JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #71 - March 2012 - 35

programmes. This has traditionally been the largest area in value of composites production in the UK, and is set to grow by £0.4bn over the next five years. - Development is ongoing in composite component manufacturing processes, to accelerate production rates and reduce unit costs. Making advances in this area, and sharing this a round the UK composite component manufacturers, will be critical to retain work in the UK and to strengthen the platform for further growth in exports to existing European and American markets, as well as new markets in Brazil, Japan and China. - The UK is leading a major development of offshore wind power generation that will give it a global lead in this sector over the next decade. The scale of the production requirement for composite turbine blades for UK installation, £0.4bn by 2015 and £0.6bn by 2020, plus the advances in composites technology needed to achieve

longer, stiffer turbine blades, present a unique opportunity for the UK to develop world-leading composites capability in this sector. - Composite capability in premium performance automotive is another strength of the UK composites industry. This segment is characterised by many smaller companies, including many who undertake composites work in-house. Promotion of the skills and export potential of this group of businesses, as well as greater sharing of expertise, would be beneficial for industry growth. - Opportunities are available across a wide range of industry sectors and applications for composite including construction, marine and offshore oil and gas. ln each of these areas there is growth potential as advanced in composite technology and a lowering of the cost of production creates new users - as well as demand recovery in some sectors.

The global composite industry is becoming increasingly competitive. Many competitor countries have recognised the strategic importance of advanced composite materials and support their companies to develop capability to provide them with a global comparative advantage. ln this environment, the UK is only likely to remain competitive by creating the conditions where companies can beneficially work together across sectors and supply chains to grasp the commercial opportunities provided by the increasing shift to lightweight composite materials. The National Composites Centre being created in Bristol will have a strategic role to play in this effort and in coordinating the work of other regional centres of composites excellence. Continuing to work on addressing the skills gaps will also benefit the UK. The UK has significant expertise and key building blocks to be a world class player in this fast growing strategically important market, and would benefit from co-ordination and support to best address the opportunities. The map shows 39 companies with >£5m in composites revenues by their main composite locations, and a further 142 that were identified by RDA’s and by this study. These companies derive all or a substantial part of their revenue from production of composite products, components or participate in the related supply chain. There are a further c. 1,300 companies active in composites sector that have not been mapped. n
More information: www.compositesuk.co.uk * Source : Report Ernst & Young – April 2010, Composites UK Ltd

30 companies with >£5M in composites revenues

No71 March 2012 /

jec composites magazine 35

http://www.compositesuk.co.uk

JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #71 - March 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #71 - March 2012