A new Research and Development programme designed to drive the development of breakthrough technologies for the global composites and carbon fibre sectors has been launched by market-leading creel manufacturer Cygnet Texkimp.

“We have plans in place to develop several new pieces of machinery that we know the market needs, and that will help our customers break new ground in their fields,” said Luke Vardy, Technical Director of Cygnet Texkimp.

Extensive trials

The programme, based around a £100,000 new trial line, will include extensive trials of sizing, spreading and film coating machinery destined for use by prepreg and composites manufacturers producing high-grade carbon fibre for the aerospace and performance textile markets.

The programme will be housed at Cygnet Texkimp’s UK headquarters in Cheshire, where companies will be able to run detailed trials of new machinery using their own materials, to help determine the exact specifications of the technologies they need.

Innovation

“For almost four decades, we have been at the forefront of technological development in fibre processing and have worked hard to grow and sustain our reputation as an innovator in this field,” explained Luke Vardy.

“Traditionally, a large proportion of our technical development has come about as part of customer projects. Now we want to take more of that development off-line, so we can dedicate more time and resources to fully explore our ideas.”

www.texkimp.co.uk