2019
NP Aerospace expands the business under new ownership and kicks off a global recruitment drive and development program.
The Canadian manufacturing facility is extended as part of plans to expand into the US market. The LASA Soldier System Portfolio is expanded with new tactical shields and new ballistic plates targeting law enforcement and security markets. The US Navy is the latest to contract for the LASA LWBIII+ Maritime Buoyant Plates.
In Europe, the company wins a major Protected Mobility Fleet Program Contract with the UK Ministry of Defence worth over £63m, making it the engineering authority. Vehicle armour contracts increase with a new program for the German Army’s WIESEL Platform. New market sectors are targeted such as the Very Light Rail Sector with a new build program underway.
2018
NP Aerospace Ltd. and its subsidiaries are acquired from Morgan Advanced Materials and rebranded as NP Aerospace.
2016
A suite of ultra-lightweight LASA body armour plates is launched to meet the needs of military and law enforcement personnel. Standalone and ‘in-conjunction with’ body armour plates are available for NIJ Level III and special threats plates e.g. SS109 ‘Green Tip’, BZ and API ammunition.
The company wins a prestigious contract with the UK Ministry of Defence for the delivery of bespoke ballistic shields which are 20% lighter than previous technology and deliver outstanding multi-hit protection.
2015
As more off the shelf armour products are launched to serve our worldwide customer base, the company launches a series of brands – LASA personal protection, Silverback bomb disposal suits and CAMAC platform armour.
The company is contracted by the Canadian Department of National Defence to deliver the next generation CM735 Combat Helmet – 23% lighter than the previous generation helmet shell with higher fragment protection.
2014
The Mastiff Post Design Services contract is issued by the UK Ministry of Defence supporting vehicles returning from Afghanistan.
The LASA LWBIII+ IC6 body armour plate is launched weighing less than 1kg making it the most advanced body armour for NIJ 0101.06 Level III and special threats.
The company develops and manufactures a ground-breaking CAMAC Composite Survivability Capsule for TATA Motors for their LAMV 4×4 light patrol vehicle. This composite pod integration was a key weight saving enabler.
2012
The company is commissioned by Vectus to develop a specialist composite Personal Rapid Transit pod for the Suncheon Bay wetlands reserve in South Korea.
2009
The MK7 combat helmet is introduced under UOR (urgent operational requirement) for the UK Ministry of Defence. Utilising breakthrough composite technology.
2008
The company armours over 380 MAN Trucks for the UK Ministry of Defence for operations in Afghanistan.
2006
The first Mastiff, a heavily armoured, 6 x six-wheel-drive patrol vehicle is armoured and integrated for the UK Ministry of Defence for operations in Afghanistan. Over the next eight years over 750 Mastiff family vehicles are delivered including Mastiff, Ridgback, Wolfhound and Buffalo platforms.
2000
The company changes the face of cycling by creating the world’s first single piece carbon fibre bike frame using cutting edge blown tube technology. The bike frame was used by Team GB cyclist Jason Queally as he won gold at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games 1km time trial.
1993
A partnership is secured with Varian Medical Systems, a leading manufacturer of radiotherapy delivery systems, to develop a more advanced couch top for radiotherapy. The outcome was a carbon fibre based couch, delivering a strong yet highly transparent solution, absorbing a minimal amount of radio waves. The partnership is still going strong today.
1992
The Snatch Vixen Land Rover, the world’s first fully composite armoured vehicle is designed and fielded in Coventry for operations in Northern Ireland.
1963
Due to Courtaulds group’s expertise in artificial fibre manufacture, when the high potential strength of carbon fibre was realized in by the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough in 1963, the process was licensed to them along with Rolls-Royce and Morganite, a subsidiary of Morgan Crucible.
1926
Courtaulds produce the first Bakelite spinning box in 1926, and the Courtaulds Bakelite Moulding team, later known as Morgan Composites and Defence Systems was born.
1905
Samuel Courtauld obtains a licence to make artificial silk from the Silk Institute in Kew, London and purchases the exclusive rights to Charles Frederick Topham’s unique Box Spinning Machine, becoming pioneers in artificial fibre production for the next six decades.
