Background

The facility has been created with significant investments from the North West Development Agency and The University of Manchester totalling over £8M. The creation of the centre was sponsored by the North West Science Council and the North West Aerospace Alliance. Operating across the spectrum of Technology Readiness Levels, from applied research to routine production testing, the NCCEF facilitates a two way flow of knowledge between industry and academia, streamlining the process by which companies innovate with and deliver new composite products.

It provides:

• Analytical data to develop new products
• An evidence base for winning contracts
• Performance feedback for manufacturing process refinement/optimisation
• Data for certifying parts/processes/repair strategies

Leading capabilities include:

• Carbon fibre weaving and braiding for complex 3D structures
• Low cost out of autoclave processing
• Extensive NDE and mechanical testing suites

As well as providing data, expertise and advice, NCCEF's applied research reduces the testing time to bring new products to market. It serves both large companies who may have extensive internal resources and also smaller companies who need access to independent and knowledgeable external resources to support the research and development needed to expand their product portfolio.