Advanced structures and composites facilities

We can offer the flexibility of services and products that meet a myriad of needs, using a broad range of materials and manufacturing techniques.

Due to the investment in our Advanced composite manufacturing and assembly facility in Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, we have a wide range of capabilities that enable us to combine the different product life cycle stages into a single programme, completely managed by our expert team.

Our composite structures are manufactured with:

  • Phenolic, epoxy, cyanate, ester & vinyl ester resin systems using glass, carbon, dyneema and aramid fibres
  • Employing Prepeg layup utilising Autoclave and out of Autoclave curing techniques, Filament Winding, Resin Transfer Moulding, Vacuum Infusion, Vacuum Assisted RTM
  • Composite manufacture complemented by inspection, assembly and finishing processes ranging from Non-destructive testing, mechanical assembly, electrical assembly and painting
  • Developing and employing additive manufacturing techniques
  • Rapid prototyping and data insight on products being created
  • List of specialist equipment
    Additive Manufacture 3D Printer Fortus 450MC with carbon capability
    Assembly Complex IPC620 / mechanical assembly*
    Bonding (Heat cured & room temperature)    		 MK D1500 Electrical Test Unit
    Autoclaves Autoclave 1 2.1m Diameter x 15.2m Long. 2000C and 7 Bar Max
    Autoclave 2 2.5m Diameter x 4.2m Long. 2000C and 7 Bar Max
    Autoclave 3 750mm Diameter x 700mm. 2000C and 8 Bar Max
    Clean Rooms Clean Room (2 off) ISO 14644-1:2015 ISO Class 8
    Cloth Cutting Machine Zund Alphacam CNC 3.0m x 1.5m
    Environmentally controlled room
    Inspection NDT - Woodpecker
    NDT Scanning    		 C Scan unit is a wheel
    Probe 2 3 x A Scan units
    *We have the capability to do
    Bond Testing and have used
    FPHASEDARR to provide A, B & C Scan Capability
    3D Scan 16.6m3
    Faro Arm 3m Arm
    Wentzel Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM) 750mm x 750mm
    Sokkia Total Measurement System
    Olympus portable ultrasonic
    thickness measurement    		 Optical measuring system
    Testing Instron 5969 Materials test Machine 2 x Load Cells, 10Kn & 50Kn capacity
    Enviromental Chamber 350 °C max
    Triton Technologies TTDMA Dynamic Materials Analysis Machine Tension, Flexural, Short & Long Beam and Compression Testing
    Perkin Elmer Pyris DCS 6
    Ancilliary Equipment
    Machining 5 axis CNC CNC Machine is a CMS Antaris with a 2.5m x 1.6m Bed Size
    Digital Lathe 1 5m x 860mm Diameter Harrison 700mm x 400mm
    Digital Lathe 2 Digital Milling Machine
    Milling
    Sheet Bender Booster metal bender and cutter
    Ovens Ovens (5 off) Maximum size PL016 - 360 degree Box Oven (3.8m x 3.5m)
    PL290 - Oven (3.5m x 7.9m)
    PL141 - Oven (1.8m x 2.4m)
    PL064 - Oven (1m x 0.5m)
    PL123 - Oven (10m x 5m)
    Simulation CATIA CPD CATIA v5
    Surface Treatments Spraybake Paint facility Spray Booth 2 No. Junair Vehicle Spraybooth
    Paint facility Spray Booth Ovens (4 off) Ovens with QADS - EVAC
    1 No. Junair Vehicle Spraybooth Oven - Chest Extraction
    1 No. Junair Preparation Booth
    1 No. Paint Mixing Room
    1 No. Dust Extraction System
    Shot Blasting 1 900mm x 750mm
    Shot Blasting 2 1400mm x 1500mm

Testing

Whether we’re designing your structures or building your designs to print, we’ll work with you at every step to ensure the end product is compliant, certified and fit for purpose.

In recent years, we’ve continued to invest in our equipment and people including additional manufacturing capabilities, design software, inspection and mechanical test capabilities and non-destructive testing. In parallel, we have an ongoing R&D programme developing new approaches to prepare ourselves for future requirements.

Our tools and equipment allow us to study the mechanical properties of materials under a variety of conditions from -190 °C to 600°C.

Using purpose-designed accessories combined with approaches such as defined-humidity testing or immersion in fluids, we can undertake comprehensive dynamic mechanical studies of a material's properties with exceptional ease.