Manufacturer of specialist polymers and chemicals Bitrez Ltd. (Standish, U.K.) has become an industrial partner of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Future Composites Manufacturing Research Hub (CIMComp).

Led by the Universities of Nottingham and Bristol, the Hub is a £10.3 million investment by the EPSRC to engage academics from across the U.K. to deliver a step-change in the production of polymer matrix composites. The Hub is supported by four High Value Manufacturing Catapult Centres and backed by 18 industrial partners from the composites sector, offering £12.7 million in additional support.

As part of the partnership, Bitrez will collaborate with academic and industrial partners to support the development and delivery of next-generation, high-performance, affordable composites that meet both regulatory and sustainability demands.

Bitrez, which holds the Queen’s Award for Innovation, manufactures synthetic resin, catalysts and curing agents for global companies serving the aerospace, rail, automotive, oil and gas, nuclear and renewable energy sectors.

“Our extensive product portfolio includes high performance epoxy, epoxy vinyl ester and phenolic polymers, providing individual ‘building blocks’ or custom formulated systems,” says Paul Jones, managing director at Bitrez Ltd. “Our formulated materials are already used in the development and manufacture of prepreg, so we are well placed to support the demands of projects coming out of the Hub.”

“This is a great opportunity for the Hub and its partners. Bitrez are renowned for being R&D focused and can respond quickly to our research needs. We look forward to working with Paul and his team over the next four years to address the resin research challenges identified by the Hub,” says Prof. Nick Warrior, director of the EPSRC Future Composites Manufacturing Research Hub.（來(lái)源：Bitrez and EPSRC）