Toray Advanced Composites has signed a tier 1 membership agreement with the National Composites Centre (NCC), to use the facilities and capabilities of the Centre as part of its R&D strategy.
Toray Advanced Composites will collaborate with the NCC on major composites innovation programmes in the UK, 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 programme 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.
Janet Mitchell, director of Aerospace & Defence Business Unit at the NCC 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.”
