The SAMPE UK & Ireland Chapter has announced the first confirmed speakers and technical themes for its upcoming Annual Conference, focused on the full composites value chain from microstructures to megastructures.
This flagship one day event will bring together leading researchers, materials specialists, and industrial manufacturers to explore how innovation at the microscopic level is enabling the next generation of large scale composite structures across aerospace, defence, and advanced manufacturing.
The conference programme will feature a strong academic and research foundation, led by Professor Ian Hammerton of the University of Bristol and the National Composites Centre, alongside Dr Davide de Focatiis of the University of Nottingham and Bruno Santos of Imperial College London, addressing polymer systems, processing science, and composite behaviour at the microstructural level.
This research insight will be connected directly to industrial scale application through speakers from across the UK’s advanced manufacturing ecosystem. Stephen McBurney of Boeing Shorts will present on the design and production of large aerospace composite structures, while Rob Hewison of the AMRC Compass Facility will address digitalisation and high rate composite manufacturing at industrial scale.
Materials and process innovation across the supply chain will be represented by Sigmatex, the NCC, KS Composites, and HTMS, covering advanced reinforcements, automated fibre formatting, production components, and next generation ceramic matrix composites.
Together, the programme will explore how advances in materials science, digital manufacturing, automation, and sustainability are enabling the transition from laboratory scale innovation to qualified megastructures in demanding aerospace and industrial environments.
Further speakers and full programme details will be announced in the coming weeks.
