Advanced Composite Materials (ACM)

ACM is the prepreg manufacturing division of the Group based in the UK. ACM supplies all regions worldwide, excluding the North American continent, where ACG Inc. acts as the manufacturing, service, sales and support centre.

This division offers an extensive, innovative range of advanced materials, designed to provide a technical advantage in pattern, tooling and component manufacture.

All materials are normally available ex-stock or are offered with very short lead times. Flexible production at our Heanor and Manchester facilities ensures that even special non-standard materials can be produced and despatched rapidly.

The main focus of activity at the ACG Heanor facility is on the production of 'hot melt' epoxy resin pre-impregnated carbon and glass fabrics and unidirectional tapes (prepregs), although the facility also services customers with a wide range of ancillary products, as listed below.

The main focus of activity at the ACG Manchester facility is on the production of solvent-based phenolic pre-impregnated glass fabrics. This facility utilises state-of-the-art solvent towers which meet stringent environmental regulations.

Tooling Blocks

These epoxy and polyurethane blocks have been developed to provide highly stable and inert syntactic blocks for the construction of master patterns. They are offered with a complete range of adhesives, fillers and coatings.

Tooling Prepregs

The division has developed an unrivalled range of tooling prepregs, gel coats and backing structures for the construction of high quality carbon and glass reinforced composite mould tools.

Component Prepregs

A wide range of low temperature and conventional curing high performance component prepregs and adhesive films are available with any unidirectional, woven or non-woven fabric reinforcements.

• LTM® series epoxy resin systems provide excellent mechanical properties, with the benefit of low temperature cures and longer out life - used for large structures.
• HTM® series epoxy resin systems are suitable for high temperature applications.
• Affordable epoxy prepreg processes for aircraft and automotive prototypes, and for low volume production.
• VTM® series epoxy resin systems possess variable temperature cure capabilities.
• ZPREG® series epoxy prepregs reduce lay-up time, produce low void laminates with high quality finish.
• Custom-formulated phenolic prepreg systems used in the aerospace, defence, medical, sporting and general industrial sectors, using state-of-the-art solvent towers that meet stringent environmental regulations.

Production Capabilities

The epoxy manufacturing facility, based in Heanor, UK, incorporates two 1500mm wide fabric lines and two unidirectional lines, one 1250mm wide and the other 600mm wide. Extensive walk-in cold storage rooms exist for prepreg storage.

The phenolic manufacturing facility, based in Manchester, UK, utilises state-of-the-art solvent towers that meet stringent environmental regulations.

There is continuous monitoring of product quality, backed up by control laboratories equipped with DSC, TMA, mechanical testing and microscope examination equipment.