James Cropper, a leading global Advanced Materials specialist, has launched SURFACETEC™, an advanced veil solution that improves the performance, durability and sustainability of composite materials.
SURFACETEC streamlines composite manufacturing by enhancing surface quality, optimising resin flow, imparting functionality and reducing process complexity. Perfectly suited for industries that demand greater efficiency and cost savings, SURFACETEC will deliver transformative advantages to sectors including aerospace, automotive, sporting goods, industrial and medical.
Manufacturers often face challenges related to surface porosity, microcracking, and time-intensive finishing processes, such as sanding and painting. SURFACETEC eliminates these inefficiencies by delivering a resin-rich, high-quality surface finish that reduces the need for secondary processing. This significantly cuts down on production time and costs.
SURFACETEC also ensures superior resin flow and wet-out, ensuring faster, more consistent infusion and fewer wasted parts, leading to increased production throughput. Additionally, it is accredited to AS9100 and compatible with all major composite manufacturing techniques, ensuring a seamless adoption into existing production lines.
Beyond efficiency, SURFACETEC enhances composite functionality and performance by incorporating materials such as aramid veils for abrasion resistance and antistatic veils for electrostatic dissipation. Resulting in stronger, lighter, and longer-lasting composite components, critical for industries where material performance directly impacts operational success.
SURFACETEC also offers multiple sustainability benefits; as well as enabling the production of lighter final components to support increased fuel efficiency in applications such as aerospace and automotive, the range also incorporates nonwovens manufactured using carbon fibre reclaimed from composites. These recycled carbon surfacing veils enable manufacturers to reduce their environmental impact by providing a viable route for the reuse of fibres previously considered as waste.
Anita Miault, Global Product Manager at James Cropper Advanced Materials comments: “With SURFACETEC we are redefining what‘s possible in the world of composites, and especially how manufacturers should approach composite production. With shorter cycle times, lower costs, and superior performance becoming a must, companies looking to increase efficiency while maintaining high-quality standards can now integrate SURFACETEC straight into their operations.”
As well as launching SURFACETEC at JEC World, the event is the first public showing for James Cropper Advanced Materials since rebranding from Technical Fibre Products. SURFACETEC will be on display alongside James Cropper’s well-established OPTIVEIL® range, which includes ultra-lightweight glass, polyester, and thermoplastic nonwovens optimised for use as carriers or supports for adhesive films and fragile materials.
Find out more about SURFACETEC™, or visit booth N40, hall 5 at JEC World 2025.
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