Plans have been revealed to go ahead and develop a novel ceramic matrix composite – CMC manufacturing facility by Lucideon at the Keele University Science Park located in Staffordshire. This is an investment of over £500 million, or €584 million, in the next 7 to 10 years.
It is worth noting that the international materials technology company seeks to establish the facility in order to develop a domestic supply of oxide and non-oxide CMC materials and parts for sectors such as aerospace, space, defence, and nuclear energy, thereby decreasing the reliance of the UK on global supply chains.
Notably, CMCs are ceramic fibres embedded in a ceramic matrix, making them a lightweight substance that can work in ultra-high temperature environments and resist thermal as well as mechanical shock. Such kinds of properties are driving their use in areas where traditional materials may reach boundaries, such as aerospace propulsion as well as other severe high-temperature settings.
Apparently, the proposed investment on the CMC manufacturing facility by Lucideon would go on to cover buildings, equipment, recruitment, research and technology development, as well as validation and certification. The project is expected to integrate private funding with more than £200m, or about €234m, of government investment, Lucideon said.
The initiative has been taken forward by the incorporation of two companies, namely Oxide Ceramic Systems Limited and Non-Oxide Ceramic Systems Limited. Lucideon plans to oversee the program by means of a joint venture with industrial partners and research organizations. The manufacturing capability suggested will include oxide and non-oxide composite technologies.
The project would expand the current AMRICC Center in Stone, Staffordshire, which is an open-access pilot-scale facility when it comes to advanced ceramics, hosted and managed by Lucideon. The center is the result of a £18.27 million, or roughly €21.3 million, UK Research and Innovation Grant that had been awarded to the Midlands Industrial Ceramics Group in 2021.
Lucideon demonstrated off the CMC manufacturing techniques and processes it is working on at the 2026 Farnborough International Airshow. The Staffordshire facility would take this task toward industrial manufacturing. The wider aim is to create a UK-based supply chain for high-performance CMC components and materials.