Maritime and Marine

According to the International Maritime Organization, it is both glass-reinforced plastics (GRP) waste from production processes and end-of-life products that are a huge challenge, with around 55,000 tonnes of GRP waste produced from the UK marine industry every year. This is expected to increase by 10% each year. This is not only a major environmental issue but a key challenge for the marine sector. Marine waste reduces company profitability, so having a route to cost-effective end-of-life disposal and the ability to reuse manufacturing waste is key to protecting the environment we treasure.

The National Composites Centre can help identify options for end-of-life GRP and other composite materials. We can also optimise in-process methods to reduce the materials used through the manufacturing process, as well as identify and test natural and bio-based alternative source materials. 

Although most new vessels are equipped with engines that are multi-fuel, there is still a need to operate cleaner in and around our shores and inland waterways. Hydrogen and methanol based fuels offer a solution.

The National Composites Centre has been developing design capability for hydrogen pressure vessels and pipes that will provide solutions for the toughest problems the marine and maritime industry faces. 

At the National Composites Centre, we work with engineering and manufacturing companies and digital technology providers of all sizes to develop innovative and impactful digital solutions. Working across industry, we help organisations to reduce costs, enhance their productivity, reduce time to market and develop sustainable products.

We can help your marine business to use digital technology and techniques to help visualise your data and designs - from the drawing office into the boat yard. If boat builders are to reduce waste, maintain design conformity and increase design freedom, then augmented reality can enable this transition to be made. We have a dedicated Digital Engineering team who can help you to digitally optimise your products.

As one of the seven centres that make up the UK's High Value Manufacturing Catapult, the NCC has more 450 composite experts (and an additional 200 at the University of Bristol) that can support you with solutions for your business and product challenges.

We've invested over £200 million in cutting edge technologies within our two Bristol-based facilities since we began in 2011. Our portfolio has grown extensively: we’re working with companies of all sizes from micro-organisations and start-ups to some of the world’s largest and most respected innovators. With links to over 60 universities and academic institutions, we are in a prime position to accelerate your product development from low technology readiness levels towards a robust commercial offering. 

Working with the National Composites Centre could not be simpler. We can work with you and support your business through a variety of ways: from a standard contracting commercial basis through to supporting or leading bids into wider funding calls, and as a part of major collaborative research programmes.   

Our SME team offers dedicated support to help small businesses with innovation, giving access to our facility and expertise to increase the technology readiness level (TRL) of your products. In 2021, we secured over £7.5 million of grant funding and supported 169 SMEs. 

As part of the wider Catapult Network, the NCC fosters collaborations between industry, government, research organisations, academia and many others. Through this extensive network of organisations, we can help create the best environments for innovation, working with thousands of innovative businesses across a wide range of sectors, such as manufacturing, space, health, digital, energy, transport, telecoms, the urban environment and many others. 

The National Composites Centre offers a range of membership opportunities that give you access to 'beyond' state-of-the-art technology and the best composites engineering capabilities in the world, as well as expert advice from specialist engineers. Our Members are our closest customers – helping to steer our major R&D activities with multiple partners, allowing them to share the benefits of the programme outputs that have greater value as a collaboration. Find out how membership with the NCC can bring you added benefits.