The Month in Composites #7
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Top News: REGEN recycling project selected by European Defense Agency
[Source: Composites World]
The European Defence Agency (EDA, Brussels, Belgium) has selected the REGEN project as one of three initiatives to integrate circularity into the defence sector. Uplift360 (Luxembourg and Bristol, U.K.), an international chemical recycling company will play a critical role in this effort, leveraging its specialist expertise in the recycling and regeneration of aramid fibers to advance sustainable material solutions for high-performance defense applications.
Key Implications:
Advances circular economy initiatives in defense composites manufacturing
Breakthrough in PFAS coating removal technology for aramid fiber recycling
Establishes new standards for high-performance defense material sustainability
Positions Europe as leader in advanced composite recycling technologies
Monthly Highlights
Market Innovation and Technical Achievements
Spiral RTC scales up thermoplastic composites recycling for aerospace applications
Source
Spiral RTC is focused on mechanical recycling of TPC, which involves shredding or milling an entire TPC part or scrap material, and then melting it down into material that can be reprocessed into injection moldable pellets to manufacture new parts. The company currently processes more than 10 metric tons of waste material per year in their refurbished aircraft shelter facility.
The startup is working with aerospace partners including Collins Aerospace to create recycled carbon fiber compounds for applications ranging from bicycle frames to industrial pump components, demonstrating significant advances in thermoplastic composite circularity.
Flyber launches U.K. composites manufacturing site
Source
The startup unveiled its new manufacturing facility in Northampton, focusing on advanced design and manufacturing of propellers for UAVs and advanced air mobility applications
Australia's Trailblazer Program unlocks $549M industry investment
Source
Australia's Trailblazer Universities Program (TUP) secured $370 million in federal funding, catalyzing $549 million in industry co-investment for composite innovation. The initiative involves 228 industry partners developing large-scale carbon fiber structures for aerospace and defense through advanced manufacturing
U.S. Air Force invests multi-million dollars in Continuous Composites' CF3D® technology
Source
Continuous Composites (CCI) secured a multi-year contract to advance high-temperature composite manufacturing for UAVs and defense systems, with phased development of flight-ready components
UK commits £250M to sustainable aerospace composites
Source
The funding package includes £48.5M for additive manufacturing projects, with GKN Aerospace receiving £10.5M to advance laser-based composite production for aircraft structures
NCC receives £15.8 million investment to support next-gen composite wing
Source
The National Composites Centre was awarded funding by the Department for Business and Trade, Aerospace Technology Institute, and Innovate UK to expand technologies for high-value aerostructures and next-generation wing technology
Clean Hydrogen Partnership announces 26 new projects with €154.6 million in grants
Source
The Partnership awarded funding to support hydrogen technology development across Europe, with several projects focused on composite materials for hydrogen storage and fuel cell applications
The Crown Estate commits £400 million to offshore wind supply chain
Source
The investment targets critical infrastructure including ports, supply chain manufacturing, and research facilities to support offshore wind deployment, with significant implications for composite blade manufacturing
Private Investments
Archer Aviation raises $850 million for eVTOL commercialization
Source
The Santa Clara-based company secured funding through a registered direct offering at $10.00 per share, bringing total liquidity to approximately $2 billion ahead of Midnight aircraft commercialization. The funding will support Archer's operations ramp-up ahead of the LA 2028 Olympic Games, where they will serve as the official air taxi provider. This massive investment underscores the growing confidence in eVTOL technology and composite-intensive aircraft manufacturing
Fabheads raises $10M Series A for automated composite manufacturing
Source
The Chennai-based deeptech startup, has successfully raised $10 million in Series A funding led by Accel, with additional participation from Trifecta Capital contributing $2.3 million through venture debt.
Angels Aircraft launches pre-seed round for Archangel UAV development
Source
The Austin-based startup announced funding to develop a fully autonomous, high-endurance UAV with a blended wing airframe using high-rate composites manufacturing
Financing Rounds & Deals
eVTOL aircraft development and commercialization
[Source: Composites World]
Company: Archer Aviation Inc.
Location: Santa Clara, California, U.S.
Investment Amount: $850 million
Round Type: Registered direct offering
Lead Investors: Not specified
Company Focus: eVTOL aircraft development with composite-intensive Midnight aircraft
Strategic Impact: Positions Archer as leader in urban air mobility with substantial capital for composite manufacturing scale-up
Autonomous composite manufacturing expansion
[Source: JEC Composites]
Company: Saeki
Location: Zurich, Switzerland
Investment Amount: $6.7 million
Round Type: Seed funding
Lead Investors: Lightbird, Founderful, 2100VC, Danobat
Company Focus: Full-stack automation for composite manufacturing with integrated 3D printing and CNC machining
Strategic Impact: Enables autonomous factories for large-format composite components across aerospace, automotive, and construction
Automated composite manufacturing for aerospace and EV
[Source: DealStreetAsia]
Company: Fabheads Automation
Location: Chennai, India
Investment Amount: $10 million
Round Type: Series A (Equity + Debt)
Lead Investors: Accel, Trifecta Capital
Company Focus: Automated carbon fiber parts production for aerospace/EV
Strategic Impact: Scales India's advanced manufacturing capabilities for global supply chains
Reusable spaceplane development
[Source: Polaris Spaceplanes]
Company: Polaris Spaceplanes
Location: Bremen, Germany
Investment Amount: €5.3 million
Round Type: Top-up Round
Lead Investors: Capnamic Ventures, Spacewalk VC
Company Focus: Glass fiber composite spaceplanes for airport-compatible launch
Strategic Impact: Advances reusable launch vehicle development with composite airframe advantage
Strategic Partnerships and Collaborations
Composite Recycling and Owens Corning form strategic alliance
Source
Composite Recycling (Switzerland) announced a strategic collaboration with Owens Corning’s (US) glass fiber reinforcements business to develop sustainable solutions for composite waste and progress industrial-scale circular economy initiatives.
The partnership supports Alpha's recycling capacity scale-up for carbon fiber composite materials, targeting 1,000 metric tons of waste carbon fiber composites recycled per year by 2027
FACC and Kineco Aerospace Defence forge strategic partnership
Source
The collaboration announced at Paris Air Show 2025 focuses on aerospace and defense composite solutions. The strategic partnership signed a multi-year supply chain agreement, marking the start of a strategic collaboration in the sourcing of composite components for commercial aircraft work packages
Kongsberg and Hexcel sign long-term partnership agreement
Source
Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS and Hexcel Corporation have signed a long-term partnership agreement at the Paris Air Show for the supply of HexWeb engineered honeycombs and HexPly prepregs for Kongsberg’s strategic production programmes over a 5-year period
Acquisitions and Expansions
Aditya Birla Advanced Materials acquires Cargill facility
Source
The Indian conglomerate acquired Cargill's 17-acre specialty chemical manufacturing facility in Dalton, Georgia, planning to expand capacity from 16,000 to 40,000 tons per year.
This acquisition represents Aditya Birla’s strategic entry into the U.S. chemicals industry, extending the business model of the other successful U.S. manufacturing businesses of Birla group including Novelis and Birla Carbon
Moore Brothers Co. acquires Symmetrix Bristol
Source
Moore Brothers Co. (Bristol, R.I., U.S.) has announced the acquisition of full-service composite tooling provider Symmetrix Composite Tooling’s (Bristol) shop and assets, a strategic merger benefiting both companies.
With expanded machine capacity and the addition of Symmetrix skilled staff, Moore Brothers will offer vertically integrated services spanning large-scale composite tooling, component fabrication and prototyping of all sizes.
Dow divests 50% stake in DowAksa carbon fiber JV
Source
The Dow Chemical Co. (Dow, Midland, Mich., U.S.) announced on June 2 that it has signed a sale and purchase agreement to sell its 50% interest in DowAksa Advanced Composites Holdings B.V. to Aksa Akrilik Kimya Sanayii A.Ş , a company of Akkök Holding.
Aksa Aksa Akrilik Kimya Sanayii A.Ş., the other 50% joint venture partner, has agreed to acquire Dow’s 50% interest.
Research and Development Initiatives
National Composites Centre reveals UK Carbon Fibre Development facility location
Source
The National Composites Centre (NCC, Bristol, U.K.) confirmed the initial location of its previously announced open-access Carbon Fibre Development facility. The facility is recognized in the UK government's Industrial Strategy and Advanced Manufacturing Sector Plan. The national innovation asset will be strategically located at technology partner Cygnet Texkimp's site in Northwich, Cheshire West, U.K.
Wichita State and Dassault Systèmes open Manufacturing Innovation Center
Source
The advanced research facility on WSU's Innovation Campus includes extended reality labs, automation research centers, and additive manufacturing capabilities.
Hexcel and NIAR launch Application Center in Kansas
Source
The signing of a MOU took place between Hexcel and NIAR as an initial step to establish the Hexcel Application Center at NIAR ATLAS in Kansas.
This effort aims to broaden the development and application of composite materials in the aerospace and defense industries
Toray, Daher, and Tarmac Aerosave launch aircraft recycling program
Source
The collaborative initiative focuses on reusing secondary structural thermoplastic composite parts from end-of-life Airbus A380 aircraft.
The initiative aims to reuse secondary structural TPC parts from EOL Airbus A380 aircraft and repurpose them for other aeronautical applications
Global Market Developments
Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 industrial transformation
Source: JEC
The Kingdom is investing billions of riyals in industrial diversification, establishing 40 industrial cities with plans to operate 36,000 factories by 2035, including significant composites manufacturing capabilities.
Powered by a cohesive ecosystem of advanced ports, modern transport networks and intelligent investment incentives, the Kingdom continues to attract global capital, while fostering a competitive business environment that supports sustainable, diversified growth
Career & Job Opportunities
For career opportunities in the composites industry, we recommend connecting with the following specialized headhunters:
CompositeTalent Partners
Advanced Materials Recruitment Specialists
Visit the JEC Composites Job Board for the latest industry openings: JEC Composites Job Center
Upcoming Composite Events
Hufschmied Aerospace Day 2025 CompositesWorld 2025
- July 10, 2025
- Bobingen, Germany
- materials, processes, and supply chain challenges in the aviation industry
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- October 21-22, 2025
- Dresden, Germany
- Composites business meetings for DACH region
Advanced Engineering 2025 Advanced Engineering UK
- October 29-30, 2025
- NEC Birmingham, UK
- Engineering and manufacturing innovation showcase
Composites UK Annual Conference Composites UK
- November 2025
- Birmingham, UK
- Industry trends/networking
International Composites Summit 2025 ICS
- December 2-3, 2025
- The Drum, Wembley, London
- UK's premier free-to-attend composites event
Catalysium's Library
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Published: July 9, 2025
Next Issue: August 7, 2025