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Toray Advanced Composites signs new R&D partnership agreement with the NCC

11 September 2019

11 September 2019

Toray Advanced Composites has signed a tier 1 membership with the National Composites Centre (NCC), to use the world-leading facilities and capabilities of the Centre as part of  their research and development (R&D) strategy.

As part of the new agreement, Toray Advanced Composites will collaborate with the NCC on major composites innovation programmes in the UK within both the aerospace and automotive sectors, such as Wing of Tomorrow.  Wing of Tomorrow is Airbus’ largest research and technology programme taking place globally.   It is a huge cross-industry partnership including the NCC, Spirit and GKN, to develop and demonstrate the technology and digital capability needed to deliver the next generation of aircraft wings.  Toray will work together with program partners to develop materials and product solutions for next generation program needs.

The partnership with the NCC has a long history, as TenCate Advanced Composites have been a member of the NCC since 2012.  With TenCate now part of the Toray group, and recently changing its name to Toray Advanced Composites, the team is set to further its R&D activity with the NCC as a tier 1 member.

Toray Advanced Composites will continue the core R&D programme on thermoplastics composites developed with the TenCate team, in addition, Toray will be working with the NCC to shape its future research direction with other tier 1 industry members.    

The NCC will also be supporting Toray to connect more closely with its partner the Bristol Composites Institute (ACCIS),  which brings together the wealth of composites research activity taking place across the University of Bristol.

Frank Meurs, Managing Director at Toray Advanced Composites said: “The NCC incubate and drive forward a collaborative platform for technology and material innovation, enabling the next generation of composites adoption. As a longstanding member of the NCC, we are excited to accelerate this progress together with the NCC and industry partners as a tier 1 member”

Janet Mitchell, Director of Aerospace & Defence Business Unit at the National Composites Centre said: “This is a significant commitment from Toray and we are delighted they want to enhance their membership with the NCC.  Toray has a long heritage of product and process innovation and we look forward to strengthening the partnership and the valuable contribution they will make to the NCC’s future growth.”

Pictured: Mr Toshiyuki Kondo, Senior Director of ACM Technology and Production, Toray Industries and Richard Oldfield, CEO, National Composites Centre

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