Join us on..
- 26 – 28 October 2027
- Huntington Place, Detroit
In aerospace and defence, materials are selected because they determine whether a system can perform safely, reliably and efficiently in environments where failure is not an option. Aircraft, spacecraft, naval platforms, defence vehicles, electronics and unmanned systems may face extreme heat, vibration, corrosion, fuels, hydraulic fluids, electromagnetic interference, dust, pressure changes and long service intervals, often at the same time.
As platforms become lighter, hotter, more electrified and more sensor-rich, materials must do more than meet a specification. They must support performance, survivability, safety, maintenance reduction and supply-chain resilience. This is why advanced materials have become enabling technologies for the next generation of aerospace and defence systems.
Materials Week USA 2026, taking place from 27–29 October 2026 at Huntington Place, Detroit, brings together Silicone Expo USA, The Magnetics Show USA, The Gasket & Seals Show, Tape & Functional Film Expo, High Performance Alloys Expo and Speciality Polymers World. For engineers, R&D teams, procurement specialists and component manufacturers, the event offers an opportunity to compare material technologies across complete systems rather than isolated components.
High-temperature materials remain critical as propulsion, hypersonics and space systems push into harsher thermal environments. Nickel-based alloys, titanium alloys, superalloys, ceramic matrix composites and emerging high-entropy alloys help components retain strength and stability under intense heat and repeated thermal cycling. Innovations such as NASA’s GRX-810, a 3D-printable alloy designed for extreme temperatures, show how material development is also supporting more complex and efficient manufacturing.
Corrosion resistance is equally important. Aircraft operating near coastlines, naval systems exposed to saltwater and defence equipment used in desert or chemically aggressive environments all face degradation risks. Protective coatings, specialist alloys and surface treatments help extend service life, reduce maintenance and improve operational readiness. Newer approaches, including chromate-free coatings, self-healing systems and high-entropy alloy coatings, reflect the growing need to balance durability with sustainability and compliance.
Seals, gaskets and elastomers also play a vital role because they protect systems that cannot be allowed to fail. In electronics, fuel systems, hydraulics, aircraft doors, hatches, sensors and battery housings, sealing performance affects safety, reliability and service life. As electrification increases, materials such as silicones, thermal interface materials, flame-retardant compounds and specialist gasketing solutions are becoming more important for thermal control, electrical isolation and environmental protection.
Lightweighting remains a major driver. Speciality polymers such as PEEK, PTFE, polyimides and fluoropolymers can replace metals in selected applications while offering chemical resistance, insulation and wear performance. Adhesive films, functional tapes and bonding technologies are also helping manufacturers reduce fasteners, lower part count and create cleaner, lighter structures.
Magnetic materials are becoming more strategic as platforms rely on actuation, power-dense motors, sensors, navigation and communications systems. At the same time, rare earth supply pressures mean availability, traceability and resilience are now part of the materials decision.
Materials Week USA 2026 provides a focused environment for discovering the materials, technologies and supplier expertise shaping mission-critical performance.
Dongguan Ruike Industrial Co., Ltd. mainly develops and produces various conductive silicone, heat-conductive silicone, puff silicone, silicone leather, silicone adhesives for metal and plastic, screen-printing and heat-transfer silicone, silicone resin, sealing silicone, etc. It provides customers worldwide with a full range of silicone material solutions, including electronics, new energy, textile printing, leather goods, home furnishings, and industrial manufacturing.
Magnet Applications is a leading provider of magnet-based solutions, serving industries across North America, Europe and beyond. With a legacy rooted in innovation, precision, and quality, we specialize in designing and manufacturing high-performance bonded, injection molded, compression bonded, and hybrid magnets for demanding applications. As a division of Bunting Magnetics, a company with over 65 years of expertise in magnetic technology, Magnet Applications combines engineering excellence with advanced manufacturing to deliver tailored magnetic solutions that power the automotive, medical, industrial, and consumer electronics industries.
Fenlora Groups is a custom rubber and silicone parts manufacturer based in City of Industry, California, with owned production facilities overseas. We specialize in precision-molded rubber components — grommets, seals, gaskets, bellows, extruded profiles, rubber-to-metal bonded assemblies, and food-grade silicone parts — for OEM buyers across automotive, electronics, industrial, and consumer industries. ISO 9001 and IATF 16949 certified, with engineering support built into every project from material selection to final production.
As the automotive industry accelerates towards electrification, the pressure on materials performance has never been greater. Vehicle platforms are being redesigned around battery systems, electric motors, sensors, power electronics, thermal management, lightweight structures and increasingly complex sealing and bonding requirements. In this environment, materials are no longer just a specification. They are a strategic advantage. Materials Week USA will bring together the advanced materials, technologies and supply-chain expertise driving the next generation of electric vehicles, lightweight mobility and high-performance automotive engineering.
The need for this kind of cross-sector collaboration is clear. The International Energy Agency expects global electric car sales to reach 23 million in 2026, accounting for close to 30% of all cars sold worldwide. In 2025, electric car sales exceeded 20 million, representing around a quarter of all new cars sold globally. For OEMs, Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers, battery manufacturers, powertrain specialists and automotive engineers, this growth is increasing the urgency to identify materials that can improve performance, efficiency, durability, safety and scalability.
For EV and automotive professionals, the value of Materials Week USA lies in the way each co-located sector connects to real vehicle challenges:
The Magnetics Show is especially relevant to electrified mobility, with the event highlighting magnetic materials and technologies that support EV performance, energy efficiency, motors, sensors and powertrains. As OEMs continue to optimise electric drive systems and electronic architectures, access to magnetics expertise is vital for teams working on power density, efficiency, miniaturisation and next-generation mobility platforms.
Silicone Expo gives automotive professionals access to advanced silicone applications designed to improve vehicle performance, safety and efficiency. Silicones have an important role to play across demanding automotive environments, from sealing and protection to electronics, insulation and components that must withstand heat, cold, moisture, chemicals and UV exposure.
The Gasket & Seals Show connects directly to one of the automotive industry’s most critical requirements: reliability. The show focuses on sealing solutions that enhance performance, durability and efficiency across key automotive systems, while also supporting broader industry demand for greater sustainability and reduced downtime. For EV platforms, where battery enclosures, cooling loops, electronics and environmental protection are all mission-critical, sealing expertise is essential.
Tape & Functional Film Expo brings together materials suppliers, converters, equipment manufacturers, testing labs and end-user markets, including automotive and electronics. For vehicle designers and manufacturing teams, tapes and functional films can support bonding, protection, insulation, surface functionality, lightweighting and process efficiency across both EV and conventional vehicle platforms.
Speciality Polymers World focuses on high-performance, functional and sustainable polymer materials, with mobility listed among the sectors where speciality polymers are central to product innovation. The event showcases developments including bio-based formulations, conductive materials, high-strength thermoplastics and smart polymers. For automotive teams targeting lighter, stronger, more adaptable and more sustainable vehicle systems, this sector offers direct relevance.
High Performance Alloys Expo brings together innovation in alloys designed for strength, corrosion resistance and thermal stability, with applications across automotive, aerospace, energy and biomedical industries. These properties are highly relevant to the development of durable components, advanced manufacturing processes and high-performance systems that must operate reliably under demanding conditions.
Materials Week USA is also designed to support knowledge-sharing and commercial decision-making. The technical conference is set across three days and two stages, with sessions focused on R&D, innovation, strategy and market analysis; manufacturing and processing; and an end-user buyers forum for Tier 1 OEMs and Tier 2 suppliers.
For automotive and EV attendees, this creates an opportunity to move beyond product discovery and into practical discussion: what is ready to scale, what is commercially viable, what suppliers can support future programmes, and what materials will define the next phase of mobility.
Visitors can expect to meet technical experts, materials developers, suppliers, manufacturers, researchers and decision-makers from across the advanced materials ecosystem. Whether the goal is to reduce vehicle weight, improve battery-pack performance, enhance sealing integrity, source new materials, increase production efficiency or build a more resilient supply chain, Materials Week USA offers a concentrated environment for progress.
The automotive industry is moving quickly, but materials innovation is moving just as fast. Attending Materials Week USA gives teams the chance to compare solutions across multiple material categories, identify suppliers, understand emerging technologies and make connections that can support current and future vehicle programmes.
For engineers, it is a chance to explore materials that can solve real design and performance challenges. For procurement and supply-chain teams, it is an opportunity to meet new partners and assess supplier capability. For R&D and innovation leaders, it offers insight into the technologies that could shape the next generation of platforms. For business leaders, it provides a clearer view of where materials science is heading and how that direction will affect competitiveness in the automotive and EV market.
Visitor passes are free. Automotive and EV professionals are encouraged to secure their visitor pass and join the materials community shaping the future of mobility.
Laur Silicone, Inc. is a supplier of custom silicone rubber committed to giving customers high quality and value in every compound. Several lines of standard products designed for many different applications are available as well as custom formulations.
A leading provider of magnet-based solutions, serving industries across North America, Europe and beyond. As a division of Bunting Magnetics, a company with over 65 years of expertise in magnetic technology, Magnet Applications combines engineering excellence with advanced manufacturing to deliver tailored magnetic solutions that power the automotive, medical, industrial, and consumer electronics industries.
JNC Corporation, founded in 1906, is a global specialty chemical company headquartered in Japan with over 40 years of experience in silicone materials development and manufacturing. Our proprietary silicone technology product, Silaplane™, is a reactive PDMS available with various reactive groups and molecular weights. Produced at commercial scale using 100% hydroelectric power, Silaplane™ offers high purity and narrow polydispersity, enabling advanced applications in silicone hydrogels, coatings, highly filled systems, including thermal interface materials, and fluorine-free materials.