Miscellaneous general and special-purpose machinery

Tender description

The National Composites Centre intends to procure a series of equipment to provide a Large Scale Automated Composite Deposition Capability to be used for manufacturing research and development purposes. This Prior Information Notice (PIN) serves to alert the marketplace to this opportunity and the NCC invites interested suppliers to lodge an initial expression of interest by emailing your information to mike.caddick@nccuk.com, including any other information which they feel may support the NCC with scoping and planning for this exercise. Following receipt of Expressions of Interest, it is currently the intention of the NCC to utilise an Open Procedure route under the Public Procurement Regulations 2015, although this may be reviewed following the outcome of this PIN. Details and guidance on the procurement process will be provided within the tender documentation, including help and support in responding via the e-tendering portal. The functional requirements for the capability are being confirmed with the industry. It is envisaged that the capability is likely to consist of the two work cells similar to those detailed below: Cell one will have a working volume in the region of 5m x 5m x 5m and will utilise state of the art deposition technologies such as automated fibre placement (AFP) and automated tape laying (ATL) capable of deposition of materials such as dry fibre, thermoset and thermoplastic prepregs of multiple widths. Cell two will have a working volume in the region of 20m x 5m x 2m and will be capable of utilising state of the art AFP/ATL deposition of materials such as dry fibre, thermoset and thermoplastic prepregs of multiple widths. See below.