U.K. composite experts join SCALE-UP project supporting net-zero automotive tech

In September 2024, the Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC, Coventry, U.K.), revealed eight new projects that are being supported under the latest £59.9 million Collaborative Research and Development funding round. One project led by Jaguar Land Rover (JLR, Coventry) called SCALE-UP, is bringing together industry members to enable high-volume application of lightweight and circular composite technologies for the automotive industry and build up the U.K. supply chain in this area.

APC collaborates with the U.K. government, automotive industry and academia to accelerate technology industrialization, supporting the transition to deliver net-zero emission vehicles. Amongst the projects being supported, focuses include sustainable materials and smart software.

The SCALE-UP project in particular is a £6.3 million project, supported by £3.1 million in U.K. government funding through the Collaborative R&D program APC25. It brings together a consortium of experts from the U.K. composites industry:

Carbon ThreeSixty (CTS) is a high-growth, established SME focused on challenging structural composite products. The company is a full design, development and manufacturing partner, with a focus on innovation and technology, taking composite products from initial concept through to volume manufacture in the U.K. for a range of blue-chip customers.

Lineat Composites, a cleantech startup brings its patented AFFT fiber alignment technology to produce a high-performance carbon fiber material from carbon fiber waste that is formable and recyclable.

Startup iCOMAT deploys a step-changing automated composite material deposition technology. Named rapid tow shearing (RTS), the technology can deliver high-performance, ultra-lightweight components across automotive, aerospace and space due to its fiber-steering capabilities.

Engenuity Ltd. is a specialist composite engineering company focused on using CAE and material testing to drive design optimization with 30 years’ composite engineering experience.

As part of this project, engineering startup Helicoid Industries brings its patented approach to ply layup optimization called Helicoid, which is a bio-inspired technology for enhanced composite toughness and damage tolerance.

The University of Bristol (in the form of the Bristol Composites Institute) offers strong experience in industrial collaboration and composites expertise. The institute was previously responsible for the spinout of Lineat Composites and iCOMAT.

“Sustainability is at the heart of JLR’s Reimagine strategy as we target carbon net zero across our supply chain, products and operations by 2039,” says JLR’s Frederic Sicard, SCALE-UP project lead. “The SCALE-UP collaborative project is a significant step in accelerating the growth of the circular composite supply chain. It will play a vital role in beginning to address the competitiveness gaps within the automotive composite supply chain and help deliver a sustainable, low-weight and structural material option for future vehicles.”

The project began Oct. 1, 2024 and will last 36 months.