Can Hive help with existing systems?

Yes. Hive supports clean-sheet developments as well as improvements to existing composite products, processes and test methods.

Does Hive work alongside in-house engineers?

Yes. Many clients use Hive as an extension of their technical team where specialist composites expertise or additional capacity is required.

How does a typical Hive project work?

Hive starts by clarifying objectives, constraints and unknowns, then agrees a defined work package with clear deliverables and costs.

What composites services does Hive offer?

Hive provides consultancy across the full lifecycle of composite products, including concept development, design, analysis, prototyping, testing, certification and commercialisation.

Which industries does Hive work with?

Hive works across energy, infrastructure, defence, aerospace, industrial technology and grant-funded innovation programmes.

Hive Composites - Services

UD tape characterisation tape testing facility

Our Services

Hive provides specialist services across the full lifecycle of advanced composite products. Our team of experienced engineers help you to decide what to create, how to create it, and how to prove it works.

Whether you need a partner for a single design project or a long‑term development programme, Hive integrates expert composites capability directly into your operation.

Composites design

Hive are experts in design with composite materials, from original concept to advanced non-linear analysis. We understand the complexities of composite materials and their processes. Whether you need something completely new, or an existing concept evaluating, we can help.

Typical areas of consultancy include:

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Material selection. Choosing fibre and matrix systems appropriate to performance, environment, standards and cost. Adept at designing with thermoset and thermoplastic matrices.
‍Structural design and analysis. Using specialist tools and proprietary material databases to assess geometry, laminate schedules, joints and interfaces far beyond standard industry software.
Design for manufacturing. Ensuring that proposed structures can be produced consistently and with realistic processes and tolerances.‍
Specification. Documenting material, geometric, process and quality requirements in a form that can be handed to a prototype or manufacturing team

Composites prototyping

Hive provides a combination of physical prototypes, test data, and process documentation in order to support scale‑up decisions. This includes:

Prototype design and build using appropriate processes. These include pultrusion, filament winding, infusion, compression moulding, hand lay-up, additive manufacturing (3D printing), and more.
Process development to understand and document process windows and sensitivities. Measures include temperature, pressure, timing, and material and environment variability.
Physical testing and inspection of prototypes against the specification. This includes mechanical testing, dimensional checks, environmental exposure, and non‑destructive inspection.
Iteration where test results indicate changes to material, design, or process.

Composites testing

Hive projects benefit from direct access to independent, expert testing capabilities through our close partnership with Quantis Testing Services.

Quantis, like Hive, sits within the wider Composites Innovation Group. That shared foundation brings seamless collaboration, meaning clients work with an integrated team that understands the full lifecycle of composite development, from initial design concept through to verified, certifiable results.

Projects gain deep test industry experience, bringing bespoke testing capabilities across composites, elastomers, thermoplastics, adhesives and more. Our facility also includes a pioneering hydrogen testing environment.

Composites certification

Composite applications typically require formal certification or regulatory approval before entering service. Therefore, certification is invariably on the critical path for product launch.

Hive’s knowledge of timescales, evidence requirements, and likely approval expectations is integrated throughout your project - limiting risk of late-stage redesigns. Our role is to:

Identify applicable standards and pathways early in the design process so certification requirements inform material selection, design decisions, and testing scope.
Plan testing and documentation to meet certification needs. This includes defining what tests are required, what acceptance criteria apply, and what documentation will be reviewed by certifying bodies.
Coordinate with certification bodies and testing facilities. Where specialist testing is required, Hive works with Quantis Testing Services and other accredited test laboratories.
Support the submission process, preparing technical files, test reports and design rationale in the format required by the relevant authority.

Composites commercialisation

Moving from a successful prototype to a product involves reviewing a host of project-specific variables. We work through these questions as engineers alongside your internal team. Strategic planning might include:

Equipment and facilities required to move into production at scale
Finding the right manufacturing partner (if not in-house)
Production planning
Assistance with factory set-up
Setting of realistic yield and scrap levels
Requirements for quality systems and testing regimen
Likely unit costs at volume and business case
Required regulatory or certification pathways

Advanced composites engineering services