en.Wedoany.com Reported - A £54 million composites research and development facility, "Composites at Speed and Scale" (COMPASS), has officially opened in South Yorkshire, aiming to transform how next-generation aircraft structures are manufactured and cement the UK's position as a global leader in aerospace production. Operated by the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), the facility will accelerate the development and production of large composite aircraft structures. Boeing is the centre's first user and has established its largest research programme there.

COMPASS brings together industrial, government, and academic partners at the heart of the South Yorkshire Investment Zone, offering open-access industrial research infrastructure to help manufacturers of all sizes develop and mass-produce large composite components. While aerospace is the centre's primary focus, the technologies developed are also expected to benefit industries such as renewable energy, defence, and transport.

The facility opens at a time when global demand for new aircraft continues to rise sharply. Over the next two decades, more than 40,000 new aircraft are expected to be needed worldwide, presenting an opportunity for the UK to expand its share of the global aerospace market.

Professor Ben Morgan, CEO of the AMRC at the University of Sheffield, said COMPASS builds on the AMRC's two decades of expertise in industry-relevant composites and automation research, delivering world-leading manufacturing capabilities. He emphasised that to secure the UK's position as a leading aerospace manufacturer, it is essential to de-risk new technologies at scale, and this facility will do exactly that, unlocking jobs, attracting investment, and driving economic growth.

One of the key activities at the site is Boeing's "Isothermic High-Rate Sustainable Structures" (IHSS) project, which aims to dramatically improve the production efficiency of large composite aircraft structures. Through advanced composites, automation, and digital technologies, the project plans to reduce manufacturing time from around 40 hours to just 4 hours.

Lane Ballard, Boeing's Chief Technology Officer, said the IHSS project demonstrates how advanced composites, automation, and digital technologies can enable high-rate, large-scale production, thereby supporting high-value manufacturing jobs. He added that the project will help translate research programmes into scalable production capabilities and reinforce the UK's status as a global aerospace manufacturing leader.

The project is part of the aerospace industry's efforts to manufacture lighter aircraft structures, which improve fuel efficiency and help reduce carbon emissions, while also supporting the industry's long-term goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Loop Technology, a key partner in the COMPASS facility and the Boeing-led IHSS project, has supplied its FibreLINE robotic preforming technology, designed to increase the speed and efficiency of composite component production. Alun Reece, CEO of Loop Technology, said this development marks a significant step towards manufacturing composite aircraft structures at greater speed and scale.

COMPASS equipment funding comes from a £29.5 million grant from an Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) programme, alongside £20 million from the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, Sheffield City Council, the University of Sheffield, and the High Value Manufacturing Catapult.

Gary Elliott, CEO of the ATI, described the facility as a world-leading open-access hub for composite technology innovation in the UK, which will support the goal of doubling the value of the UK's aerospace market by 2035.

Beyond aerospace, the facility is expected to help UK manufacturers adopt more sustainable and efficient production methods. By validating technologies at technology readiness level six, COMPASS will help remove barriers to adoption, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises that might otherwise struggle to access advanced manufacturing equipment. The University of Sheffield and its partners believe this investment will cement South Yorkshire's reputation as a leading destination for advanced manufacturing innovation and bring new opportunities for growth, jobs, and inward investment to the UK supply chain.