Saltash-based specialist manufacturer joins forces with German company

CORNISH manufacturer Composite Integration has entered into a partnership with a growing German firm which has just moved into an impressive new factory.

The Saltash-based company has agreed a partnership with Pultex GmbH, based in Simmerath, near Germany’s border with Belgium.

Pultex has more than 30 years of experience in the composites industry, supplying materials and processing equipment, and has recently moved into a new purpose-designed facility that includes a spray booth, maintenance workshop and demonstration area. “Pultex are set for an exciting phase of growth and innovation,” a Composite Integration spokesperson said. “We look forward to building a relationship and sharing our knowledge with both Pultex and their clients.”

Composite Integration provides market-leading technology for composites manufacturing, specialising in RTM (resin transfer molding) and infusion in multiple sectors including renewables, aerospace, automotive and defence.

Despite the global coronavirus pandemic, the manufacturing sector has continued to operate safely throughout most of 2020 and 2021. Composite Integration has continued its successful growth path throughout this period, and the start of 2021.

Founded in 2002 in Saltash, the company has grown from a small start-up to a £5 million-plus turnover company, employing more than 30 staff, specialising in the design and manufacturing of equipment and tooling for composites manufacturing.

The company moved for the fourth time to fully refitted premises in Saltash in August, 2019.

A year later, it announced it was working on a luxury helicopter project described as an “Elon Muskstyle” disrupter for the aviation business.

Composite Integration is using extensive experience in closed-mold and infusion process technology to design and manufacture tooling and components for the high-performance composite fuselage of the HX50 helicopter.

The whirlybird is the latest project of Staffordshire’s Hill Helicopters, which describes the five-seat, turbine-powered, 500-horsepower rotorcraft is the world’s “first truly private, luxury helicopter crafted to deliver a whole new experience in safety, performance, adventure, comfort, and elegance”.

In early 2021, Composite Integration acquired a neighbouring specialist business when it completed a merger with Silicone Composites to provide a single “point of excellence”.

Silicone Composites was established in 2013 with the aim of providing a more efficient, less labourintense closed molding process whilst also looking to reduce the amount of consumable waste. In 2016, after strong growth, it became a sister company of Composite Integration, with a full acquisition and merger completed this year.

Combining the practical knowledge of silicone processing with Composite Integration’s expertise in designing and building world-class resin processing equipment has enabled the two companies to offer a superior range of silicone spray equipment, backed up by an unparalleled depth of experience in composite and silicone processing.