High-profile carbon fibre specialist John Davidson has joined machinery manufacturer Cygnet Texkimp to spearhead the launch of a new service delivering end-to-end processing lines to carbon fibre manufacturers.
Davidson’s appointment signals a new focus for the 40 year-old business, which is the leading manufacturer and supplier of fibre handling technologies in the world, specialising in creels for carbon fibre lines.
He will lead a team of technical and design engineers providing everything from independent advice on plant design and machinery specification to full turnkey oxidation and carbonisation lines. They will source equipment from the whole market and offer a full design, installation, integration, commissioning, training and support service.
“Building a high-performing carbon fibre production plant is hugely challenging in what is a notoriously complex machinery supply market,” explains Davidson, who joins Cygnet Texkimp from Carbon Fibre Technologies International where he has spent the last five years working closely with Italian PAN precursor technology specialist MAE.
“We are teaming decades of expertise in fibre handling and manufacturing with considerable knowledge of the equipment market to provide the highest-quality impartial advice and hands-on support.
“Cygnet Texkimp is the only technology provider that approaches the market from a fibre handling perspective, with a clear commitment to protecting the integrity of the fibre in everything it does. In this way, it embodies the future of carbon fibre production and is an extremely exciting player in the global market.”
Cygnet Texkimp managing director Matthew Kimpton-Smith said: “I’ve known John personally for well over a decade and getting him on board is a great coup for us. His unparalleled experience enables us to target tremendous new opportunities in the carbon fibre market.
“His arrival marks a major milestone on our journey to becoming the global technology partner of choice in the fibre and fabric processing industry, offering a service that is not available elsewhere; delivered and supported by a world-class team.”
Davidson’s career in the industry spans more than 30 years. During this time he has played a leading role in the development of some of the first and largest carbon fibre lines in the world, using designs that have shaped the way carbon fibre is manufactured today. He also led the development of carbon fibre recycling technology and has chaired several international industry meetings and conferences, including the GoCarbonFibre conference.