The National Composites Network (NCN)

New NCN website
A dedicated NCN website is now available. This is the principle source of web-based information on the NCN.

The range of information on the NCN website is being continuously expanded to provide a key resource for the UK's composites industry. To the NCN website at www.ncn-uk.co.uk

Outline of NCN objectives and activities

The UK has extensive resources in the composites field, but fragmentation of the research, industry and user-base limits the ambition and development of the sector, which is vulnerable to overseas competition. The National Composites Network (NCN), a Company Limited by Guarantee, will address these issues by filling gaps in UK capability, signposting and transferring technology across all industry sectors at all levels.

The NCN, which is backed by key UK organisations and a group of Regional Centres where companies can get hands-on experience, will use proven technology-delivery methods to achieve a step-change in the performance of the UK composites industry.

Key objectives for NCN are to:

  • Ensure that the UK optimises growth opportunities by linking available UK resources to areas of industry need.
  • Identify gaps in the capability of the UK composites infrastructure and fill them through Regional Centres, thus ensuring that the network is comprehensive, inclusive and accessible.
  • Establish links with existing research communities, including relevant Faraday networks, Universities and Centres of Excellence, working with EPSRC and DTI to influence future science and technology spending in the composites field.
  • Define skills-development needs and opportunities in association with intermediaries and delivery organisations.
  • Work to ensure that appropriate Standards and Design Codes are in place, linking with the current Measurements for Processability and Performance programme to promote best practice guidance ahead of formal standardisation.
  • Delivery of technology transfer by direct intervention with SMEs, supply-chains and intermediary organisations, offering expert and facility-support across the entire sector and technology spectrum.

Outreach activities

New leaflet on outreach activites
A leaflet has been published which spotlights technology transfer within NCN outreach activities. This two-page PDF document can be viewed and printed.

In the NCN, outreach activities will consist of linked services, comprising:

  • Workshops, masterclasses and awareness seminars, focused on specific topics (often delivered in collaboration with third-party organisations such as Business Links, EEF groups, regional clusters, etc).
  • An information-rich website which includes links to key networks in the composites field.
  • A central helpdesk for general enquiries.
  • Access to a network of experts for technical discussions, Product and Process Reviews and laboratory Feasibility Studies.

Management Board

The NCN will be governed by a Management Board which has legal responsibility for delivering NCN policy, accounts and operations. This Board will be advised by a Strategy Group comprising the main NCN community, consisting of companies and organisations that are willing and able to contribute to the technical, educational and commercial activities of NCN, including direct delivery of expertise and resources to SMEs and supply-chains.

Contact information

NCN Helpdesk -

Tel: 01223 894 662
Email: info@ncn-uk.co.uk
Fax: 01223 891 284

Website: www.ncn-uk.co.uk

Additional information

TWI news release:
Free access to technologies, facilities and expertise for manufacturers involved in composite materials (February 2005)

GNN (Government News Network) news release:
Hewitt announces £30 million hi-tech composites technology network Copyright © 2004 TWI Ltd

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