2024 ACMA Annual Report

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Driving Business Development and Creating Lasting Impact

The Composites Growth Initiative's (CGI) eleven business councils

conducted over 80 results-oriented meetings that addressed planning and

execution of education, marketing, standards development, industry

outreach and advocacy initiatives. Many of the CGI Councils created task

groups to work on a variety of important subjects such as:

•

Supporting sustainability education and standards development of

Product Category Rules (PCR) which then can be used by companies to

create Environmental Product Declarations for FRP rebar and utility pole

products.

•

Developing a workforce training course for electrical utility lineman to

properly and safely handle and install FRP utility poles.

•

Developing education products for civil/structural engineers on the use

of the new ASCE/SEI 74 design standard for pultruded FRP composites

in the form of tutorials and design examples.

The CGI program continues to work directly with customers and end users

of the composites industry providing new relationships and opportunities

for members. Ongoing collaboration with the U.S. Army Corps of

Engineers educates them on composites products to address their need

to upgrade dozens of lock and dam facilities. CGI also engaged

automotive OEMs to conduct Composites Technology Days, an initiative

to educate users on relevant technology advancements with Hyundai-Kia

and General Motors and explore future events with other leading

automotive OEMs. CGI is engaging state Departments of Transportation

to help educate engineers on composites and showcase technology

advancements to help DOTs maintain their assets.

Thanks to over 60 industry leading material suppliers, distributors, and

affiliate member companies that provided voluntary contributions to

the CGI Fund, ACMA has been able to continue the productive work on

composites sustainability and prepare the composites industry and

member companies for new regulations and requirements from all markets,

especially construction and infrastructure. The CGI Fund also provided for

the development of an enhanced FRP Pedestrian Bridge design specification

for the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials

(AASHTO), an important tool for bridge designers to properly design and

specify products in the infrastructure market. The CGI Fund also enhanced

the ACMA CCT program and workforce development initiatives by assessing

and evaluating the needs of the composites industry that will impact future

direction and CCT products for education.

•

ACMA and EuCIA co-hosted the Sustainability Forum at JEC in

Paris, France. The Forum was organized by the Global Composites

Sustainability Coalition, with ACMA acting as a secretariat. ACMA Staff

delivered a presentation titled “Advancing Sustainability Initiatives and

Policy Advocacy in the USA.” This was one of six presentations in this

session with participants from other global trade organizations.

•

ACMA presented a keynote presentation at the Global Pultrusion

Conference in Hamburg, Germany highlighting ACMA’s involvement and

commitment with the promulgation of the new ASCE design standard

that was published in early 2024.

COMPOSITES GROWTH INITIATIVE (CGI)

STANDARDS & INDUSTRY COLLABORATION

Driving Consensus

ACMA develops consensus standards, specifications, and other guidance to support the growth of the Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) composites

industry. ACMA is a certified Standards Developing Organization (SDO) with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). During this past year, ACMA

successfully passed a rigorous ANSI audit process allowing ACMA to continue developing standards and specifications as done in the past. ACMA’s

approach to the standards development lifecycle is to facilitate an open, fair, and collaborative process that engages directly and materially interested

stakeholders within the composites industry.

Standards developed by ACMA are proposed at the request of interested parties and formulated by committees depending upon the need of the

composites industry, resources, and collaboration efforts, to meet national and international requirements.

ACMA standards activity increased this past year. Several committees worked to reaffirm the Fiberglass Composites Grating Manual for Pultruded and

Molded Grating and Stair Treads, update the Standard Specification for FRP Composite Utility Poles with new information, and develop a new standard

for the Specification for Fiberglass Composite Crossarms for Distribution Utility Structures. ACMA continues to actively seek subject matter experts to

participate in our standards development activities. Together, we can make composites the sustainable material of preference.

Standards Advocacy

ACMA staff and members are actively involved in and support several standards development initiatives. During the past year, the concentration of those

efforts was focused towards ASCE, ACI, AASHTO, and ASTM. A notable accomplishment was the publication of ASCE/SEI 74-23 – Load Resistance

Factor Design (LRFD) for Pultruded Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP) Structures in January 2024. This initiative was supported by the ACMA Pultrusion

Industry Council and culminated a 15-year effort to get this standard published after the initial pre-standard was developed. Now, civil and structural

engineers can design pultruded structural shapes with confidence. With AASHTO, the ACMA Transportation Structures Council led a year-long effort to

update the FRP Pedestrian Bridge Design Specification to LRFD design protocol, update the design of pultruded truss structures, and expand the design

specification to include resin infused deck panels that is currently state of practice. Several key ASTM specifications and test methods related to FRP rebar

and concrete strengthening applications were also published allowing engineers to better understand FRP products and properly specify them in design

specifications.

“My favorite ACMA benefit is community;

because otherwise there are limited

opportunities to get the most relevant

players together in one place for

discussion and exchange.”

LUCAS CICCARELLI, MANAGING DIRECTOR, AFPT GMBH

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