight Structures and Plastics Processing is the largest university chair in Germany with a special focus on the rapid transfer of research results to the Saxon economy. The "JEC Innovation Award 2026" in the category "Automotive and Road Transportation – Process" highlights the added value of the successful cooperation between my team at the chair and industry worldwide. Such awards confirm the innovative strength of Chemnitz as a research location and at the same time show how close cooperation can be used to achieve a technological advantage in Saxony," says Professor Lothar Kroll from the Chair of Lightweight Structures and Polymer Processing at Chemnitz University of Technology.