NCC names Cygnet Texkimp’s Innovation Centre as location for UK’s first Carbon Fibre Development Facility
National Composites Centre (NCC) has announced that its UK-first, open-access Carbon Fibre Development Facility will be located at Cygnet Texkimp’s Innovation Centre in Cheshire.
The facility will house two digitally-enabled development lines for manufacturing carbon fibre, funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). The new capability was recognised in the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy and Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan as a key strategic asset enabling innovation in advanced materials and further developing and industrialising carbon fibre manufacturing expertise in the UK.
The decision to locate the facility in the North West follows years of partnership between NCC and Cygnet Texkimp, which has led the design and build of the two development lines. Businesses accessing the facility will benefit from world-class on-site materials expertise, close collaboration with the North West’s leading chemical and materials cluster, and – facilitated by NCC – the West of England’s leadership in advanced engineering. Initial testing at the facility is scheduled to start in Autumn 2025, before it becomes fully operational in Spring 2026.
Luke Vardy, CEO, Cygnet Texkimp, said:
“We’re extremely pleased to continue our long-standing partnership with NCC and fulfil our long-term ambition to develop this capability within the UK. This facility directly complements our existing fibre processing and recycling capabilities, allowing us to showcase UK advanced materials innovation and manufacturing expertise across the product lifecycle. The opportunity to develop the next generation of British textile machinery and materials engineers in the North of England’s traditional textile manufacturing belt is also a very exciting and fitting prospect.”
Richard Oldfield, CEO, NCC, said:
“Our new Carbon Fibre Development Facility demonstrates NCC’s leadership in advanced material technologies, vital to accelerating the growth and competitiveness of the UK’s growth sectors. We’re delighted to continue our partnership with Cygnet Texkimp to develop this new manufacturing capability for carbon fibre, strategically located to facilitate collaborative partnerships and deliver industrial impact for the UK.”