Representatives from Kordsa visited the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC) to sign a Memorandum of Understanding in which both organisations agreed to collaborate in the composites industry, as well as establish a connection between the University of Sheffield and Sabancı University in Istanbul.
Kordsa sees the partnership as an opportunity to quickly scale up the business to new composite technologies. Combining the AMRC’s manufacturing techniques with their own composite materials, Kordsa aims to be among the major players in the UK aviation and automotive network by developing new advanced composite technologies.
Kordsa has been a market leader in tyre reinforcement since the company was founded in 1973. In 2016, the company established the Composite Technologies Centre of Excellence (CTCE) in Istanbul in partnership with Sabancı University as part of an initiative to push the boundaries of advanced composite material technologies.
The CTCE site at Technopark Istanbul is 3,500 m2 and has capabilities for material and mechanical characterisation tests, additive manufacturing, polymer processing and advanced composite manufacturing methods using several methods including autoclave and automated fibre placement as well. It is the only production and test centre in Turkey which meets the international aerospace requirements. Established to produce the technology of the future, the CTCE serves as an innovation hub.