Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Visits Umeco Composites Structural Materials

Umeco Composites Structural Materials welcomed Lord Green, Minister of State for Trade and Investment, to its advanced composites R&D and manufacturing site in Heanor, Derbyshire on Wednesday.

Lord Green met with some of the Directors and personnel at UCSM’s Technology Centre and, following a presentation was guided around the site where the Group formulates, develops and tests its custom composites.

Nigel Blatherwick, UCSM Strategic Marketing Director, said:

We were delighted to welcome Lord Green and members of UKTI to our Derbyshire facility, and for the opportunity to demonstrate Umeco’s world-leading composites R&D and manufacturing facilities.

Lord Green was particularly interested in the variety of our products and the diverse range of applications across many advanced engineering sectors. And with 2012 on the horizon, he was intrigued to learn of sporting goods used by past and present Olympians made from advanced composite materials. We also explained the Company’s focus on export sales and our specific efforts in emerging markets such as China and Brazil.

Lord Green was introduced to a variety of product applications, including the BLOODHOUND SSC, a supersonic car project that will attempt to break the land speed record in 2013 and that aims to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers. As a product sponsor in this project, UCSM is providing composite materials, tooling, and design and component manufacturing capability.

Lord Green said:

With just a year to go to the 2012 Games, it was fascinating to see sports equipment made up of materials produced at this site. I congratulate UCSM on being one of the sponsors for the project which involves an attempt at the land speed record. This demonstrates the ambition and drive this company has to be involved in such an impressive venture. It is also encouraging to hear how UCSM is looking to emerging markets such as China and Brazil to increase sales and is leading the way for advanced engineering in the region and the UK.