Giant autoclave for NCC
The giant piece of equipment, which is used in the production of advanced new lightweight composite materials, moved from Airbus to the NCC
The National Composites Centre (NCC) has taken a huge step forward with the delivery of a 90 tonne autoclave.
The giant piece of equipment, which is used in the production of advanced new lightweight composite materials, moved from Airbus to the NCC in Emerson’s Green on a 10-axle heavy haulage low-loader.
Peter Chivers, the NCC’s chief executive, said: “This is a real milestone for the National Composites Centre and I’d like to thank Airbus for making this important piece of equipment available. Over the next few weeks, as we complete installation and testing, we will increase our capabilities and continue to work with our members and customers to develop and validate state of the art composite manufacturing processes.
“With an ability to manufacture development components up to 10m long the NCC is now fulfilling its commitment to provide ‘industrial scale facilities’
“Our in-house team can now step up a level in their work on researching the manufacture of parts from these light weight and super-strong materials, which will have an impact in so many industries, from aerospace to automotive, from marine to construction, from wind to wave energy, and assist in ensuring the UK has a world class manufacturing capability delivering economic growth.”
Airbus’s Mark Stewart, head of the Filton site said:
“Airbus is delighted to be a part of the National Composite Centre which will act as a skills hub allowing us and other high tech industries to share knowledge and research ideas.
“The advanced new composite materials the NCC will develop are the way ahead not just for aviation industries like ours but for other leading British industries which are developing advanced new lightweight composite materials which are lighter and stronger than traditional materials.
“We in the UK are world leaders in the research and development of this exciting technology and by investing heavily in research and being integrated into organisations like the National Composite Centre we will ensure we stay ahead of our competitors in the decades ahead.
“Investment in the future is absolutely key for Airbus and the move of this autoclave is complemented by the formation of a new Airbus Research and Technology plateau - a centre of excellence that will be located at the former autoclave building and will help create the cutting edge technologies of the future.”
A team of over 50 Airbus experts will relocate to the new NCC, where they will share advanced composites knowledge with other experts from the aerospace, automotive and marine sectors amongst others. Additionally, they will gain access to new state of the art equipment.
Autoclaves are effectively giant ovens that combine both heat and pressure to compact the resin impregnated fibres and expel air pockets in composite materials. Autoclaves play a vital part of the manufacturing process heating and pressurising the composites which can be moulded into a vast range of shapes and sizes. With the constant drive towards stronger, lighter structures in aerospace, composites in certain applications provide more efficient alternatives to metallic options.
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