A landmark investment to build next-generation industrial and manufacturing capabilities for future aerospace production has officially opened at the University of Sheffield AMRC. The £54m open-access Composites at Speed and Scale (COMPASS) R&D facility, which has Boeing as its first user, opened earlier this month. It is set to de-risk and accelerate high-rate, large-scale composite production and marks a major step in securing the long-term future of UK aerospace manufacturing by enabling production at true rate and scale. Demand indicates that more than 40,000 aircraft will be needed over the next 20 years.

More information www.amrc.co.uk