Hypetex, the world’s first coloured carbon fibre brand, has been awarded an Innovate UK prize to fund research into the development of a white carbon fibre composite. The prize, which includes £100,000 to fund a new research project, is part of the UK government’s plan to support pioneering new businesses.
Previously, carbon fibre was always black, meaning it either had limited appeal to certain industries or had to be painted over adding weight and losing its visual effect. Hypetex, which has commissioned Patterrn to handle its communications channels, has found a way to incorporate colour into carbon fibre without losing the material’s performance properties.
However, the ultimate development would be white carbon fibre, which could be used widely across industries such as windfarms, medicine and the automotive sector.
Marc Cohen, CEO of Hypetex, said of the award win: “We are pleased to be recognised for our continued innovative work. The grant will be used to help fund our new research to produce white carbon fibre, a process and finish that has never been achieved before.”
The new project follows on from Hypetex’s ground-breaking work with coloured carbon fibre, based on a new material created by engineers from Formula One racing.
The automotive industry will have a chance to view the Hypetex material close up, as it has been chosen to appear at the Materials Innovation Showcase at Low Carbon Vehicle (LCV) 2015 exhibition this week.
The Knowledge Transfer Network, in partnership with LCV, selected Hypetex to appear on a stand as one of the leading companies involved in the development of innovative materials.
The LCV event is the largest networking event for the low carbon vehicle community in the UK and has been running for eight years. LCV 2015 will take place at the famous Millbrook Proving Ground for the seventh time and in excess of 2,500 visitors are expected to attend the exhibition over the duration of the two-day event.
Over 185 organisations are exhibiting their products, with more than 50 industry experts and leading government officials expected to present lectures the convention.
Marc Cohen added: “We believe Hypetex will transform the way carbon fibre will be used across a range of industries and we look forward to discussing the technology with the visitors to our stand at Millbrook.”
View Hypetex at LCV 2015 on 9-10 September 2015 at: Millbrook Proving Ground, Millbrook, Bedford, MK45 2JQ