Composite Integration has been named the winner of this year’s Composites UK Industry Awards for the ‘Innovation in Composite Manufacture’ category.
The company started in 2002 and has grown to serve a wide range of sectors including marine, wind energy, aerospace and automotive amongst others, with customers in more than 20 countries. It has developed tooling, meter mixing equipment and process technology to provide customers with the ability to manufacture a wide range of components at both high volume and large scale, with the largest components up to 85m in length.
From the outset the company focus has been sharing knowledge to support the customer in understanding the process, alongside delivering easy to use, reliable tooling and equipment. There is a strong R&D focus, with a dedicated team carrying out both internal and collaborative R&D for a wide range of parts and processes.
Composite Integration was nominated for the Innovation in Composite Manufacture award for their recent work within the aerospace sector. The innovation involved Composite Integration pushing the boundaries of traditional composite manufacturing processes, working alongside Hill Helicopters to develop a complex, vacuum tight, multi-part tool and appropriate process techniques to manufacture a carbon fibre prototype helicopter fuselage in a single piece, single shot, liquid resin infused moulding, with no bonded joints.
The team used their extensive experience in closed mould and infusion process technology to design and manufacture tooling and first off components for the high-performance composite fuselage.
Managing Director, Richard Bland commented:
"Hill Helicopters gave us an incredibly difficult challenge, and thanks to the ambition, skill, passion and hard work of the project team, supported by Innovate UK funding, the work was extremely successful and pushed the boundaries of what was considered possible. It was an honour to be recognised by Composites UK for our commitment to being at the forefront of innovation in composites manufacturing."
The awards event took place 2nd November at the National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham, where over 200 people attended to celebrate Composites in Manufacturing.
