Advanced Engineering 2024

NCC has tested a range of composite cryogenic storage tanks with liquid hydrogen that it has designed and manufactured to support the UK’s transition to the hydrogen economy.

NCC integrated strain sensors that could monitor the structural health of paralympic canoe champion Emma Wiggs MBE’s ultimate racing seat on water. Whilst this work focusses on a sports application, the capability behind feeds powerfully into other sectors including aerospace, defence and energy. 

In addition to a gold seat in Paris 2024, Emma Wiggs MBE was powered by a customised paddle designed and manufactured by the NCC in collaboration with the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC).

NCC has created two overmoulded composite parts exploring different approaches to integrating sustainable materials and circularity into the automotive industry.

NCC and partners have to successfully reclaimed continuous carbon fibres from a whole pressure vessel and re-used them to manufacture a new pressure vessel - a significant milestone for  Britain’s hydrogen capability.

This consortium work with GKN Aerospace and McLaren is accelerating composite material and process technologies for the next generation of energy efficient aircraft and future mobility.

NCC supports Airbus’ innovative project to optimise wing aerodynamics and aircraft performance through hinged wingtips inspired by the biomimicry of seabirds.​

NCC achieves the world’s first full scale 17-metre integrated wing skin infused in one step​.​

NCC helps UK SME extend medical imaging expertise into non-destructive testing (NDT) for the aviation industry, with the potential to break into a market estimated at £1.5 billion annually.​

Our Ultra High Rate Deposition cell contains two huge industrial robots that automate the production process for future large scale, high rate composite products such as wings and turbine blades.

Our tape winder and filament winder machines can create anything from high-strength pipes to high pressure type 4 hydrogen tanks. Our twin-ring braider can create components that are hollow and straight or complex cross sections with curved profiles.

Our bespoke ceramic matrix composite (CMC) development facility includes material storage and processing equipment specifically for CMC applications, including aircraft propulsion. 

We are the best equipped research centre for automated fibre placement (AFP), tensioned fibre placement (TFP) and automated tape laying (ATL) in the world.

We have a suite of verification capabilities across non-destructive testing (NDT), metrology, and a materials testing laboratory to assess the quality and performance of a material or product.

In addition to a range of specific automated manufacturing technologies, the NCC has a dedicated automation cell predominantly used to create fast, repeatable, complex parts. Our fixturing capabilities allow us to bond high precision parts into a safety critical assembly.

Our dedicated high volume manufacturing workshop is equipped with a range of presses, including our 3600T Schuler, and a state-of-the-art injection overmoulder capable of producing complex and repeatable parts in sub 5 minute cycle times.

We have an array of resin infusion and resin transfer moulding capabilities that allow us to manufacture parts from 10s of millimetre up to 20 metre scale, and process materials at a range of temperatures and pressures.

We have a wide variety of composite curing and assembly capabilities ranging from an oven or autoclave big enough to handle an aircraft wing to the fixturing and skills required to bond high-precision parts into a safety critical assembly.

Our dedicated SME support team ensures your business can swiftly access our resources. We work with you to deliver solutions that meet your time and cost requirements.