What’s Next for Thermosets? Takeaways from TopCon 2025

We just got back from the TopCon 2025 Thermoset Conference in Madison, WI, and while the event had an intimate setting, the conversations were anything but. As part of the thermoset community, Johns Manville was proud to be on-site - with our booth, but also actively participating in the meaningful discussions shaping the future of our industry. It’s always refreshing to connect with peers, customers, and innovators who are genuinely passionate about composites and their growing role in modern manufacturing. While we are all aware the thermoset market is evolving, TopCon offered some fresh perspectives worth sharing. 

Doors, Ceramics, and a Push Toward Class A 

Composite doors have been on the radar for a while, but at TopCon, the interest in this segment was unmistakable. With rising demand for weather-resistant, low-maintenance exterior doors across North America, manufacturers are more seriously looking into thermoset solutions. One key factor? Color. Most doors start out white before painting, and the natural yellow tint of some fiberglass can be a hurdle. That’s where we can help with our MultiStar® 266. This multi-end roving was developed with white SMC in mind, offering excellent surface quality, smooth unwinding and high-speed choppability making it a great fit for these fast-growing applications.  

But that’s not all. Bathroom sinks made from composites? Yes, it came up more than once. The idea here is lighter weight and better impact resistance compared to traditional ceramics. And it’s yet another sign that the market is actively looking for smarter material alternatives in everyday products.   

More broadly, the shift toward replacing traditional materials like wood with composites - where it makes sense for longevity, strength, and environmental exposure - continues to gain momentum. Think windows, utility poles, or railroad ties. 

And when it comes to Class A surfaces, that topic remains central to anyone working with SMC and the expectations are higher than ever, especially in automotive. But what became even clearer during the show is how demanding this space is from a technical standpoint. High-end surface quality requires more than just good input materials. It needs absolute consistency in every process step. That’s why we are proud of what MultiStar® 272 delivers. It’s engineered for Class A surface parts, and what our customers keep telling us is how well it performs in wet-out, chopping, and minimizing fuzz – all critical for achieving flawless surfaces without post-processing headaches. In the European market, where we’ve been a trusted supplier to major compounders and automotive manufacturers for years, MultiStar 272 has proven its value by delivering the consistency, quality, and performance needed to meet the highest surface standards. 

The Market Is Shifting and Looking for Local Solutions 

Another big theme that came through loud and clear was the need for dependable, local supply. With global supply chains still uncertain, and shifting trade policies affecting material availability and pricing, there’s a noticeable hunger for suppliers that can offer not only high-quality fiberglass, but also stability and support.  

Assembled rovings from Johns Manville are produced at our plant in Trnava, Slovakia, where we’ve been optimizing our processes for over 50 years. But as a U.S. based company with multiple production sites across the country, we offer more than just boots on the ground. We are deeply committed to serving the North American thermoset market with a reliable supply chain, excellent logistics, and local technical service.  

Hands-on support is essential in such highly engineered applications, especially when issues arise. That’s when compounders need more than only a delivery; they need someone who can jump in and solve problems with them. That’s the kind of relationship we’re proud to build with customers throughout their development and production process. 

What’s Ahead? 

EVs were, unsurprisingly, once again part of the conversation, and while there are still things to improve on the battery and recycling side, the industry’s tone has shifted from initial skepticism to growing optimism. Composites are already playing a big role in battery enclosures and charger housings, and we expect this area to keep gaining momentum.  

Another interesting development: while thermoplastics have long been praised for recyclability, there’s growing buzz about emerging recycling technologies for thermosets that could flip the narrative. Combine that with the natural durability and long life cycle of thermoset composites, and it’s clear this material class isn’t going anywhere. 

A Community That Cares and Grows 

TopCon reinforced that the thermoset industry is tight-knit, collaborative, and deeply committed to advancing composite technology. The show may have been modest in scale, but the quality of conversations made up for it. We are grateful for the feedback of the community that saw our involvement as a positive step, bringing in fresh perspectives, new options, and technical strength that help move the whole industry forward. 

Let’s Talk 

If you’re working in SMC or other thermoset applications, and looking for better surface quality, improved processability, excellent technical support or just a more collaborative supplier experience – we’re happy to talk.