GKN NCC

The UK Government has completed £28m expansion at the National Composites Centre (NCC) near Bristol.

The expansion project is funded by the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills through Innovate UK and the High Value Manufacturing Catapult.

The industrial-scale research and technology development facilities at the NCC include a high-rate manufacturing press for composites, which is claimed to be largest openly accessible process in Europe.

With this expansion, the size of the NCC will double and strengthen its capabilities to cater to aerospace, automotive, renewable energy and rail sectors.

Innovate UK CEO Iain Gray said: "Catapults provide access to world-class research and development facilities and expert staff for businesses of all sizes.

"The NCC is leading the way in developing composites, advanced materials which are crucial to Britain’s aerospace and automotive industries."

Since its inception in 2011, the NCC has been supporting companies from different industries in their short and long term development activities.

"Catapults provide access to world-class research and development facilities and expert staff for businesses of all sizes."

GKN Aerospace Technology vice-president Ian Chatting said: "This new facility will extend the support it can offer us, speeding our progress towards proving new technologies and processes that will ensure the UK remains successful in the growing, but ever-more competitive, global aerospace market."

Using the NCC’s automated fibre placement technology, GKN Aerospace has developed an innovative winglet design with fewer parts.

The new winglet is said to offer 20% lower costs to manufacture, compared to current winglets.

GKN has also worked with the High Value Manufacturing Catapult and the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre in Rotherham, the Netherlands to automate winglet production.

GE businesses, including GE Aviation, Hamble and Dowty Propellers work together with the NCC to develop a wide range of manufacturing processes.

GE Aviation Mechanical Systems general manager Steve Walters said: "Together with the National Composites Centre, GE is exploring innovative manufacturing techniques that will open the horizons for composites in a diverse range of products."

Image: Innovative winglet lower skin manufacture, using robotic fibre placement at the NCC. Photo: courtesy of the NCC / GKN Aerospace.

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