CCP Gransden have won the Sustainability & Net Zero Award at this years Composites UK Awards with the Project Soca team.
Pictured: Dr Alan Blair, CCP Gransden Advanced Composites & Frederic Sicard, Jaguar Land Rover receiving the award.
Project SOCA: Advancing Sustainability in Composite Manufacturing for Automotive Applications
At CCP Gransden, we are always exploring better ways to improve sustainability in composites manufacturing. Project SOCA was part of this journey, focusing on reducing the environmental impact of composite component production for the automotive industry. The project aimed to combine innovative technologies and materials to create both virtual and physical demonstrators, with a sustainability analysis, and a final exhibition at CENEX 2024.
Project Partners
We worked with FAR, iCOMAT, and Jaguar Land Rover.
Combining Technology with Real-World Application
Throughout Project SOCA, our team worked on developing both virtual and physical demonstrators to better understand the potential of sustainable manufacturing practices:
- Virtual Demonstrator: This included fibre steering and forming prediction tools, alongside a correlated structural finite element (FE) model. These efforts helped us explore how to optimise the performance of materials and structures in a more environmentally conscious way.
- Physical Demonstrator: CCP Gransden took on the challenge of manufacturing a sustainable carbon fibre automotive component, as well as a joining concept. CCP Gransden successfully produced tangible parts, exclusively, which offered valuable insights into sustainable production techniques.
Sustainability and Cost Modelling
A Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) and cost model were also created as part of the project by the other partners. These aimed to produce a clearer picture of the environmental and financial impacts of the processes explored. While there were challenges along the way, this analysis helped somewhat understand the balance between sustainability and cost-efficiency in composite manufacturing.
Exhibition and Industry Acknowledgement
While the project may not have achieved all of its initial ambitions, it still highlighted important lessons in decarbonising composite manufacturing. Project SOCA was showcased at CENEX 2024, where the initiative was well received by attendees. This recognition led to a nomination for the Composites-UK Awards, which were presented at the 2024 Advanced Engineering Show at the NEC -and here Project SOCA was declared the winner of the Sustainability & Net Zero Award.
Moving Forward
Although Project SOCA had its challenges, it remains an important step in CCP Gransden’s efforts to contribute to a more sustainable future for composite manufacturing. The project has provided us with key learnings, which we will continue to build on as we strive to improve the environmental impact of our operations.
We remain committed to refining our processes and pushing forward with sustainability-focused innovation across all our projects.
