Go Beyond the Conference: Experience Composites in Action at SAMPE Seattle 2026

At SAMPE Seattle 2026 (April 27–30, 2026), innovation won’t just be discussed on stage — it will be experienced firsthand.

SAMPE’s exclusive technical tours have become one of the most sought-after elements of the conference. With visits to Boeing and Toray Composite Materials America already sold out, demand is high for the remaining opportunities to step inside some of the Pacific Northwest’s most influential advanced manufacturing and research facilities.

On Monday, April 27 at 1:00 PM, two powerful and distinctly complementary experiences remain available — offering a rare look at both the industrial scale of today’s flight-critical production and the digitally driven future of composite manufacturing.

Industrial Scale & Flight-Critical Precision

Inside Hexcel Kent

In Kent, Washington, Hexcel’s Engineered Products site manufactures large structural composite assemblies for rotary, fixed-wing, UAV, space, defense, and advanced air mobility platforms.

This behind-the-scenes tour provides a rare, start-to-finish view of large, flight-critical aerostructure fabrication — from kit-cut through paint and finish.

Attendees will experience:

• Precision hand layup supported by laser projection

• Environmentally controlled clean-room fabrication

• Autoclave processing up to 50 feet long

• 5-axis CNC machining

• Advanced non-destructive inspection including phased array, through transmission, and pulse echo methods

Hexcel Kent specializes in Full-Size Determinant Assembly (FSDA) parts, supported by vertically integrated carbon fiber, prepreg, and engineered core materials. The result is an extraordinary example of scale, precision, and reliability — all under one roof.

Date/Time: Monday, April 27, 2026 | 1:00 PM

Cost: Included with Premium Conference Badge | $75 for all other badge types

Digital Engineering & The Future of Manufacturing

University of Washington Advanced Composites Center – Seattle, Washington

If Hexcel represents composites at industrial maturity, the University of Washington’s Advanced Composites Center (ACC) represents what comes next.

The ACC is advancing digital engineering, AI-driven optimization, and automation to accelerate composite innovation across industries.

During this tour, attendees will explore:

• Robotic automated fiber placement

• Advanced additive manufacturing

• Integrated digital design workflows

• Testing and characterization laboratories

• AI-enabled approaches that improve rate, cost efficiency, and sustainability

Through strong academia–industry partnerships, the ACC is helping transform emerging technologies into scalable, real-world manufacturing solutions.

This is a front-row seat to the future of advanced materials.

Date/Time: Monday, April 27, 2026 | 1:00 PM

Cost: Included with Premium Conference Badge | $75 for all other badge types

Space is limited for the remaining tours — and filling quickly.

If you want to see advanced materials move from concept to production, from digital design to flight-ready structures, this is your opportunity. REGISTER NOW.

We’ll see you in Seattle.