Composites at Speed and Scale (COMPASS)

Project COMPASS will see the creation of a new world-leading research facility which will house the Isothermic High-Rate Sustainable Structures (IHSS) project – led by Boeing, in partnership with Loop Technology and Spirit AeroSystems and AMRC. This facility will be dedicated to developing and testing new technologies needed to meet future demand for lighter commercial aircraft and help the aviation industry’s commitment reach net zero by 2050; with the potential to reduce large component process times from ~40 hours to ~four hours.

ATI support and investment (£29.5m grant) helped unlock a total of £80m in combined investment for the latest, state-of-the-art equipment to develop new capabilities, technologies and processes that help reduce cost, waste, production time and associated carbon emissions.

The £20m research facility, housing the ATI-funded equipment, will provide aerospace and wider UK industries with a unique open-access facility. It is backed by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, Sheffield City Council, University of Sheffield and the High Value Manufacturing Catapult.

Project COMPASS is the AMRC’s largest ever collaborative R&D programme and will initially create around 50 jobs in South Yorkshire and based on forecasted aircraft demand, has the potential to create up to three thousand UK jobs long-term, and around £2 billion annually in export opportunities.

Visit amrc.co.uk/compass for more information.