On Thursday, 28 November, members of CompositesNL gathered for the autumn edition of the Members Networking Event and the General Members Meeting, this time hosted at De IJssel Coatings B.V. in Moordrecht. It was an afternoon filled with meaningful exchanges, in-depth discussions and new perspectives.
General Members Meeting
The programme began with the General Members’ Meeting, covering current developments within the association, policy matters and future plans. This edition was notably interactive, with many questions, comments and active engagement from the audience.
Open Programme
Robbert van der Eijk, Managing Director of De IJssel Coatings, opened the programme with a brief presentation about the company. He outlined its history, activities and way of working. De IJssel Coatings specialises in the development and production of coatings and resins, serving clients across various sectors with high-quality, tailor-made solutions.
This was followed by three presentations:
- Arvid De Lange, Managing Director of new member Adel Composites, introduced his company to the CompositesNL members.
- Jasper Heeren, PhD MSc, representing the Ministry of Defence, presented the outcomes of the recent Smart Materials Industry Day and highlighted the opportunities arising for the composites sector.
- Tjaard Sijpkes, Associate Professor of Advanced Systems Thinking, delivered a lecture on systems thinking and the “paradox of new discoveries” — exploring how organisations can create room for innovation by letting go of existing assumptions.
Facility Tour and Networking Reception
During the tour, participants were given insight into the production and innovation environment at De IJssel Coatings. The event concluded with a networking reception featuring a traditional Dutch stamppot buffet.
CompositesNL would like to thank De IJssel Coatings, and in particular Robbert van der Eijk, for the warm hospitality and excellent organisation.
The next CompositesNL Members’ Networking Event will take place in spring 2026.