IDRA, this is the vehicle designed by the Team H2politO, a low Energy consumption vehicle which runs on a hydrogen engine and can do something like 1.538 kilometres with the equivalent of one litre of petrol. This is just one of the many prototypes shown at Compotec, the second exhibition of composite materials and related technology held at CarraraFiere from 21 to 23 October. Ambrogio Brenna, the regional councillor for manufacturing industries, will be cutting the ribbon to open and then visit this innovative exhibition with 125 exhibitors presenting products and materials as well as finished products made in composite materials used in the most advanced industrial sectors, from the automobile industry to the building industry and medicine. An industry where scientific and formal research plays a decisive role. This is why Compotec immediately became known as the event that holds numerous scientific conferences organised by the most prestigious universities and gives prizes to researchers, architects and designers that have come forward with innovative proposals.

 

One of the main events at Compotec is the tenth international conference "Advancing with composites 2009" coordinated by Prof. Crivelli Visconti.

Other events of great importance are the Educational Presentations, tools created to promote the exchange of information between research and industry. These will be taking place on 21 and 22 October from 2 pm to 4.30 pm in the Services Centre hall, with the participation of universities and associations who will be discussing the educational and research activities to be dealt with together implementing the exchange of information as well as the use of scientific tools. Among the Universities present, worthy of mention are Turin Polytechnic, Colombia University in New York, the University Pole in La Spezia and the University of Salento. Each of these universities is present with its own projects, some of which have been awarded prizes in the area of Creativity, Research and Composites, prizes set aside for final year university students and fresh graduates in architecture, engineering and students of high schools. A special mention is open to the Creative category too.

In this category the award was given to the "Team H2politO for IDRA, the low Energy consumption vehicle designed and made by a group of students from Turin Polytechnic. This car is made completely out of carbon fibre that has already taken part in international competitions such as the Shell Eco Marathon. It weighs just 45 chili, without the pilot, and will most certainly be a reference for all those who are looking for ways to free themselves of the high costs of petrol. The jury's motivations are very clear: "an innovative concept, with low environmental impact and a high level of technology and formal research." The IDRA prototype will be on show in Turin Polytechnic's area.

In the Technology category, Alessandra Strafella, from the faculty of Engineering of the University of Salento will be awarded a prize for her study on the analysis of consolidation mechanisms in composites pre-impregnated with amorphous thermoplastics. For the jury "a study aimed at the interpretation of phenomena connected to the process of consolidation and the assessment of the parameters involved in the process (temperature and pressure) on the compacting and performance composite. Consolidation tests, the thermo mechanical and rheological analysis of the matrix and the morphological analysis of the consolidated material form an excellent basis for the future industrialisation of the moulding process.  The prize-giving ceremony at 3 pm in the Componews area in  Hall C.