Composites are widely used in many sectors including aviation, marine, renewables, construction and defence. This course is for anyone with no prior knowledge or limited knowledge of composites to help broaden their understanding of composite materials, processes and structures.

On successful completion of the workshop, you will be able to interact more effectively with the wider composites industry and have a good understanding of the impact of composites across different sectors and industries.

There will also be the opportunity to gain hands-on experience preparing composite moulds for wet lay-up. You will help in selection of the correct resins, fibres and materials to make a composite component.

The advantages and disadvantages of the wet lay-up process will be examined and the workshop will consider other processes in preparation for progression workshops or courses.

Duration: ½ day

Friday 25 June	09.00-13.00
Friday 16 July	09.00-13.00

This workshop is the opportunity to build on your knowledge and skills gained from the ‘Starting with Composites’ course. Alternatively, you may already have some basic composites knowledge and skills or already be working with composites. The aim of this course is to refine your skills in either wet lay-up or Resin Infusion.

On successful completion of the workshop, you will have a more detailed understanding of the wet lay up and Resin Infusion processes. You will be able to compare the two processes as well as be able to identify some common faults.

There will also be the opportunity for a hands-on activity preparing composite moulds for either Resin Infusion or wet lay-up. You will help in the selection of the correct resins, fibres and materials to make a composite component and then assist in starting a Resin Infusion process.

Duration: Half day workshops

September 2021

09.00-17.00

This workshop is for anyone currently using or working with composite structures or components. The aim of the workshop is to refine your skills in identifying common faults, problems or damage in moulds or finished components and then be able to carry out minor repairs.

On successful completion of the workshop, you will be able to identify and diagnose minor faults and complete a minor repair.

The workshop is a practical hands-on full day session. In the morning you will identify common faults including surface faults or mould related faults. The afternoon will follow with a practical session completing minor repairs to either moulds or a composite component in our fully equipped composites academy.

Duration: Full day workshop

June 2021	09.00-16.30
July 2021	09.00-16.30

This workshop is for anyone currently using or working with composite structures or components. This could include companies working in the marine, automotive, aviation, transport or component manufacture sectors. This workshop follows on from Workshop 3 which focused on identifying common faults and diagnosing damage. This workshop will examine how to deal with more extensive damage and how to complete repairs as well as dealing with surface finish repairs.

On successful completion of the workshop, you will be able to analyse major damage to a composite structure and complete a repair. There will also be the opportunity to identify surface faults and the methods used to repair them.

The workshop is a practical hands-on full day session. In the morning you will diagnose damage to composite structure and select the correct materials to complete the repair. The afternoon will follow with a practical session completing a major repair to either moulds or a composite component in our fully equipped composites academy.

Duration: Full day workshop

July 2021	09.00-16.30
August 2021	09.00-16.30
September 2021	09.00-16.30

This workshop is for anyone currently working with composites or considering the introduction of Vacuum Resin Transfer Moulding (VRTM) to an existing composites process. For companies already using the Resin Infusion process, this workshop can be used to introduce you to the advantages of the Vacuum Resin Transfer Moulding process. Advantages of VRTM include:

• Mouldings can be manufactured to close dimensional tolerances
• Components will have good surface finish on both sides
• Selective reinforcement and accurate fibre management is achievable
• Inserts can be incorporated into mouldings
• Tooling costs comparatively low compared to other manufacturing processes
• Low volatile emission during processing

The VRTM process can be used as an alternative production method to other material processes as its possible to automate the process resulting in better production times and less wastage.

On successful completion of the workshop, you will be able to assist with the setting up on the components including CIJECT resin infusion systems, set up a mould for VRTM and select the appropriate materials and resins.

The workshop is a practical hands-on full day session. The morning session will focus on the equipment machinery, materials and resins as well as setting up a moulding for a resin transfer that we will start in the afternoon.

Duration: Half day workshops

August 2021	09.00-16.30
October 2021	09.00-16.30
November 2021	09.00-16.30

This workshop is for anyone currently working with composites or considering the introduction of Resin Infusion to an existing composites process. For companies already using Resin Infusion this workshop can be used to introduce new employees to the Resin Infusion process.  This workshop follows on from Workshop 2 which focused on a comparison of wet lay-up and Resin Infusion.

Resin infusion is the process where resin is drawn into a dry laminate whilst it is held under vacuum against a rigid mould by a sealed flexible membrane. Resin infusion is particularly relevant when making very large structures (for example boat hulls, wind turbine blades etc) as tooling costs are relatively low. Unlike Resin Transfer Moulding, the ‘B’ surface finish of the resulting laminate is not controlled cosmetically but excellent laminate properties can be achieved.

A major advantage of Resin Infusion is that volatile emissions can also be dramatically reduced making resin infusion an excellent alternative to large-scale open moulding.
Recent developments with renewable silicone vacuum membranes have widened the scope for resin infusion and can sometimes be used to reduce the general cost of consumable materials.

On successful completion of the workshop, you will be able to set up a mould for Resin Infusion and select the appropriate materials and resins.

The workshop is a practical hands-on full day session. In the morning you will identify the key equipment used for Resin Infusion. The afternoon will follow with a practical session completing a major repair to either moulds or a composite component in our fully equipped composites academy.

Duration: Two full day workshops (Part 1 and Part 2)

September 2021 Part 1	09.00-16.30
September 2021 Part 2	09.00-16.30
October 2021 Part 1	09.00-16.30
October 2021 Part 2	09.00-16.30

This half day workshop aims to demystify the world of composites as well as provide the opportunity to understand the advantages and disadvantages of some of the key processes. It is very much aimed at businesses and organisations who are not using composites already and are considering reasons to introduce a new production process.

This interactive workshop will explain what composites are, how they are formed and constructed and where they are used in various sectors. The workshop will look at the materials used in composite construction and there will be practical hands-on time in the workshop assisting with the setting up of a mould for a composites process.

On successful completion of the workshop, you will have a good understanding of a composite structure and have assisted with setting up a mould using the appropriate materials and resins. There will be the opportunity to discuss with the tutor the potential to introduce composites or a different process into your organisation.

Duration: Half day workshop

June 2021	09.00-13.00
September 2021	09.00-13.00
October 2021	09.00-13.00