Meet us at Metstrade 2025
ATL Composites will exhibit with joint venture partners M.u.H. von der Linden GmbH based in Wesel as vdL Composites GmbH at the 37th Metstrade Show, running 18 to 20 November 2025 in Amsterdam.
Known as the “one-stop-shop” and meeting place for the global leisure marine industry, Metstrade is the world’s largest B2B marine event.
This year, the event will showcase 1,600+ exhibiting companies and fill all 13 Halls of the Rai for the first time.
For 13 years ATL Composites and M.u.H. von der Linden have exhibited as vdL Composites GmbH and have worked together to supply customers across Europe in a range of different industries.
At Metstrade 2025 we will present the DuFLEX, DuraKore and Featherlight composite panel range which are lightweight construction solutions relied upon by Europe’s leading boat builders, architects, builders and commercial designers.
Also on show will be the COOSA panel system – fibreglass-reinforced polyurethane foam panels suitable for boat and caravan construction. COOSA can be easily machined like plywood and can be used for structural parts that need to be bolted or screwed, such as decks and transoms. It is a high-density core that doesn’t rot or compress, and you can bolt right through it.
With superior rigidity, at a fraction of the weight of plywood, depending on the location, it doesn’t need to be laminated to seal the underneath or top. It can simply be taped into position, saving on time as well as making the job easier.
ATL Composites Australia and vdL Composites in Germany have also incorporated DuFLEX Coosa-cored panels into the DuFLEX Composite Panel range to offer customers a choice of pre-laminated panels, through to CNC-routed kits, for specific applications like stringers in marine applications and flooring in transportation projects. The CNC Kits reduce waste and labour in these projects.
ATL Composites Director, Lorraine Duckworth, is looking forward to attending METS 2025 to meet with customers and experience the show’s full spectrum of new marine technology and materials.
“Metstrade is, and has always been, an important event for us each year,” stated Lorraine.
“We are always impressed by the innovative products on show and the level of ingenuity of exhibitors to create and produce problem solving solutions for the marine industry.”
Helge von der Linden General Manager of MuH von der Linden GmbH and also partner in vdL Composites GmbH added, “Since 1995, we have exhibited at Metstrade as M.u.H. von der Linden GmbH, visiting the show to meet existing clients and introduce our products to new customers,” he said.
“Every year, we enjoy seeing the innovative products and meeting our customers to catch up on their projects and present solutions that bring their visions to life.”
The vdL Composites stand will be located in hall 11 stand 11.410.
duflex.com.au
vonderlinden.de
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Spotlight on Evening Star
An ATL Composite Solution from Start to Finish
Eighteen months of construction are drawing to a close at Mahi Boats on the full-custom Schionning 1520 Solitaireperformance catamaran, Evening Star.
The owners chose the 15.25-metre Schionning design for its spacious proportions, generous accommodation, and proven cruising pedigree — ideal for a liveaboard lifestyle and extended bluewater passages.
Based at Gold Coast City Marina & Shipyard, Dan Williams and his team of shipwrights, naval architects, and composite specialists have overseen the project from the outset.
“We’ve taken a good design and made it brilliant,” said Dan.
“There were a lot of changes as the boat came together and we were able to accommodate them because of the 3D modelling we used to render the details, and a 4-axis CNC router to create custom one-off moulds.”
At the heart of Evening Star’s success lies ATL Composites’ DuFLEX® panel system — a product that embodies the ATL DNA of innovation, performance, and precision engineering.
“Crucial to the strength, lightweight and integrity of the boat — and our ability to meet custom requirements — is the DuFLEX® panel system, cut to order at ATL Composites,” Dan explained.
“It saved us a lot of time and ensured consistent quality. Everything fits together perfectly, and to get the curves to match up is incredible!”
DuFLEX® — Local Innovation with Global Performance
Manufactured in Australia by ATL Composites, DuFLEX® is the only Australian-made pre-laminated composite panel system with over 25 years of proven application history. This local production advantage means shorter lead times, greater project adaptability, and guaranteed consistency compared to imported alternatives — a cornerstone of ATL’s Australian-made innovation.
Each DuFLEX® panel is engineered as part of ATL’s complete end-to-end composite ecosystem — pairing seamlessly with Techniglue®, Kinetix® resin systems, and vacuum bagging consumables for turnkey builds. The integration of ATL’s own Kinetix® resin formulations provides unmatched adhesion, fatigue resistance, and chemical compatibility — performance attributes that define the company’s in-house advantage.
This reflects a key ATL differentiation pillar: formulation control. Every ATL product, from resin to adhesive, is developed and manufactured by ATL’s in-house team of chemists and engineers — ensuring superior compatibility across systems and a quality standard trusted for decades.
Sustainability in Practice
The Evening Star build also reflects ATL’s growing focus on sustainability — a core brand pillar driving product innovation.
By manufacturing locally and utilising low-waste production processes, ATL significantly reduces embodied energy in its composite solutions. Ongoing R&D programs are also exploring bio-based resins, PET cores, and recyclable composite technologies, ensuring that performance and environmental responsibility advance together.
Precision and Reliability
To ensure precise assembly, Mahi Boats used ATL’s Z-Press system, which applies heat and pressure to cure the epoxy adhesive on Z-Joints. These joins cure in as little as seven to 20 minutes depending on temperature, delivering accuracy, efficiency, and reduced build time.
Other ATL products used on the Evening Star project include Divinycell Structural Foam, KINETIX® R246TX Thixotropic Laminating Epoxy, WEST SYSTEM® 105 resin, and TECHNIGLUE® R60 Structural Adhesive in convenient cartridge form, along with TECHNIFILL® R1160 Fairing Compound.
A Showcase of the ATL Ethos
“The DuFLEX® system supported a fast, precise, and high-quality outcome,” Dan said. “It really showcases how well flat panel construction works when done right. We’d love to build another one — we’ve got the tools, the team, and the expertise ready to go.”
Evening Star stands as a powerful example of the ATL DNA in action — innovation through chemistry, precision through engineering, and reliability through local manufacturing. It’s this integrated approach that has positioned ATL Composites as Australia’s leader in advanced composite solutions for over 45 years.
