Cygnet Group and The University of Manchester’s School of Materials have secured funding for a two-year Knowledge Transfer Partnership to develop new machinery and materials for the composites industry.
The two organisations will deliver an extensive programme of trials into new manufacturing techniques to process technical fibres. Their aim is to advance the production of high-performance composite materials, including carbon fibre, for use in the aerospace and automotive industries.
Luke Vardy, Technical Director at Cygnet Group said;
This is a very exciting and significant partnership that forwards our ongoing commitment to lead the market in terms of new processing technology, It gives us valuable access to the academia and expertise of the University’s School of Materials and The Northwest Composites Centre, which is one of the largest and most respected composites centres in the world.
Interviews will begin later this month to select a recently qualified PhD graduate to lead detailed tests of new manufacturing techniques, parts and raw materials from Cygnet Group’s headquarters in Northwich. The successful candidate will work closely with the University under the supervision and support of Dr Richard Kennon and Professor Andrew Walker.
Professor Walker, the Commercial Director at the University’s School of Materials, said:
The partnership puts us on course to develop some highly innovative and marketable solutions for the manufacture of very complex textile composites, which will shape the way motor cars and aeroplanes are built in the future.
The partnership has been part-funded by government organisation Innovate UK and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.