We develop and manufacture composite prepregs for sports equipment manufacturers, design engineers and specialist component producers. Our range includes carbon fibre and glass fibre prepregs with epoxy resin systems suited to lightweight structures, impact-resistant components and products where appearance matters.
Whether you're developing a new product or refining an existing design, we'll help you select materials that suit your performance targets and manufacturing process. SHD has decades of experience partnering with engineers designing high-performance sports equipment, including for the Hope/Lotus Olympic track bike, Hummingbird folding bike frames and specialist carbon fibre fishing rods.
Applications: Cycling components, fishing rods, rackets, paddles, skis and other high-performance sporting goods.
Material options: Carbon fibre, glass fibre and natural fibre prepregs with a choice of reinforcement formats.
Structural performance: Epoxy prepregs for lightweight, stiff components and applications exposed to impact or fatigue.
Surface finish: Resin systems developed for visible carbon fibre and cosmetic composite surfaces.
Processing flexibility: Materials suitable for autoclave, oven and press curing, including out-of-autoclave options.
Global supply: Prepreg manufacturing in the UK, Europe and USA with technical support for material selection and development.
Carbon fibre prepregs help manufacturers achieve high stiffness and strength at a low weight, making them suitable for performance-focused sporting goods. We offer reinforcement options to help you tailor structural properties to the loads and handling characteristics of your component.
Sports equipment often faces repeated loading, vibration and accidental impacts. Our MTC811 toughened epoxy prepreg offers good impact and fatigue performance, making it worth considering for components where durability is a priority.
Not every sports equipment manufacturer has access to an autoclave. Our VTC401 toughened epoxy prepreg supports out-of-autoclave processing with a versatile cure range of 65°C to 120°C, offering options for both prototype development and series production.
For manufacturers exploring alternatives to conventional composite materials, our MTB350 epoxy system contains 30% bio-based resin content and is compatible with natural fibre reinforcements. It has been used with flax fibres in Hummingbird folding bike frames, demonstrating a practical application within lightweight sporting goods.
We work with specialist manufacturers on material selection, reinforcement choices and processing requirements, including smaller-volume applications. Our manufacturing sites operate to AS9100/EN9100 standards and adopt the same manufacturing equipment and processes, supporting customers who need a consistent material supply around the world.
The right material depends on how your equipment will be used. A racing bike component may prioritise stiffness and low weight while a fishing rod or racket needs carefully controlled flex and response. Fibre orientation, reinforcement type and laminate construction all influence the way the finished component performs.
Your chosen production method matters too. Cure temperature, available equipment and part geometry can affect which resin system is practical. It's also worth considering prepreg storage, room-temperature outlife and handling requirements early, particularly when moving towards repeat production.
For components exposed to frequent impacts or repeated loading, toughness and fatigue performance may be as important as initial stiffness. We can help you compare suitable prepreg systems using your application needs, processing constraints and available technical data before you commit to a material specification.
Developing a new composite component or reviewing your current materials? Tell us what you're making and what you need it to achieve. You don't need a finished material specification to start the conversation.
Supplying the Hope/Lotus Olympic Track Bike
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