Interview with Theo Sandu, Carbon Composites Schweiz

LIGHTer, together with Carbon Composite Schweiz, arranged a trade mission to visit four of Sweden´s major vehicle and aerospace companies; Scania, Saab Aeronautics, Ruag Space and Volvo Trucks.

We spent about half a day at each company to discuss the OEM´s future lightweight needs and possible future collaborations. This trade mission was a result of an ongoing Swedish - Swiss collaboration within lightweight material and additive manufacturing. Now it has been two months since the Trade mission, and we have interviewed Theo Sandu, Business and market development manager at Carbon Composites Schweiz and asked him for his thoughts and reflections.
 

1) What was the initial purpose of the trade mission to Sweden?
Initially we wanted to offer our members some international networking activities, as most of the SMEs are mainly focusing on the local market. Sweden was an easy decision, due to the bilateral Innosuisse-calls and its cultural and regional proximity.

2) What are your thoughts and reflections 2 months after the visit?
We are quite happy with the trade mission and its outcome for us as the organizer. All our participants were really satisfied with the trip. 

3) What are your next steps and future plans as far as cooperation between Sweden and Switzerland?
As we already said during our visit, we are very keen on organizing a trademission for Swedish companies and institutes to visit our Swiss composites industry. Also, feedback from our members (we have about 50 in a market, where we consider around 200 players) is very positive about them being visited by a Swedish delegation.  I am very confident that those personal visits and local chats will pay out for some of our participants in future.