More associated with professional service providers or insurance companies composites is a term we have all probably heard of but do we associate it with West Country Engineering companies.
The applications are manifold said Guy Bottard of Somerset Lawyers Future Law. “In the West Country we think of it as helping wind turbines produce more power but the application helps the planes flying in and out of our local airports save fuel and will spread to other transport technology. I’m sure Jensen Button wouldn’t be without in his FI car. It is the future and is gradually replacing steel and aluminum.”
Why? Quite simply, because composite materials are lighter than metal. Making aircraft from composites cuts fuel bills by a third. Almost everywhere you look, metal is on the way out, and composites are coming.
At the same time, the science of composites was advancing in universities like Bristol and is of considerable interest to Venture Capitalists as a high growth sector. Hi-tech, high growth, low carbon, this is exactly the kind of industry ministers are desperate for. Which is why the NCC will be opened by Dr Vince Cable, the business secretary.
It is perhaps ironic that the NCC was conceived, created and delivered by the SW Regional Development Agency, a body now axed by Dr Cable and the coalition. Industry insiders point out that this kind of research takes years to produce results. Some wonder how the next generation of research will be funded, without the support of bodies like the regional development agencies.
“We have a number of small clients designing and producing composite technology and access to the NCC could aid the next stage of growth. It’s a challenge moving good ideas onto the global market with the banks being largely unsupportive so we very much welcome the arrival of the NCC and interest of Venture Capitalists” said Mr Bottard.
Another hidden jewel in our series on growth and innovative businesses and ideas in the South West. If you would like your business covered please contact the author via the website.
Author: Chris Slay
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