UK’s National Composites Centre (NCC) and SGL Carbon, a company involved in development and production of carbon-based solutions, are partnering to jointly develop future composite technologies for applications in aerospace, transportation, oil & gas. A development area is improvement of material utilisation for primary and secondary structure components.

To this end, the two partners are currently setting up a development programme for the advanced processing of carbon fibre-based textiles like Non-Crimp Fabrics (NCF) at the NCC’s research and technology facility in Bristol. Over the course of this year, they will produce demonstrator components and prototypes of new composite airplane wings using NCF materials based on carbon fibres from SGL Carbon. The fabrics are developed for efficient processing of composite components and are produced at the SGL Carbon site in Wackersdorf, Germany, said SGL in a media statement. The carbon fibres used are being produced by SGL Carbon in their UK manufacturing site at Muir of Ord, in the Scottish Highlands and their Moses Lake site in the US.

“The NCC is a highly experienced partner driving future composite concepts, especially in the aerospace industry. We are glad to join the UK centre for strategic projects and to become a member of the NCC. With the partnership, we generate knowhow around efficient usage of composite materials and technologies. Furthermore, we will strengthen our footprint in the UK with the new office at the NCC,” said Andreas Wüllner, president of composites – fibres & materials of SGL Carbon.

“We are delighted that SGL Carbon has joined the NCC’s rapidly growing innovation network. We share a commitment to technical excellence and a bold vision for the potential future applications of carbon fibre technology. We are looking forward to welcoming the SGL Carbon team to our Bristol technology centre to start, what we believe will be a series of successful and ground-breaking innovation programmes,” said Richard Oldfield, CEO of the NCC.

SGL Carbon has many years of experience in carbon fibres and composite materials covering the entire value chain – from precursor, carbon fibres, textiles, and pre-impregnated materials to finished components made from fibre-reinforced plastics. As a reliable and innovative partner to its customers, SGL uses this experience to offer tailored composite solutions across industries helping not only to produce lighter components, but also boost performance thanks to greater durability of individual components or improved overall architectures. (PC)