Engineering Tomorrow’s World: Your Essential Guide to CAMX in Orlando, USA

Imagine materials lighter than aluminum, stronger than steel, and capable of withstanding extreme conditions – materials that are literally shaping the future of industries from aerospace to automotive, infrastructure to medical devices. These are advanced composites, and their evolution is relentless. From carbon fiber marvels propelling space exploration to sustainable bio-composites creating eco-friendly products, the world of composites is where groundbreaking innovation happens daily. For engineers, designers, manufacturers, researchers, and suppliers deeply involved in these revolutionary materials, staying at the cutting edge is not just a competitive advantage – it’s the very essence of progress. This is precisely why the Composites and Advanced Materials Expo (CAMX) in Orlando, USA, stands as North America’s premier annual event, driving the future of materials science and application.

CAMX, a powerhouse collaboration between the American Composites Manufacturers Association (ACMA) and the Society for the Advancement of Material and Process Engineering (SAMPE), is truly the largest and most comprehensive event for the composites and advanced materials industry in North America. It’s a unique gathering that brings together the entire ecosystem – from raw materials to finished parts, from research and development to manufacturing processes. If you’re designing the next generation of aircraft, developing lightweight solutions for electric vehicles, creating durable infrastructure, or exploring new frontiers in medical technology, CAMX is your indispensable annual destination for discovering cutting-edge solutions, expanding your technical knowledge, and forging strategic partnerships that will define tomorrow’s innovations.

The Sunshine State’s Hub of Innovation: The Venue and Its Time

While you initially mentioned Anaheim, California, my research indicates that CAMX 2025 is actually scheduled to take place in Orlando, Florida. Orlando is a fantastic host city for an event of this magnitude, renowned globally not just for its world-class entertainment, but also as a major convention destination with superb infrastructure and accessibility. The city’s extensive array of amenities provides a welcoming and dynamic backdrop for a high-tech industry event. The expo will be held at the magnificent Orange County Convention Center (OCCC), located at 9800 International Drive, Orlando, FL 32819, USA.

The OCCC is one of the largest and most impressive convention centers in the United States, offering millions of square feet of flexible exhibition space, state-of-the-art meeting rooms, and modern amenities perfectly suited to showcase large-scale manufacturing equipment and complex material science. Its strategic location on International Drive provides excellent accessibility. It’s conveniently located just 15 minutes from Orlando International Airport (MCO), one of the busiest and best-connected airports in the U.S., offering direct flights from numerous domestic and international destinations. The convention center is surrounded by a vast selection of hotels, diverse dining options, and world-famous theme parks, ensuring convenience for attendees and opportunities for both business and leisure.

CAMX operates on an annual schedule, consistently taking place in the fall. For 2025, CAMX is scheduled for September 8–11, 2025.

The event spans four days for the conference program and three intensive days for the exhibition. The typical schedule structure includes:

• Conference (Monday, September 8 – Thursday, September 11, 2025): The full conference program commences a day before the exhibition hall opens and continues through the final day. This robust program includes a wide range of technical papers, education sessions, and panel discussions covering the latest research, market trends, and application breakthroughs.
• Exhibition (Tuesday, September 9 – Thursday, September 11, 2025): The expansive exhibit hall opens on the second day of the event.
  • Tuesday, September 9, 2025: The exhibit hall typically opens in the morning (e.g., 9:00 AM) and runs through the late afternoon (e.g., 5:00 PM or 5:30 PM). This day often includes a General Session with a keynote speaker and an Opening Reception for all badged attendees, fostering initial networking.
  • Wednesday, September 10, 2025: A full day of expo access and continuing conference sessions. This day might also feature special events like “Good Day, CAMX,” a panel of industry leaders discussing current projects and innovations.
  • Thursday, September 11, 2025: The final day of the exhibition and conference, typically running until mid-afternoon (e.g., 3:00 PM or 4:00 PM), allowing attendees time to finalize visits and travel.

This comprehensive schedule ensures that attendees have ample time to explore the vast exhibition, absorb cutting-edge knowledge from the conference, and engage in valuable networking across all facets of the composites and advanced materials industries.

The Building Blocks of Progress: Key Product and Solution Categories

The exhibition floor at CAMX is a colossal showcase of the entire composites and advanced materials supply chain. Attendees can expect to explore a comprehensive array of products, technologies, and services, broadly categorized into these essential areas:

• Raw Materials:
  • Fibers: Carbon fibers, glass fibers, aramid fibers, natural fibers, basalt fibers, ceramic fibers, and specialized high-performance fibers.
  • Resins & Polymers: Thermosets (epoxy, polyester, vinyl ester, phenolic), thermoplastics (PEEK, PEI, PPS), bio-resins, and high-temperature polymers.
  • Core Materials: Honeycomb (aluminum, aramid, thermoplastic), foam (PVC, PET, PMI), and balsa wood.
  • Additives & Modifiers: Nanomaterials, fire retardants, tougheners, pigments, and coupling agents.
• Manufacturing & Processing Equipment:
  • Automation & Robotics: Automated fiber placement (AFP), automated tape laying (ATL), robotic handling systems, and advanced robotics for composites manufacturing.
  • Molding & Forming Technologies: Resin transfer molding (RTM), vacuum infusion, compression molding, injection molding, thermoforming, pultrusion, filament winding, and autoclave systems.
  • Curing Systems: Ovens, autoclaves, UV curing systems, and induction heating.
  • Cutting & Trimming: Automated cutting tables, waterjet cutting, laser cutting, and CNC machining for composites.
  • Tooling & Molds: Advanced tooling materials, rapid prototyping for molds, and smart tooling solutions.
  • Recycling Technologies: Solutions for composite recycling and waste reduction.
• Testing & Inspection:
  • Non-destructive testing (NDT) methods (ultrasonics, X-ray, thermography)
  • Material characterization equipment (tensile testers, fatigue testers, DMA, TGA)
  • Quality control systems and software.
• Fabrication & Assembly:
  • Adhesives, fasteners, and joining technologies for composites.
  • Surface preparation and finishing solutions.
• Design, Analysis & Software:
  • CAD/CAM software tailored for composites.
  • FEA (Finite Element Analysis) and simulation software for composite structures.
  • Material lifecycle management (MLM) and traceability software.
  • Digital twin technologies for composites manufacturing.
• End-Use Applications & Market Segments:
  • Aerospace & Defense: Components for aircraft (commercial and military), spacecraft, drones, and ballistic protection.
  • Automotive & Transportation: Lightweighting solutions for electric vehicles (EVs), mass transit, and heavy trucks.
  • Wind Energy: Wind turbine blades and structural components.
  • Construction & Infrastructure: Bridges, rebar, pipes, architectural elements, and seismic retrofitting.
  • Marine: Hulls, decks, and structural components for boats and ships.
  • Sports & Recreation: Sporting goods (bikes, rackets, skis), and recreational vehicles.
  • Medical: Prosthetics, surgical instruments, and imaging equipment.
  • Industrial: Pressure vessels, tanks, industrial machinery components, and robotics.

This extensive range ensures that attendees, whether seeking foundational materials, advanced processing equipment, or finished composite components for specific applications, can discover the precise solutions and expertise needed to drive their R&D, manufacturing, and commercialization initiatives.

The Driving Force of Innovation: Visitor Count and Demographics

CAMX consistently attracts a significant and highly influential audience, solidifying its position as the premier event for the composites and advanced materials industry in North America. Each edition, CAMX typically gathers over 7,000 visitors, with a substantial presence of hundreds of exhibitors (often exceeding 500-600 companies) showcasing the latest innovations. These impressive figures underscore the event’s reach and its ability to bring together a concentrated group of leading professionals and decision-makers.

The attendee profile at CAMX is exceptionally high-level and diverse, representing the full spectrum of roles and industries that utilize advanced materials:

• Engineers & Scientists: Design engineers, materials engineers, manufacturing engineers, process engineers, R&D scientists, and metallurgists.
• Manufacturing & Production Management: Plant managers, production directors, operations managers, and supervisors from composite manufacturing facilities.
• Executives & Leadership: CEOs, CTOs, VPs of Engineering, VPs of Operations, Business Development Managers, and Presidents from companies across the supply chain.
• Purchasing & Sourcing Managers: Buyers and procurement specialists looking for new materials, components, and equipment suppliers.
• Researchers & Academics: Professors, postdoctoral researchers, and students from universities and research institutions, presenting cutting-edge findings.
• Designers & Product Developers: Individuals focused on integrating advanced materials into new product designs.
• Quality Control & Testing Professionals: Experts ensuring the integrity and performance of composite materials and structures.
• End-User OEMs: Representatives from diverse industries such as aerospace, automotive, marine, wind energy, construction, and medical, actively seeking composite solutions for their products.

The attendees typically represent a strong buying influence, with a significant percentage (often over 30%) holding final decision-making power, and many more (around 40%) recommending or influencing purchasing decisions. This makes CAMX an incredibly fertile ground for high-value networking, knowledge exchange, and forging impactful business collaborations.

Building Success, One Fiber at a Time: Benefits and Perks of Attending

Attending CAMX in Orlando offers an unparalleled array of strategic advantages and exclusive perks for any professional looking to excel in the composites and advanced materials industries:

• Witness Live Manufacturing & Innovation: Experience the future of composites firsthand with numerous live manufacturing demonstrations on the show floor. See advanced processes like automated fiber placement, resin infusion, and additive manufacturing in action, allowing you to understand real-world applications and production capabilities.
• Access World-Class Technical Knowledge: Immerse yourself in the industry’s most robust education program. With over 100 sessions including technical papers, educational courses, and panel discussions, you’ll gain deep insights into the latest research, material advancements, manufacturing processes, design methodologies, and market trends from global experts.
• Unrivaled Sourcing and Supplier Evaluation: Explore the expansive exhibit hall featuring hundreds of leading manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers from across the entire composites and advanced materials value chain. This allows you to efficiently compare products, evaluate new technologies, discuss tailored solutions for your specific challenges, and identify the right partners.
• Strategic Networking Opportunities: Connect directly with thousands of influential peers, including engineers, executives, researchers, and decision-makers from diverse market segments. Leverage dedicated networking events, receptions, and casual interactions on the show floor to build invaluable relationships and foster collaborations.
• Gain a Competitive Edge: By seeing the latest materials and manufacturing techniques, and understanding emerging applications, you’ll gain critical insights that can help your organization optimize production, reduce costs, enhance product performance, and uncover new revenue streams.
• Explore Market Diversification: Discover how composites are being utilized in burgeoning sectors beyond traditional aerospace and defense, including electric vehicles, renewable energy, infrastructure repair, and sustainable packaging, opening doors to new business opportunities.
• Professional Development and Thought Leadership: Enhance your technical expertise, stay abreast of industry standards and regulations, and position yourself as a thought leader by engaging with the brightest minds and the latest research in the field.
• Specialized Co-located Events: CAMX often features co-located events or workshops, such as sessions on Additive Manufacturing for Composites, offering focused deep dives into specific high-interest areas.

Your Orlando Home Base: Nearby Hotels and Convenient Stay

Orlando, being a top convention destination, offers a vast selection of hotels to suit every budget and preference, especially in close proximity to the Orange County Convention Center. Many hotels are within easy walking distance or provide convenient shuttle services, ensuring seamless access to CAMX. Due to the event’s popularity and Orlando’s status as a tourist hub, booking your accommodations well in advance is highly recommended to secure the best rates and your preferred location.

The official CAMX website usually partners with a housing bureau (often onPeak) to offer discounted rates at a range of hotels. Utilizing these official channels can provide significant savings and ensure you’re staying in a conveniently located and vetted property.

Some highly convenient and popular hotel options near the Orange County Convention Center include:

• Hyatt Regency Orlando: This hotel is directly connected to the OCCC via a covered walkway, offering the ultimate in convenience and a wide range of amenities including multiple dining options and resort-style pools.
• Rosen Centre Hotel: Located directly across from the OCCC’s West Concourse, this is another very popular choice, offering a full suite of convention services.
• Rosen Plaza Hotel: Also very close to the OCCC, the Rosen Plaza provides a similar level of accessibility and services.
• Hilton Orlando: Connected to the OCCC’s South Concourse via a covered walkway, this hotel offers direct access to the convention center.
• Pointe Orlando Area Hotels: A collection of hotels in the Pointe Orlando entertainment complex (e.g., Hyatt Place Orlando Convention Center, SpringHill Suites by Marriott Orlando Convention Center) are within walking distance or a short ride on the I-Ride Trolley, offering numerous dining, shopping, and entertainment options.
• International Drive (I-Drive) Hotels: A vast selection of hotels along the famous International Drive cater to various budgets, many offering shuttle services to the OCCC.

These hotels provide a variety of amenities, from on-site dining and fitness centers to business services, ensuring a comfortable and productive stay. Beyond the expo, attendees can take advantage of Orlando’s world-famous theme parks, diverse culinary scene, and vibrant nightlife, making for a truly memorable visit.

The Investment in Tomorrow: Understanding the Cost to Attend

The pricing structure for CAMX is designed to offer flexible access to its extensive content and networking opportunities, with different tiers catering to various attendee needs. The cost of registration can vary based on whether you are a member of ACMA or SAMPE (the organizing associations), your registration type (full conference vs. expo only), and how early you register (early bird discounts are significant).

• Expo Pass: This pass typically provides access to the exhibition hall, allowing you to explore hundreds of exhibitors and witness live demonstrations. While specific pricing for 2025 will be released closer to the event, “Expo Only” passes are often available at a lower cost, sometimes even complimentary for members during early registration periods. For non-members, a basic Expo pass might range from $50 – $150 USD.
• Full Conference Pass: This is the most comprehensive pass, granting full access to the exhibition hall, all conference sessions (including technical paper presentations and educational sessions), General Session with keynote speakers, and often includes access to exclusive networking receptions. For ACMA/SAMPE members, an early bird Full Conference Pass might range from approximately $700 – $900 USD. For non-members, this could range from $900 – $1100+ USD. These prices are subject to change and significant early bird discounts are generally available.
• Student Pass: CAMX often offers highly discounted or even complimentary passes for students, encouraging the next generation of composites professionals to attend.
• Group Discounts: For organizations sending multiple attendees (e.g., 5+ registrations), group discounts are frequently available, offering a percentage off the total registration cost.
• A La Carte Items: Certain special events, workshops, or specific receptions might be offered as a la carte purchases, even with a Full Conference Pass. Examples could include specific professional development courses or evening networking events.

It is always highly recommended to register as early as possible to take advantage of the most significant early bird savings. Checking the official CAMX website for the most up-to-date pricing and registration options is crucial.

Build Your Future with Composites: Secure Your Place at CAMX!

CAMX in Orlando is more than just a trade show; it’s the dynamic heartbeat of the global composites and advanced materials industry. It’s where the cutting-edge innovations that redefine possibilities are unveiled, where the most pressing industry challenges are addressed through collaborative discussion, and where the indispensable connections that fuel the next generation of advanced materials are forged. If you’re an engineer pushing the boundaries of material science, a manufacturer seeking efficiency and new capabilities, a researcher breaking new ground, or a professional looking to leverage the power of lightweight, high-strength materials, then securing your place at CAMX is not just an option—it’s an essential strategic investment in your knowledge, your network, and your business’s future. Don’t miss this unparalleled opportunity to witness the future, learn from the best, and contribute to building a stronger, more advanced world, one composite at a time!

To learn more and register for the upcoming Composites and Advanced Materials Expo (CAMX), visit: www.theCAMX.org