SHD Composites, a Cambium company headquartered in El Segundo, California, is expanding its production capacity with new wide-format prepreg and advanced film coating lines at its UK facility. The upgrade is set to boost output of high-performance composite materials, especially large-width prepregs used in aerospace, automotive, marine, and defense applications.
By enhancing throughput and enabling more efficient layup of larger composite structures, the move positions SHD to better support OEMs and Tier suppliers facing rising demand for lightweight, high-strength composite components.
These strategic investments, based on SHD's internal manufacturing machine designs, enable SHD to deliver high performance composite materials at greater scale and width while maintaining the company's renowned quality, performance and rapid delivery model. The new assets are engineered to support both rapid turn development programs and high volume manufacturing demands.
"These additions represent a next step forward in our long term global growth strategy," said Brett Schneider, President of SHD and Cambium Composites. "We are committed to provide our customers with the reliable, responsive supply they expect from SHD. We have already started building our next machines for sites we expect to announce in the near future."
This expansion directly supports sustained growth across the automotive, marine, recreational, aerospace and defense markets, where customers are increasingly turning to composite materials to meet stringent performance, weight, and sustainability targets. The wide width prepreg line enables broader format materials ideal for large scale structures, while the new film machine enhances SHD's ability to supply precision resin films and controlled chemistry solutions tailored to next generation requirements.
"The capabilities we're adding open the door to new applications and more efficient manufacturing solutions for our customers. It is really exciting to see the wide line work so well and to see the growth continue at SHD," noted Steve Doughty, the company founder. "With improved process control and wider material options, we can accelerate development cycles and support more ambitious composite designs."
With this investment, SHD Composites reinforces its commitment to operational excellence, supply chain resilience, and customer responsiveness in all the markets they serve.
"Our customers' programs are growing in scale and complexity, and our job is to grow with them," added Nigel Blatherwick, Group Commercial Director. "These new technologies position us to deliver premium composite solutions consistently, reliably, and at the pace the market requires. We can build and install these machines rapidly in any region that demands local support."
Source: SHD Composites
