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Pivot Into Space

Pivot into Space is an R&D programme designed to support small innovative engineering companies cross the Midlands to pivot their technologies and capabilities into the UK’s growing space markets. https://www.midlandsaerospace.org.uk/projects/pivot-into-space

Penso Consultancy (now DRVN Automotive) and SHD Composite Materials were awarded a grant to collaborate on a 12-month project that (ended December 2024) to develop sustainable, lightweight structural panel constructions for space applications using flame-retardant composite resin systems.

SHD’s sustainable resin system PS200 and fire-retardant epoxy FRVC411 were combined with high performance carbon, aerospace grade glass and natural mineral based basalt fabrics. The prepregs were processed using DRVN’s compression moulding facilities to reduce cycle times and enable production in higher volumes.

A ’Top Hat’ metallic press tool was designed and manufactured to cure components using press settings optimised through a design of experiments that produced monolithic flat panels for analysis.  The flat panels were tested mechanically at SHD’s dedicated technical centre, with fire and SPACE environment testing carried out externally.

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