Dr Cable was joined by more than 200 guests and was shown around the centre.
The event was accompanied by an exhibition of the NCC’s members showing what composite technology can do across a wide range of industries. The exhibits included an electric car with a composite body, tidal turbine blades, and new aircraft wing components.
“This centre will work with our world class universities and international businesses based in the South West and across the UK, to develop and commercialise new technologies," Cable said.
"Its work will strengthen our manufacturing sector, exploiting the next generation of advanced composite materials and helping maintain our global lead in this technology area. I look forward to seeing what they produce.”
The National Composite Centre
The NCC is a £25 million investment supported by: the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, the South West RDA (Regional Development Agency), and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
The NCC is also part of the High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Technology and Innovation Centre initiative, a network of centres designed to transform the UK’s capability for innovation.
The NCC is hosted and owned by the University of Bristol. It is run by a Steering Board comprising the university and Tier 1 members AgustaWestland, Airbus, Rolls-Royce, GKN, Umeco and Vestas.
These Tier 1 companies have committed almost £5.5 million of work over three years.
Jim Godman, Chair of the NCC’s Steering Board, added: “We have mechanisms in place for engaging more small and medium sized enterprises, because the centre is generating significant interest from all sectors of UK based businesses."
