Global Perspectives – Rate Opportunities and Challenges
In this Global Perspectives blog, Professor Conchúr Ó Brádaigh FREng FRSE, Immediate Past-President of SAMPE Europe and Vice-President and Head of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Sheffield, explores the opportunities and challenges of scaling composite manufacturing to meet growing global aerospace demand. Drawing [...]
Growing the Composites Industry Means Growing Its Workforce
The UK composites industry has been talking about growth for a long time. But there is a fundamental question behind any forecast for increased sales, new applications and greater adoption of composite materials: Who is going to deliver it? Professor John Summerscales, Professor of Composites Engineering [...]
The Future of Composites Is Already Taking Shape
From recycled carbon fibres and thermoplastic composites to multimodal sensing and hybrid manufacturing, the research presented at the 2026 SAMPE UK & Ireland Student Seminar Competition demonstrated just how broad the future of advanced materials and processing is becoming. Held on 7 July at the University [...]
Joining Is Easy. Belonging Is Different.
There is an important distinction between joining a professional organisation and truly belonging to one. Membership can be completed in a matter of minutes, but becoming part of a professional community happens over time through shared experiences, conversations and relationships. When people first join an organisation [...]
From Microstructures to Megastructures: What We Learned at the SAMPE UK & Ireland Annual Seminar 2026
Now that it’s been nearly three months since SAMPE UK & Ireland’s last Annual Seminar, now feels like a good moment to reflect on the event and how its presentations have manifested in the composites sector since. The event brought together researchers, manufacturers and technology [...]
The Careers We Build Between the Conferences
Ask most engineers what they gain from attending conferences, and they'll probably mention technical presentations, emerging technologies or the latest advances in materials and manufacturing. Yet the greatest value often comes long after the exhibition halls have emptied. It comes from the conversations over coffee, the introductions [...]
