Triple defence win for Surface Transforms

SURFACE Transforms has won three orders from Europe’s biggest missile manufacturer for its ‘next generation’ of carbon-reinforced ceramic composite materials.

The Ellesmere Port-based company said the orders from MBDA, a jointly owned venture between BAE Systems, EADS and Finmeccanica are worth £150,000, and it is confident of winning further business from the defence group.

Surface Transforms is the only UK supplier of this material, and it is derived from the group’s core business in automotive ceramic brakes. It is also used in the rail and aircraft industries.

Kevin Johnson, chief executive of Surface Transforms, said the orders represent a further endorsement of MBDA’s commitment to the group’s technology and products.

He said: “Earlier work with MBDA over the past three years has shown that carbon-ceramic is now a strategic material which gives significant performance advantages over carbon-carbon and huge weight savings over advanced metal alloys.

“We can deliver distinct cost benefits with improved performance using our proprietary technology. The new accelerated work programme with MBDA also extends the reach of our technology and products from the automotive and aircraft markets, to the defence sector.”