The Future Composites Manufacturing Hub will increase the potential of manufacturing composite materials within the UK by revolutionising performance and expanding industry into new markets.

Developing the underlying processing science and technology over a seven year period, the Hub will establish the growth potential of the composites sector by doubling its production capability every two years.

The collaboration will create a pipeline of next generation technologies for future industrial needs; provide training for the next generation of engineers; and build national and international communities in design and manufacture of high performance composites.

Professor Kevin Potter, University of Bristol lead academic, said: ‘The EPSRC Future Composites Manufacturing Hub allows us to build on the extremely successful Centre for Innovative Manufacture in Composites’ five year programme, which is just coming to an end.

‘That programme proved the enormous value of collaboration between universities, industry and the High Value Manufacturing Catapult. Building on that programme and developing innovative ways of working together with long-term funding will deliver great benefits to the UK economy.’

Bristol academics will work with Hub Director Professor Andrew Long, from the University of Nottingham. An additional four composite specialist universities: Cranfield, Imperial College, Manchester and Southampton, will function as spokes on specific projects.

The Hub will also work closely with Bristol’s EPSRC Industrial Doctorate Centre in Composites Manufacture and the National Composites Centre. Additional support and funding will be provided by manufacturing companies in the aerospace, automotive and materials industries.