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As 2025 comes to an end, we reflect on a year of milestones and new beginnings. The completion of four PhD projects marks the start of new research projects. With ongoing input from our industrial partners, TPRC's research resulted in valuable developments throughout the year.
TPRC wishes you all the best for 2026!
Looking back, advancing ahead
General Manager Sebastiaan Wijskamp looks back on a year of growth and progress in 2025 and shares TPRC’s outlook for 2026. In close collaboration with our partners, we have shaped a focused research roadmap. This roadmap is key to accelerating the adoption of thermoplastic composites in future sustainable aircraft.
New PhD projects kicked-off
TPRC recently welcomed a new group of PhD researchers who will be addressing relevant challenges in the thermoplastic composites field over the coming years. Daniel, Paul, and Rachel will respectively focus on prediction of wrinkling in press forming, flow behavior of recycled thermoplastic composites, and high-temperature applications of continuous fiber-reinforced TPCs.
Maria Puga: PhD researcher in conduction welding
Maria recently joined TPRC as a PhD researcher, bringing her long-standing passion for materials all the way from southern Brazil to Twente. She now works on conduction welding, combining hands-on experiments with simulation tools to better understand and predict joint performance.
Valuable conferences such as SAMPE, ICCM, ESAFORM, and JEC have taken place this year, and TPRC's bi-annual TAB meeting connected more than 80 participants.
Make sure to mark your calendars for these upcoming events:
SAMPE Summit 26 Paris
Location: Paris, France
Date: March 9, 2026
Thermoplastic Composites Conference
Location: San Diego, California, USA
Date: May 19-21, 2026
SAMPE Conference 26 Lecce
Location: Lecce, Italy
Date: September 30 - October 1, 2026
ITHEC 2026
Location: Bremen, Germany
Date: October 28-29, 2026
Joining of Thermoplastic Composite | April 14-15th 2026
- Mechanisms of underlying fusion bonding
- Opportunities and challenges of various welding techniques
- Adhesion of TPCs to dissimilar materials
- How process parameters impact joint quality
Advanced Forming of Thermoplastic Composites | Date TBA
- Process parameter selection based on material properties
- Effects of tool design on manufacturability and part quality
- Influence of blank handling systems on formability
- Process-induced defects
- Predictive process simulation tools
Introduction to Thermoplastic Composites | Date TBA
- Basics of thermoplastic composites
- Processing techniques
- Virtual forming
- Design and applications
All trainings include a combination of both theoretical- and practical lab sessions.
Interested in our research?
Is your attention drawn by TPRC's dedicated research on thermoplastic composites? We are looking forward to meeting you and telling you more about how we can benefit your project or study. Feel free to contact us!
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