Are you overwhelmed by the number of composite materials suppliers in the UK and unsure which manufacturer is best suited to your application? Do you need carbon fibre, glass fibre, FRP, prepreg, thermoset, or other advanced composite materials for aerospace, automotive, marine, construction, infrastructure, rail, defence, or renewable energy projects? In the UK, carbon fibre and glass fibre composites are widely used because they combine low weight with strength, corrosion resistance, electrical insulation, and design flexibility. Aerospace and defence are particularly important markets, while composites are also widely used in automotive, marine, construction, rail, and wind energy applications.
This article presents the top 5 composite materials manufacturers in the UK for 2026, offering practical comparisons of their main composite materials, manufacturing capabilities, technology strengths, and target industries. Whether you are an OEM, engineering company, composite fabricator, aerospace manufacturer, automotive supplier, or industrial buyer, this comparison can help you identify reliable composite materials manufacturers in the UK and narrow down the most suitable supplier for your requirements.
The List of Composite Materials Brands in the UK
| Manufacturer | Main Composite Materials Products | Key Manufacturing Processes | Key Industries |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSDURA | SMC compounds, BMC compounds, pultruded FRP, thermoset composite materials | Material formulation, compression molding, BMC injection molding, pultrusion | Electrical, energy, automotive, EV, rail, infrastructure, industrial |
| Hexcel | Carbon fibre prepregs, glass fibre prepregs, aramid fibre prepregs, honeycomb | Prepreg manufacturing, resin film production, honeycomb manufacturing | Aerospace, defence, helicopters, aero-engines |
| Toray Advanced Composites | Thermoset prepregs, thermoplastic prepregs, carbon fibre materials, BMI prepregs | Prepreg manufacturing, resin formulation, carbon fibre processing | Aerospace, defence, space, automotive, industrial |
| SHD Composite Materials | Carbon prepregs, glass prepregs, aramid prepregs, hybrid prepregs | Thermoset prepreg manufacturing, fabric impregnation, UD prepreg manufacturing | Aerospace, automotive, marine, motorsport, industrial |
| PRF Composite Materials | Component prepregs, tooling prepregs, UD carbon prepregs, UD glass prepregs | Prepreg manufacturing, resin system development, technical textile impregnation | Automotive, marine, medical, industrial, sports |
1. SUSDURA
Established: August 1990
Headquarters: Zhejiang, China
Main Composite Materials Products:
- SMC compounds
- BMC compounds
- Pultruded FRP profiles
- Thermoset molded composite materials
Company Overview: SUSDURA is an integrated composite materials manufacturer with more than three decades of experience in thermoset composite materials, SMC and BMC formulation, FRP pultrusion, compression molding, BMC injection molding, tooling, testing, and mass production. Founded in August 1990, the company has developed a complete material-to-product manufacturing chain covering material formulation, product engineering, mold design and manufacturing, process development, molding, pultrusion, secondary processing, and quality control. Its manufacturing platform includes automated SMC production, BMC production, compression molding, BMC injection molding, and FRP pultrusion, with stated SMC capacity of up to 20,000 tons per year and BMC capacity of up to 50,000 tons per year. SUSDURA's composite systems cover applications requiring mechanical strength, electrical insulation, corrosion resistance, flame resistance, dimensional stability, weather resistance, and lightweight construction. For UK customers, its combination of material development and industrial-scale composite manufacturing provides an additional international sourcing option for electrical equipment, power distribution, automotive and EV components, rail products, energy infrastructure, outdoor enclosures, and other industrial composite applications.
Company Advantages:
- More than 30 years of thermoset composite manufacturing experience
- Integrated SMC and BMC material formulation and production
- In-house compression molding and BMC injection molding
- Dedicated FRP pultrusion manufacturing capability
- SMC capacity of up to 20,000 tons per year
- BMC capacity of up to 50,000 tons per year
- Integrated engineering chain from material development to mass production
Suitable Customers: Electrical equipment manufacturers, power distribution companies, automotive manufacturers, EV manufacturers, rail manufacturers, energy companies, infrastructure manufacturers, industrial OEMs
2. Hexcel
Established: 1946
Headquarters: Cambridgeshire, England
Main Composite Materials Products:
- HexPly® carbon fibre prepregs
- Glass fibre prepregs
- Aramid fibre prepregs
- HexWeb® honeycomb
Company Overview: Hexcel is one of the most established advanced composite materials manufacturers serving the UK, with its Duxford site tracing its composite-material heritage to 1934 and now operating as a major manufacturing and research location. The Duxford facility manufactures extensive prepreg ranges using epoxy, phenolic, and BMI resin systems reinforced with carbon, glass, or aramid fibres, alongside hot-melt prepreg resin films and honeycomb materials. The site also serves as Hexcel's European Center for Research and Technology, linking manufacturing with advanced materials research, testing, and technical development. Its UK production is strongly connected with aerospace applications, including commercial aircraft primary and secondary structures, helicopters, defence aircraft, and aero-engines. For UK aerospace and defence manufacturers, Hexcel provides high-performance composite materials designed around demanding strength-to-weight, stiffness, durability, temperature, and processing requirements.
Company Advantages:
- More than 90 years of composite-material heritage at the Duxford site
- European Center for Research and Technology located at Duxford
- Carbon, glass, and aramid fibre prepreg capabilities
- Epoxy, phenolic, and BMI resin systems
- Integrated prepreg, resin film, adhesive, and honeycomb manufacturing
- Deep aerospace and defence material qualification experience
Suitable Customers: Aerospace manufacturers, aircraft manufacturers, defence contractors, helicopter manufacturers, aero-engine manufacturers, space companies, advanced engineering companies
3. Toray Advanced Composites
Headquarters: Nottinghamshire, England
Main Composite Materials Products:
- Thermoset carbon fibre prepregs
- Thermoplastic composite prepregs
- BMI prepreg systems
- TORAYCA™ carbon fibre materials
Company Overview: Toray Advanced Composites operates a UK manufacturing location in Langley Mill, Nottinghamshire, as part of Toray's global advanced composite materials network. The company's advanced composite portfolio includes thermoset and thermoplastic prepregs, carbon fibre materials, and resin systems designed for demanding aerospace, defence, automotive, industrial, and transportation applications. Toray's advanced prepreg technology covers epoxy and BMI systems, with material formats supporting hand lay-up, automated fibre placement, automated tape laying, compression molding, autoclave, and out-of-autoclave processing. Its portfolio also includes thermoplastic materials such as high-performance unidirectional tapes, giving UK manufacturers options for applications where rapid processing, toughness, fire performance, or high-temperature capability is important. Toray's combination of carbon fibre technology, resin formulation, advanced prepreg development, and international technical resources makes it particularly relevant to UK companies developing lightweight structures for aerospace, space, defence, automotive, and high-performance industrial applications.
Company Advantages:
- Global advanced composite materials technology platform
- UK manufacturing presence in Langley Mill, Nottinghamshire
- Thermoset and thermoplastic composite material capabilities
- Advanced epoxy and BMI resin systems
- Material formats compatible with automated fibre placement and automated tape laying
- Strong carbon fibre technology and lightweight structural material expertise
Suitable Customers: Aerospace manufacturers, defence contractors, space companies, automotive manufacturers, transportation manufacturers, industrial OEMs, sporting-goods manufacturers
4. SHD Composite Materials
Established: 2009
Headquarters: Lincolnshire, England
Main Composite Materials Products:
- Carbon fibre thermoset prepregs
- Glass fibre thermoset prepregs
- Aramid fibre thermoset prepregs
- Natural and hybrid fibre prepregs
Company Overview: SHD Composite Materials is an independent UK composite materials manufacturer established in Sleaford, Lincolnshire in 2009 and focused specifically on advanced thermoset prepreg materials. The company manufactures prepregs using carbon, glass, aramid, natural, and hybrid fabrics and also provides toll impregnation services. SHD has expanded its manufacturing network to four sites across the UK, Europe, and the United States, with nine prepreg lines across the group, while its UK operation remains a major manufacturing and technical base. Its aerospace-accredited production approach and EN9100:2018 and ISO9001:2015 certifications support applications where consistent resin content, fibre architecture, cure behaviour, and quality control are critical. For UK customers, SHD is particularly relevant to advanced composites programs requiring responsive development, specialist prepreg formulations, short lead times, and materials tailored to aerospace, automotive, marine, motorsport, and other high-performance applications.
Company Advantages:
- UK-based specialist prepreg manufacturer
- Established in Sleaford in 2009
- Carbon, glass, aramid, natural, and hybrid prepreg capability
- Nine prepreg lines across the SHD group
- EN9100:2018 and ISO9001:2015 accredited
- Dedicated toll impregnation capability
- Strong focus on flexible production and shorter lead times
Suitable Customers: Aerospace manufacturers, motorsport companies, automotive manufacturers, marine manufacturers, sporting-goods manufacturers, industrial OEMs, composite fabricators
5. PRF Composite Materials
Established: 1982
Headquarters: Dorset, England
Main Composite Materials Products:
- Component prepregs
- Tooling prepregs
- Unidirectional carbon fibre prepregs
- Unidirectional glass fibre prepregs
Company Overview: PRF Composite Materials is a UK-based advanced composite materials manufacturer with its head office and prepreg manufacturing facility in Poole, Dorset. The company began in 1982 and has developed into a specialist supplier of advanced prepregs, technical reinforcements, epoxy resin systems, and resin and adhesive films. Its manufacturing capability includes woven component prepregs, specialist hybrid materials, tooling prepregs, and a dedicated unidirectional prepreg line supported by in-house resin system development and laboratory facilities for mechanical testing, rheology, DMA, and DSC. PRF's component prepreg portfolio serves applications including medical, automotive, and marine markets, while its tooling materials include systems designed for large-scale tooling and different cure requirements. For UK manufacturers, the company's combination of material development, prepreg manufacturing, technical textiles, and application-specific formulations makes it a strong option for high-quality composite materials where visual finish, mechanical performance, processing efficiency, and customised material formats are important.
Company Advantages:
- More than 40 years of advanced composite materials experience
- UK-based prepreg manufacturing facility in Poole
- In-house resin system development
- Dedicated UD carbon and UD glass prepreg production
- Extensive mechanical and thermal material testing facilities
- Specialist tooling and component prepreg technologies
- ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified
Suitable Customers: Automotive manufacturers, marine manufacturers, medical equipment manufacturers, aerospace companies, sporting-goods manufacturers, industrial OEMs, composite fabricators
FAQ
1.How should UK buyers choose between prepreg and wet lay-up composite materials?
Prepreg is generally more suitable when repeatable fibre and resin content, controlled processing, surface quality, and consistent mechanical performance are important, especially for aerospace, motorsport, automotive, and other engineered applications. Wet lay-up can be more economical for low-volume or large components but places more responsibility on the fabricator to control resin mixing, fibre wet-out, laminate thickness, and cure conditions. For a production program, compare the required annual volume, laminate specification, curing equipment, dimensional tolerances, labour cost, and certification requirements before selecting the process.
2.Do carbon fibre and glass fibre composites have different recycling problems in the UK?
Yes. Fibre-reinforced polymer composites remain difficult to recycle compared with conventional metals because the reinforcement and polymer matrix are strongly integrated. The Royal Society of Chemistry reports that the UK produces around 110,000 tonnes of fibre-reinforced composites each year, while only about 6% are reused in secondary applications and more than 95% of FRPs are made from virgin materials derived from fossil fuels. For new projects, recycled fibre options, thermoplastic matrices, repairability, material take-back routes, and end-of-life processing should therefore be considered at the material-selection stage rather than only after the product reaches the end of its service life.
3.Why are thermoplastic composites becoming more interesting for UK transport applications?
Thermoplastic composites can offer advantages including faster processing, toughness, weldability, and the possibility of reshaping or recycling compared with many thermoset systems. They are therefore relevant to automotive, rail, aerospace interiors, and other transportation applications where cycle time and impact performance matter. The UK advanced-composites sector is also facing increasing pressure to improve sustainability and production efficiency, so thermoplastic composite development is becoming more relevant where the processing and performance requirements justify changing from conventional thermoset materials.
4.How long can prepreg be stored before it becomes unusable?
There is no universal storage period because out-life and shelf-life depend on the resin system and manufacturer's specification. Some conventional prepregs require refrigerated or frozen storage, while newer systems can offer substantially longer room-temperature out-life. For example, PRF has developed an epoxy component prepreg with a stated 365-day out-life at 20°C, reducing the need for freezing or refrigeration for that specific product. Always use the exact manufacturer's technical data sheet because the storage temperature, out-life, cure cycle, and allowable exposure time can differ significantly between prepreg systems.
5.Is FRP cheaper than steel for UK infrastructure projects?
FRP is not necessarily cheaper on initial material price, so comparing only the purchase price per kilogram can produce the wrong conclusion. The stronger economic case often comes from reduced weight, corrosion resistance, lower maintenance, easier handling, and longer service life. For example, pultruded FRP can be particularly attractive for infrastructure located in wet, chemically aggressive, or electrically sensitive environments. A meaningful comparison should therefore calculate material cost, installation labour, transport, maintenance, replacement frequency, and expected service life rather than comparing the material price alone.
Conclusion
Choosing among the top composite materials manufacturers in the UK depends on the application, required material properties, production process, certification requirements, and target production volume. For UK companies seeking an additional international manufacturing option for thermoset composite materials, SMC, BMC, FRP pultrusion, and molded composite components, SUSDURA offers an integrated material-to-production capability. Its strengths in electrical insulation composites, industrial FRP, energy infrastructure, automotive and EV components, and rail-related composite applications make it particularly relevant when corrosion resistance, lightweight construction, dimensional stability, flame performance, and electrical insulation are important.
Need a reliable custom composite materials manufacturer for your UK project? SUSDURA combines composite material development, tooling, SMC/BMC production, compression molding, BMC injection molding, and FRP pultrusion to support customized industrial composite programs. Contact SUSDURA today to discuss your application and develop a practical composite manufacturing solution.
