Technical centre of excellence for the South West
26 November 2009
The South West was named as the location of a new National
Composites Centre (NCC) as part of the UK Composites Strategy,
announced today (Thursday 26 November 2009).
The NCC marks a further milestone in the development of a low
carbon economy. It will be an independent open-access national
Centre to help deliver world-class innovation in the design and
rapid manufacture of composites and enable widespread industrial
exploitation. The Centre will form an internationally leading hub
linking activities across all sectors of the UK in research,
education and training, technology transfer and incubation of new
enterprises. Located in the South West, it will act as a national
resource and will develop strong links with other manufacturing
centres and composite facilities across the UK.
The state-of-the-art Centre will be supported with £16m of
public sector investment comprising £12m from the Department of
Business, Innovation and Skills (the Strategic Investment Fund
announced in the last budget) and £4m from the South West RDA
(Regional Development Agency). Public sector investment will be
supplemented with contributions from some of the world's leading
engineering companies.
The South West was selected as the Centre's location because the
region is one of the most significant developers and investors in
carbon fibre composites, and has some of the most important and
advanced end-users and exporters in the country. It is estimated
that in excess of £450m has already been committed in
composite-related investments in the region (both public and
private sector) in the last six years.
The RDA will oversee the construction of a purpose-built 6,000
square metre facility (artist's impression attached) with workshop
space, open-plan offices, meeting rooms and teaching facilities, in
collaboration with Bristol University and industry partners.
These 'First-Tier' partners currently are Airbus, GKN,
Rolls-Royce and Vestas. The Centre will be located in the Bristol
area and will be operational by 1st April 2011.
Business Minister Ian Lucas said: "Today we've launched our
strategy for composites in the UK, and the South West will play a
vital role in this with the new National Composites Centre in
Bristol. Government must help create the conditions to support long
term growth as industry increasingly uses advanced composites in
more durable, lightweight and higher-performance products; that's
why we're investing £16m of public money in this Centre.
"The South West is already home to some of our leading companies
exploiting the potential of these high-tech, super strength
materials. We want to build on this to increase capacity across the
country - the new national centre will be taking this forward. The
skills, manufacturing and products developed through this centre
are part of the high-end, low carbon manufacturing that will grow
the UK's industrial strengths for the 21st century."
Jim Knight, Regional Minister for the South West said: "The
University, in partnership with international partners, has already
made great progress in the development of new industries and
technologies in the region. For example the Composite Structures
Development Centre which is part of National Composites Network
based in Airbus at Filton has already developed cutting edge wing
design for the international market.
"The region already has a high level skill base in the aerospace
sector. By offering the workforce increased training, through
in-company training and Train to Gain, we can achieve this exciting
skills transfer through this new centre.
"I fully support the region's high aspirations for our low
carbon economy and this new centre will go along way in developing
and designing light materials across a number of key sectors. This
includes green technologies and by bringing our universities and
businesses together, the region will continue to be a pathfinder in
developing new composite materials in the UK."
Sir Harry Studholme, Chair of the South West RDA, said: "This is
great news for Bristol, and the South West. Composite materials
provide huge opportunities for our industries to develop. They
bring new approaches to existing industries to help them remain
competitive on an international stage as well as opening up new
avenues for developing businesses. As a national centre the NCC
will provide a focal point for the research and development of
composites. It will build on the strong base the UK already has in
this sector, and will provide the opportunities for scientists,
technicians and businesses throughout the country to work
together."
Professor Eric Thomas, Vice-Chancellor of Bristol University,
said: "We are proud to be playing a central role in the
establishment of a facility that will be of major significance to
South West England and the UK as a whole. It will reinforce our
already close links with industry and yield a range of academic,
economic and practical benefits."
Ian Chatting, Vice President in Vestas, said: "Vestas have an
established research partnership with Bristol University and the
national composite centre will enable us to significantly extend
these activities. Composite materials are critical for future wind
power plants and this initiative will bring together leading
organisations to develop world class capabilities in this area of
technology."
Tom Williams, Executive Vice-President of Programmes for Airbus,
said: "Airbus in the UK has been developing composite technology
for wing structures over the last decade, which has enabled Airbus
to manufacture composite wings for the A400M and A350 XWB. Further
research is required to enable design and manufacture at high rates
and to further optimise the strengths of the material. The NCC will
help advance that research, further develop composite engineering
capabilities within the UK, and continue to keep the South West and
the UK in a leadership role within composites."
Marcus Bryson, Chief Executive Officer, GKN Aerospace, said:
"GKN is committed to the National Composites Strategy and to this
new National Composites Centre to be located in the South West.
"The Composites Centre will be a key facility in enabling UK
manufacturing to develop new composite material applications across
a wide range of sectors and will extend expertise in an area that
is a critical skill for the UK's manufacturing future. GKN sees it
as an important element of our involvement in future global
aerospace programmes - and as we look to expand our expertise into
other sectors."
Ric Parker, Director of Research & Technology at Rolls-Royce
said: "Rolls-Royce is delighted to be a partner in the National
Composites Centre. This is a great endorsement for the aerospace
cluster in the southwest and will help support future technology
requirements. Our investment is part of our ongoing commitment to
working across industry and academia on key areas of research and
development."
Contacts for further information
South West RDA: Billy McKenna, 07918 690 228
University of Bristol: Barry Taylor, 07748 337172
Airbus: Kristi Tucker, 0117 936 2746
GKN: Helene Cox, 07710 074255
Rolls-Royce: Josh Rosenstock, 020 7227 9163
Vestas Wind Systems: Michael Holm, +459730 3236
Ends
Notes to editors
1. The South West RDA leads the development of a sustainable
economy, investing to unlock the region's business potential. It is
helping companies respond to the economic crisis and charts a
course for recovery. The RDA is developing or expanding initiatives
which include: establishing a Business Loan Fund, coordinating the
response to large companies in difficulty and preparing for
economic recovery. More information can be found at http://www.southwestrda.org.uk/
2. Bristol University has an international reputation in the
field of composites and has engaged with more than 90 companies
working in this field over the past five years. It has strategic
partnerships with First Tier partners Vestas, Rolls-Royce and
Airbus, as well as Agusta Westland and GE Aviation, in addition to
research partnerships with universities including Bath, Oxford,
Cambridge and Imperial College. A Composites Doctoral Training
Centre has just opened at the University with £7m funding from the
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. A new, £5m
extension to one of the University's main engineering buildings is
being constructed to provide room for expansion.
3. The commercial applications of the NCC 'products' will
include:
- Wind turbine blades - improved performance of materials used in
blade manufacture and dramatically increase the speed by which they
can be manufactured;
- Aerospace - deposit 30 kilos per hour (of composite material)
over complex shapes and reduce weight by up to 20% by optimising
design;
- Marine - design ship hulls with greater slamming resistance
- Off-shore oil and gas platform repairs - develop lay-up
(production) techniques suitable for use in wet, hostile
conditions
- Construction - develop design competence and large-scale
manufacturing techniques
- Automotive - develop mass production solutions for low-weight,
energy-efficient structures and complete structural
body-shells
- Defence - lightweight armour
4. Advanced composites is a generic term for a suite of
materials manufactured from high-performance fibres, such as carbon
fibres, which have been pre-impregnated with suitable resin
matrices. The fibres are used to create woven or stitched fabrics
or tapes which are then used to manufacture components, structures
and tooling by applying heat and pressure. The advantage of
composites over traditional manufacturing materials is that they
provide the freedom to design structures of optimum performance, in
complex shapes, at lower cost and with significant environmental
benefits. Composites combine strength and lightness with unrivalled
versatility and flexibility.
5. Composites combine different materials to provide enhanced
properties. For example, carbon fibres in an epoxy plastic matrix
give high stiffness, strength and durability with low weight,
making them very attractive materials for high performance
structures.
6. Composites are particularly important to achieving the low
carbon agenda. For example, the use of composite materials in
aircraft structures will reduce weight, increase fuel efficiency
and, ultimately, lead to a reduction in emissions. Additionally,
the use of composite components in wind and marine turbine blades
enables will improve the efficiency of various applications in this
field.