Guide To Suppliers

A new process from Prodrive provides composites with deep-lustre colours for luxury products across a wide range of industries.

Qatar Automotive Gateway (Qatar Ag) and Prodrive have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore a strategic partnership for the development and production of advanced carbon fibre composite automotive parts and assemblies. The two companies have identified a significant opportunity to combine their respective skills, experiences and resources to meet the rapidly expanding demand for lightweight, cost-effective carbon composite-based products in numerous markets around the world.

Three manufacturers of luxury and sports cars have commissioned Prodrive’s specialist manufacturing division to supply carbon composite parts for 5,000 vehicles over six years, in contracts worth more than £10m. The two manufacturers of luxury cars are using carbon components for the exterior of their cars for the first time, having previously only used carbon for decorative interior trim.

Automotive technology and specialist manufacturing company, Prodrive, has developed an answer to the problem of lacquer deterioration on visible carbon composite components – eliminate the lacquer completely. As well as increasing cosmetic durability and reducing cost, the new process delivers an exceptional surface finish that is thought to be at least equivalent to the best lacquered finishes