In the workshop, Jill Spohn, a technical sales representative for Polytek, showed attendees how to take an ordinary architectural objects such as crown molding, casement trim and baseboard trim and make an exact replica of an original piece using two-part silicone, existing shop supplies and a cheap frame made from an old laminate countertop. By doing so, she revealed a unique way to add style, distinction and diversity to a product line with a limited investment.

I recently met Spohn for a one-day workshop at Polytek’s factory in Easton. Before I arrived, I purchased a small corbel and trim piece at a local lumber yard. These would be my test pieces. I wanted to see what it would take to replicate these parts by making a mold, then casting a piece in engineered composites. Would it be simple? Cost-effective? Would my part turn out as detailed as the original?

With everyday shop supplies and silicone rubber, you can make custom parts your competition can’t produce.

For our workshop, we used a product called TinSil® 80-30 RTV silicone rubber. A tin-based silicone, it’s less sensitive to polyester-based products such as gel coat and resin. It’s recommended for casting polyester, epoxy and polyurethane resins, and was designed for applications requiring low cure shrinkage and resistance to high temperatures. In addition to the silicone rubber, I needed a scale, an original part, a few C-clamps, gloves, a mold release, modeling clay or wax (the same type you would use to clay in a floating bowl) and a few mixing vessels (quart cups are perfect).

Step 1: Create a frame or “box” to surround the original part with a one-inch gap around the sides of the original part. We used an old laminated countertop, cut it down and made a frame approximately one inch higher than our original part. Because polyesters don’t adhere to laminates well, they make a great surface for a mold box. Other options include glass, Teflon-coated baking pans or anything that will hold the silicone liquid until it cures.

Step 2: Mount the original part to the base of the laminate board using a ball of clay, hot glue or double-sided tape to hold the part firmly in place. The base edges of your original part (where it touches the base of the laminate mold) may need to be sealed with wax or clay to prevent liquid silicone from seeping under the part if it doesn’t lay flat on the frame base. Use clean clay or molding wax (available from various sources such as Gruber Systems, Composites One, Advanced Plastics and other suppliers) to seal the base of the part to the base of the laminate mold. This is the same clay and wax most manufacturers use to mount a floating bowl. Cheap clays may contain sulfur and are not recommended to use with silicones.

Step 3: Seal the original part to prevent adhesion of the liquid silicone to the part and to obtain an easy release of the casting. Just like in casting composites, apply a release agent to all surfaces where the possibility of adhesion exists and is not desired. The corbel was made from high density foam and spray-painted with a primer. While technically “sealed” by the primer, we took the additional step of adding a release agent to the part. If your original part is raw wood, plaster, concrete or any porous surface, apply a coat of water-based paint or varnish first to seal the original part, then apply a release agent to the part.

Step 4: Assemble the walls around the part. Walls need to be about one inch higher than the highest point of your part. On small parts, one-half inch is high enough, but on larger parts, add thickness to support the final cast part. Here again, we used laminate countertop pieces to complete the framework of our “box.” All laminate parts were coated with a release agent after assembly as an added precaution against unwanted adhesion to the frame. The frame is held together with readily available C-clamps. You can also use screws, hot glue or any other non-permanent mechanical means to fasten the box sides together.

Step 5: Seal the inside seams with clay to prevent the liquid silicone from leaking out before it cures. Also, use clay to seal the outside of the box seams to prevent hydrostatic pressure leaks. After the frame is sealed, apply one final coat of mold release to all parts—the inside of the frame and the original part.

Step 6: Mix the two parts of silicone rubber. It’s a simple “Part A/Part B” system, much like mixing resin and catalyst. In the case of TinSil® 80-30, the ratio is one part A to 10 parts B, by weight. You’ll need a digital scale to weigh your portions. The mixing ratios and formulas are on the containers, and the recipe is easy to follow. Polytek has a unique approach to selling its two-part system: The company gives you just the right amount of Part A to fully mix with Part B. (Imagine buying a drum of resin and getting just the right amount of catalyst to harden the whole drum, at a given ratio, with no waste.) There are guidelines for how much mix you’ll need to fill your frame, and its based on cubic square inches of volume (L x W x H), less the approximate size of the part. It’s “X” amount of liquid silicone per square inch. Different silicone rubber products have different ratios due to varying density.

Step 7: Weigh Parts A and B into separate containers such as a clean bucket or quart cups (the same ones you have in your shop for your cup gun), then gently mix both parts together. There is a long working time, unlike marble resin. Be careful not to whip the mixture to prevent air bubbles. Unlike a marble matrix, there is no vibrating the mix or using an air release agent, so start filling in one corner and allow the liquid to flow out and fill from that one corner. Never dump silicone liquid over the original piece. Starting in one corner allows better air release from the liquid. Also, make sure the mold is on a level surface. Within 24 hours, the silicone matrix will harden and cure, then you may can your de-mold process.

Step 8: After the silicone hardens (20-24 hours depending on shop temperature), break down the frame walls and gently pull the frame back from the hardened silicone. Slowly pull back the silicone part from the mounted original part. There’s a lot of “play,” or flexibility, with this type of material.

Step 9: Slowly grab a corner of the silicone and begin to loosen it and peel it back from the original part. It’s very pliable. Gently pull the silicone mold over and off of the original part. Trim any excess silicone, and you now have a pattern that is an exact replica of your original part.

Step 10: With the new pattern in hand, you’re ready to make a custom part. The silicone used in TinSil ® 80-30 is specifically created to withstand the effects of polyester resins and gel coats. A silicone corbel mold is tricky to spray gel coat into to get an even 18-22 mils of thickness. We opted not to use gel coat for purposes of the demonstration. Brush in the gel coat or attempt to lightly spray it into the mold, depending on the complexity of the pattern. Back pour with catalyzed marble when the gel coat sets up or dries. Allow the marble to cure.

We made an exact replica of the original cheap foam part, but now it’s an engineered composite part!

Bonnie Webster-vice president, Monroe Industries

Bonnie Webster has been the vice president of Monroe Industries since 2005 and has been in the composites industry since 2000. She received a degree in business and design and is currently on the International Cast Polymer Association (ICPA) Board of Directors, the ICPA Marketing Committee and the American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA) Green Composites Committee, which is hosting a Green Composites Workshop on June 21-22 in Chicago. In the past six months, Monroe Industries has won two ACMA Pinnacle Awards, a Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC)-NY Environmental Leader Award and an EPA Environmental Quality Award.

What is your focus and how does it apply to the composites industry?

Our three main manufacturing targets for 2011 are shower systems, green materials and improving indoor work space. We’ve always focused on custom, unique showers and within the last few years added manufacturing with green material to our focus.

As far as work space is concerned, we transfer materials on rollers, so there is minimal carrying; try to organize better; put timers on our lights and recycle our product. We installed a new heat exchanger so our employees constantly have fresh air in the building—now if I could just get them to stop smoking!

What are important “green” topics in the cast polymer and composites industries?

I joined ACMA’s Green Composites Committee because I’m committed to green manufacturing. What ICPA members need, small shops in particular, are ways to get green certification. We need to have a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) done on our industry. We also need more product certification. There should be no need for each company to spend $30,000 on third party certifications, especially when only a small percentage of their products are green products.

What are common questions fellow manufactures ask about your green processes?

Overall, other manufacturers are not interested in green processes. Within the industry there is often a fear of new innovation. If I go into a shoe store in August and then go back in October, they better not have the same shoes—it’s the same with our industry! We need new products and continued innovation. Sure, have a sample of white-on-white cast polymer but display the latest and greatest. I see manufacturers struggling with change. They’re afraid to put money back in business. They say business is bad, which is sad because we have such great products if people take the time to learn how to use them. As a company we proactively invest in our business and are seeing quadruple-fold success.

What steps did you take to improve your processes?

We had Jack Simmons, VP of ACS International, come in and do a three day marketing stint. It was humbling for me to see that I wasn’t doing x, y and z and therefore missing so many opportunities that are out there. We ended up implementing everything he suggested from how to make products with less fillers, where to expand, etc. There are road blocks but regardless of your company size you can find things that fit in your niche. I’ve opened up the shop to let people see our product and learn how we’re manufacturing it.

What is driving the industry right now?

Customization is driving demand. Composites can make any size or shape you can think of. We make shower bases and wall panels at any size; no other product can do that! We also use recycled gems, minerals and glass in our products, which are all buzz words among home owners, remodelers and contractors. However, our industry is struggling to drive that or meet those needs. We need more manufacturers going green. We need to work collectively to get over the learning curves because there is a huge opportunity if the industry would accept and adapt their processes and then market those new products.

Do you see business picking up?

Absolutely, I see great horizons for our industry. Architects call me that have never called before. They’re also coming into the shop and I owe that to green products. Whether they choose a green product or not (it costs a bit more) is immaterial. I have more people coming in and my custom capabilities are vast. One-third of our product offerings are green material and 50 percent of what I sell is green products; that says something.

As a member of the Green Committee, what roll does green play in your company?

Green materials have helped build a better foundation for our company. I’m personally passionate about it and I’m involved, not just for a better business, but for myself. People that know me can sense my passion for our industry and for the environment – and we have a great environment. I’m hoping that being a member of the green committee will help our industry grow in available technical data, LCAs and green certification. These are all ground breaking initiatives that need to happen and I hope I can help facilitate these changes because I care about this industry and want to see it succeed with innovative, quality products.

What challenge have you overcome as a company?

Often people are reticent to discuss styrene, but as a company we decided to take the bull by the horns. I’ve invited news stations to come out and do stories in our plant and I’ve allowed the DEC to hold meetings here. Our philosophy is that we don’t have anything to hide. If we did than we shouldn’t be in business. The DEC and EPA are thrilled with our company because they see that we are proactively making improvements to our products and processes. Do we make mistakes? Absolutely! But communicating, being compliant and making great products is achievable regardless of business size.

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One company that heeds Simmons’ message is Centura Solid Surfacing Inc. in Westfield, Ind. Centura has a 6,000-square-foot showroom with 25 vignettes displaying everything from vessel bowls to pedestal sinks with matching soap dishes. The company also relies on other innovative marketing ideas. For example, it rents six offices alongside its showroom to interior designers to increase traffic through the building.

Simmons said other companies can carve out a profitable niche in cast polymer for kitchens and baths if they understand their marketplace. Your market may vary depending upon demographics, geographic influences and housing expectations. “If you want to be successful, you have to start with the basis of selling,” said Simmons. “Talk to your customers. Find out what they want.”

In his research, Simmons discovered several consumer trends. Many people design on a budget, desire specific colors and materials, want rapid turnaround and seek several options to compare. It’s your job to educate them about cast polymer. Similarly, you need to help designers understand there’s more to cast polymer than sinks. “There’s just as much money selling an ensemble in the bathroom as there is in the kitchen,” he said.

Your market research should also include conversations with potential channel partners, suppliers and members of ACMA. But don’t get hung up on research, says Simmons. It’s critical that you actively pursue new customers. “It’s a full-time job,” he said. “You can’t stop going after new customers.”

Marcy Offner, marketing manager at Composites One, received the ACMA Volunteer award for her various rolls including convention committee chair and participating in the newly launched ACMA Marketing Committee.

Steve Walling, chairman of the board and CEO of Plasticolors Inc., was this year’s President’s Award recipient. According to ACMA President Monty Felix, Walling was honored because of his dedicated focus and ability to help develop and refine ACMA’s strategic goals.

Don Abel, national operations manager at ZCL Composites, and Charles Dore, technical director of Cinnabar Florida Inc and resident of Abate Fire Technologies, were elected to ACMA’s Hall of Fame. To be eligible, inductees must have attained distinction among his/her peers through their efforts, involvement and accomplishments in the composites industry and its associations.

Richard Morrison, president and CEO of Molded Fiber Glass, received ACMA’s Lifetime Achievement award for his long-standing industry and association leadership. To be considered for the Lifetime Achievement Award, nominees must have been involved in the composites industry for at least 20 years and must have made a significant and lasting contribution.

Several new products won Awards for Composites Excellence, which recognize technology achievement, salute excellence in composites manufacturing, and advancements in product development.

• BEST OF SHOW: Composite Cargo Tanker with DuraShield continuity capability, Corrosion Companies Inc, Washougal, Wash.
• COMPOSITES SUSTAINABILITY: 2011 Chevrolet Volt SMC Battery Cover Assembly, Continental Structural Plastics, Troy, Mich.
• EQUIPMENT INNOVATION: Multi-directional (MD) Reinforcement System, MD Fibertech Corporation, Sausalito, Calif.
• INFINITE POSSBILITY FOR MARKET GROWTH: Lightweight Glass Made Type 4 CNG Cylinder, GASTANK SWEDEN, Pitea, Sweden
• INNOVATION IN GREEN COMPOSITES: Sustainable composites for water and sewer applications, 3B-the fiberglass company, Battice, Belgium
• MOST CREATIVE APPLICATION: RAZR Hawk Driver featuring Forged Composite, Callaway Golf Company, Carlsbad, Calif.
• PROCESS INNOVATION: Acell Monolithic Composite Process, Italpresse / Acell USA, Punta Gorda, Fla.

Pinnacle Award winners were also recognized. This award is presented for the best installations demonstrating innovation and creativity in cast polymer design and application.

• DESIGN CATEGORY: Ro – Bella    A unique Combination of Robal Glass and Terra Bella, Monroe Industries Inc., Avon, N.Y.
• MARKET GROWTH: Engineered composite vanity top using recycled content and bio based resin, Monroe Industries Inc., Avon, N.Y.

The awards luncheon was sponsored by Syrgis and the awards by CCP, Composites One, Reichhold and Ashland.

Not every composite manufacturer has a need for robotic trimming systems like these, but those who do had the opportunity to learn more about them from Schuch today at COMPOSITES 2011. Like the fact that they can chop production time from days to hours and from hours to minutes; that they are accurate to within a percentage of a millimeter; that they make one error, on average, every 95,000 hours.

“Our primary focus,” Schuch said, is trimming, operations, looking at the material handling.”

During his nearly 45 minutes on the stage, Schuch, a general industry sales manager for KMT Robotic Solutions Inc. of Auburn Hills, Mich., explained how the robotic systems  can provide a competitive advantage by meeting their customer demands for high quality and productivity while improving employee safety and market position. And though the systems are not inexpensive (they can run anywhere from about $100,000 to more than $1 million) they normally provide a return on their investment within two years.

Can the robotic systems help you and your company save time and money? They can certainly save on maintenance—they require only a change of D batteries and some new grease every year—and general safety, and even help to increase your floor space. Time and money? Those are just fringe benefits.

Then, all of the sudden, IMI’s bread and butter became toast.

In 2009, during the recession, about 5,000 new homes were constructed in the Atlanta area, compared with more than 60,000 in 2005. “Our primary market, which accounted for 85 percent of our sales, basically just collapsed,” says Dirk De Vuyst, CEO of IMI, a Woodstock, Ga.-based composites manufacturer.

So, too, did the company’s second-biggest market, home remodeling. On top of that, De Vuyst says, IMI experienced a sharp reduction in bathtub sales and faced price erosion in other common product areas. “It was a serious time, and we were forced very quickly to figure out what to do,” he said.

De Vuyst and other leaders at IMI discussed the company’s future direction during many tense planning meetings. They also invited consultants to perform “SWOT” analyses, analyzing the firm’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats.

Today, more than half of the firm’s business comes from accounts it didn’t have two years ago, when the housing market collapsed and IMI began to consider ways to transform. Also, international exports — a nonexistent category at IMI 18 months ago — now account for 25 percent of the company’s sales.

During consecutive education sessions at COMPOSITES 2011, De Vuyst will share specific insight that helped IMI rebound and grow. In the session “Developing a Sales System,” he will show attendees how to craft an appealing presentation for tomorrow’s customer, track marketing efforts using efficient customer relationship management (CRM), tailor presentations while anticipating customers’ objectives and use web-based marketing software. De Vuyst believes that if IMI delivers consistent, timely, valuable information to buyers, they will ultimately reward the company with their business and loyalty.

In the session “Lean Manufacturing in 2011,” he will share IMI’s experience in reducing manufacturing costs and increasing raw material efficiencies — all by “greening” its processes and developing out-of-the-box production techniques to go after new markets.

**

Session Details:

“Lean Manufacturing in 2011”

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

3:00 PM – 3:45 PM

Conference Room 304

“Developing a Sales System”

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

4:00 PM – 4:30 PM

Conference Room 304

Composites firms face similar economic concerns and regulatory pressures, but each organization has distinct goals, questions and customers. So when attendees gather at an event like COMPOSITES 2011, it is an ideal opportunity to share ideas and strategies that can literally mean business.

Thirty of those ideas will be presented and discussed in swift fashion during the educational session “45 Tips in 45 Minutes,” presented by Ken Lipovsky, CCT-I, a technical service specialist at Reichhold, Durham, N.C., and chairman of the Technical Committee of the International Cast Polymer Alliance (ICPA).

Prior to the event, Lipovsky culled a treasure trove of great advice from experienced industry professionals and will present the best advice from that collection.

Lipovsky says some tips will be short and succinct, like this one from Bern Brody’s of Interplastics: “The proper spray granite thickness is 35 mils.” Or one from Chris Hurdleston of Marbelon Inc.: “Do not wipe marble dust from your mold; blow it off with compressed air. Repeated wiping of dirt will scratch your molds.”

Other tips will be longer and more targeted, like one from Gary L. Whiting’s of Tiffany Marble Inc.: “To remove end splashes from the mold without damaging the mold, take a 3/4” x 3/4” x 18” polyethylene divider bar and a floating bowl suction cup, and attach to the divider bar using a bolt. Drill a hole through the divider bar and suction cup, 5” from the end of the bar. At­tach the suction cup to the bar using the bolt. Smack the back side of the end splash with the suction cup, pry up using the 5” end of the divider bar resting on the mold, and remove the end splash.”

Lipovsky says the size and detail level of each tip will differ, but the power of the session will be centered on a common truth: Industry pros can and should help each other, and an event like COMPOSITES 2011 is an ideal place to do that.

Larry Kraft of Custom Marble believed in that feeling of cooperation when he recently mentioned to Lipovsky that he noticed one area of his shop had a “huge styrene concentra­tion at the outflow end of its gel oven.” Feeling others might face the same issue, he shared a solution of enclosing the end of the oven below the rails, placing vents in the side of the oven at floor level, and connecting the vents to the spray booth plenum. “We don’t have engineering studies to document the reduction, but my nose tells me we do have a reduction,” Kraft said, adding that the effect on the spray booth efficiency was negligible.

That’s the kind of statement that sparks discussion and solutions—and the kind of topic attendees can expect in the session “45 Tips in 45 Minutes.”

**

Session Details:

“45 Tips in 45 Minutes”

Friday, February 4, 2011

10:00 AM – 10:45 AM

Conference Room 304

Dirk Plas – President, BYK, USA

BYK makes additives for composite applications in the construction, transportation, automotive, recreation, and wind energy markets. Applications include wind blades, fiberglass tubs, boat hulls, automotive body panels, and duroskins for fiberglass doors. The additives are designed to improve the processing or air release in spray-up and lay-up manufacturing as well as the casting process (marble, solid surface). Dirk Plas, BYK-USA president, discusses his view of the composites industry.

What markets are you more focused on?

The area we’re most focused on is anything to do with energy savings, which includes “green” and wind energy. Many customers are working actively to replace existing raw materials with more sustainable materials. There’s a lot of money being invested there. There’s a very significant focus right now on developing alternative energy technologies. There’s a high demand for green products and more money going into that area. A lot of our customers need help in making these new materials work.

What challenges do your customers have?

When formulating with green products, there are challenges with regard to compatibility. Customers are always looking for ways to reduce scrap. Anytime you make a composite, you have an air release problem. Filler materials help make composites more cost competitive, and so do the wetting and dispersing additives. These additives reduce rollout time and filler increase.

Is the “green” movement here to stay?

I think so. Green doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive. Some industries will be slow to adopt, but ultimately it’s not a fad, and it’s not going away.

What is the state of the additives industry?

Like everyone else, we suffered a decline at the end of 2008 that continued through 2009. Things have started to improve; however, the market was already competitive but has become even more so. Everyone’s looking for new business, scrambling after stimulus dollars and looking for new areas. As a result, competitors are also moving into new areas. But we’re also doing the same thing. We’re not seeing a lot of consolidation, but rather more people coming into the market.

How has the market changed in the past decade?

The market for additives in composites isn’t an old market, so we’ve seen a lot of growth. New technologies are being developed and it’s still a growing market. Our company in particular started focusing on the composites industry about 20 years ago, and we began seeing strong market pickup.

Perhaps the biggest difference is that now, we get more demands or requests for composites that are highly flame-retardant because reduced emissions of the actual composite are a more important factor. In any industry, everything focuses on low VOCs. Personal safety for the workers, the people who work in manufacturing, is always important. Nanoadditives have also come on strongly in the last three to four years in the composites market. There have been a lot of government regulations, particularly in regard to styrene. ACMA has been an active voice in regard to styrene regulation.

How do you see the styrene issue playing out?

I speculate we have reached the minimum amount of styrene that we can work with. I don’t think those can go much lower. There are trends in development that are styrene-free, but I don’t think the government will push much for us to reduce styrene content. Styrene is an integral part of the polyester, which is responsible for cross-linking in chemical processes. It has over 50 years of historical use in these types of composites. It will be difficult, if not impossible, to take them out in the next few years. Alternatives to styrene do not offer same type of historical use or consistency in use. Partial replacements could occur in the near future, but we’re talking about a very long time to make a total replacement.

How will the composites industry change in the next five years?

I think lower densities and lighter weight composites will be a trend for all applications. Everyone’s always looking for stronger composites, so that will be a trend. Renewable resources will continue to grow. You’ll also see an increase in coupling agents that will increase the physical properties of composites. Nanoadditives will emerge more and more for certain applications such as antimicrobial tendencies.

In aviation, there’s a big push for carbon fiber. It’s a little bit of a fragmented, niche application market, so it’s hard for us to focus on that market. We want to though, because we believe it’s an area where composites is going to grow. Technology in aviation sometimes transfers to automotive, so we’ll see a trend in that direction.

From your viewpoint, how can composites grow?

There needs to be more applications away from steel, aluminum, and wood. The standard approach composites has had for years is converting applications, but there needs to be more of a focus on day-to-day growth. That approach has picked up in the construction market and has helped reinvigorate the infrastructure market. Those two areas have strong immediate and long-term growth opportunities.

What segments have been hit hardest?

The recreation market was down almost 80 percent in 2009. It has recouped a little bit since then, but it’ll be a long-term process to get back to where it used to be. A lot of baby boomers are coming onto the market, and they may be interested in RVs, so that might drive growth a bit. Concerning boats, manufacturers have had success with making boat hulls from composites. You can see a conversion to infusion-molding and vacuum bag from spray-up and lay-up. I think companies that make RV parts can diversify by integrating their parts into construction or fire-retardant panels.

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The top story in July, Composites Bend the Bar, is about consulting and marketing company Flexi-StiX, LLC process in creating and secured a patent for its process of incorporating pultrusion into a thermoplastic tube. President Gordon Brown took his knowledge of bombproof wallpaper and made a niche for himself in the sport and recreation market.

Two other popular stories are Supercar Made by Composite Hand Lay-up and Cultured Marble’s Eco Trends.

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Cultured Marble manufacturer Quality Marble shares their experience on Capitol Hill as part of ACMA's annual Lobby Day.

Last April, the American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA) organized a Lobby Day and Composites Caucus events in Washington D.C. Industry members from all around the country met with and educated Senators and Representatives on issues important to them. One of those companies, and the only representative for the cultured marble industry, was manufacturer Quality Marble, Inc.

The family owned company went to Capitol Hill from Summerville, S.C. with passion and purpose…and kept detailed notes of their experience. They note that their main focus was on acquiring support in preventing the National Toxicology Program (NTP) from listing styrene as a reasonably anticipated carcinogen. “I think a large group speaks volumes and we believed our Representatives would at least consider our request,” writes Vice President Jacqueline Webb. “I was so nervous, but I kept telling myself ‘they work for us, we got them their jobs’. That helped a little with the nerves.”

For this year’s event, ACMA joined forces with the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), which Webb felt was a good fit. “We are a manufacturing company ourselves and have the same issues and concerns as the NAM group,” she notes.

The morning began with a speech from Arizona Senator John Kyl, which the family thought was very motivating. Then, they met with other ACMA members for about an hour. “This is when we actually realized there were only about 20 members here for our specific cause and I didn’t know how so few of us were going to be able to meet with so many congressmen and women,” writes Webb.

However, to tackle the problem, members were put in groups by state, and the Webbs’ group met first with Senator Lindsey Graham’s Director of Legislative Correspondence, Courtney Flezzani. In her journal, Webb paints a vivid picture of Monty Felix, president of ACMA, conducting most of the meeting but notes that as the day went on, her group became more comfortable and (with Monty’s encouragement) each of them spoke on behalf of the cause.

Later, the group also met with correspondents from Senator Jim DeMint, Representative Albio Sires and Representative David Price, and had a face-to-face meeting with North Carolina Representative Virginia Foxx.

In each of our meetings, the group discussed their concerns and the impact the mislabeling of styrene would have on the future of the composite industry. “We felt everyone we spoke with today showed interest in what we were saying,” she writes. And overall, the group considered the trip a success. “We know as owners of a business that relies on the composite industries and suppliers, this is a very important issue and our organization needs to participate anywhere we can possibly make our voices heard and make a difference,” says Webb.

You can read more about ACMA’s Lobby Day2010 and participants experiences in Composites Manufacturing’s summer issue.