National Composites Certification and Evaluation Facility (NCCEF) - About Us
The NCCEF objectives are:
- to support the supply chain across all sectors in the transition from metallic to advanced composite manufacturing.
- to reduce the development time of a product, through the certification of new processes and materials.
- to create an international multi-user database to streamline qualification processes.
- to execute a range of business support services – such as training the next generation of technically competent engineers for the composites industry, strategic planning and marketing analysis, supply chain modelling and manufacturing consultancy.
- to develop the processes for the qualification of new materials via integrated research programmes.
The Centre offers a number of key advantages over the alternative testing facilities available:
- We are unique in the strength and depth of our testing capabilities
- We have one of the largest and best equipped composite textile research units in Europe (with manufacturing capabilities).
- We have a comprehensive suite of damage evaluation facilities (including a £2.8 million X ray tomograph)
- We are independently run, whereas many of the alternative test houses are members of Industrial groups who also manufacture and supply components or materials, potentially in competition with the test and evaluation customers.
- As an autonomous department within the largest school of materials in Europe and through its association with the North West Composites Centre whose members include the Universities of Bolton, Glyndwr, Lancaster and Liverpool, the NCCEF has an unrivalled ability to provide the expert knowledge to analyse and interpret test and evaluation work carried out by the centre.
NCCEF Policy Statement
"The NCCEF is committed to providing its customer with an efficient, professional, quality service that satisfies the customers' needs and requirements for the composites test and evaluation services accredited to ISO/IEC 17025:2005 and NADCAP AC7122 standards.
The QMS defines the NCCEF's operations, ensuring the facility delivers consistent, accurate and reliable services to its customers. All staff engaged in NCCEF activities shall be familiar with the quality documentation and implement the policies and appropriate procedures in their work.
The Management of the NCCEF are committed to ensuring that this policy is implemented, together with continual improvements to the effectivenes of the Quality Management System."
Accreditations
The centre operates to the procedures which are compliant with both UKAS (to ISO 17025) and NADCAP and we are currently pursuing formal certification. This is the first step to becoming an approved test house and certification partner to the major aerospace primes and other advanced engineering companies.