# orthotropic.co.uk ## Posts - [Composites consultancy with integrated practical support](https://orthotropic.co.uk/composites-consultancy-with-integrated-practical-support/): At #OrthotropicEngineering we offer composites-focused design, analysis and consultancy services. Much of our work involves the analysis of #compositestructures using FEA software (we’ve recently adopted ANSYS) as well as more time-honoured methods; we’re certainly not scared of hand-calcs when these are most appropriate! FE analysis of a thick composite component by Orthotropic We’re also often involved in #engineeringdesign and development programmes, addressing questions of materials selection and manufacturing process specification. When these issues arise, we’re more than happy to deploy our practical expertise, workshop and test facilities – conducting the trials necessary to ensure that engineering decisions are firmly grounded. […] - [Season's greetings from Orthotropic](https://orthotropic.co.uk/seasons-greetings-from-orthotropic/): Once again, it’s been an exciting year at #OrthotropicEngineering, providing composites-focused design, analysis and consultancy services to clients in sectors as diverse as energy, micromobility and infrastructure. In October we were pleased to mark the successful completion of our sixth year in business – apparently time flies when you’re having fun! This year we focused on developing our technical capabilities with the addition of #ANSYS to our suite of simulation tools – enabling us to offer an enhanced service in terms of both structural analysis and manufacturing support. It was pleasure back in the summer to offer an internship to […] - [Good luck Bill!](https://orthotropic.co.uk/good-luck-bill/): Nearly the end of the summer so sadly time to say goodbye and good luck to William Read who’s been doing great work at #OrthotropicEngineering for the last couple of months. Bill has spent his time here engaged in #CAD work and composites-focused #FEA studies, and has made a valuable contribution to #Orthotropic and our customers. He’s also managed to greatly enhanced his understanding of #compositematerials, manufacturing and practical structures, as well as the workings of small businesses – knowledge that we’re sure will be helpful when he returns to the University of Cambridge shortly to complete his Engineering Degree. […] - [Catch Orthotropic at ICS2024](https://orthotropic.co.uk/catch-orthotropic-at-ics2024/): After a fantastic show last year, we’re delighted to exhibit once again at the #InternationalCompositesSummit on Wednesday 4th and Thursday 5th of September. At #OrthotropicEngineering, we offer composites-focused design, analysis and consultancy services supported by in-house manufacture and test facilities – so #ICS2024 is the ideal forum to showcase our expertise. Since this time last year, we’ve helped numerous clients in sectors as diverse as marine equipment, renewable energy and personal mobility, our involvement ranging from quick turnaround stress analysis tasks to full design projects. Look forward to seeing you soon in Milton Keynes – in the meantime, don’t hesitate […] - [Composites design and analysis with test support](https://orthotropic.co.uk/composites-design-and-analysis-with-test-support/): At #OrthotropicEngineering, our mission is to supply our customers with high-quality composites design and analysis services. Most of what we do is desk-based, making regular use of our CAD and FE software whilst not forgetting the value of more traditional analytical methods when the occasion calls for it. And of course, there are always moments when the solution to a problem requires a more practical approach; fortunate then that our engineering office is supported by the workshop and test facilities needed to manufacture and evaluate composite testpieces and small prototypes. As part of a recent project it was necessary to […] - [Consultancy Offer - Composites for Greentech](https://orthotropic.co.uk/consultancy-offer-composites-for-greentech/): It’s both shocking and disheartening to hear that Prime Minister #RishiSunak is planning to scale back the government’s #netzero policies. It’s as if the world hasn’t just experienced a summer of extreme heatwaves, wildfires and storms – not to mention record high ocean temperatures. The science overwhelmingly points to the need for mankind to urgently reduce its CO2 emissions in order to mitigate against further dangerous increases in global temperature. Whatever progress toward #zerocarbon we’ve already made, it’s almost certainly not enough – so delay or watering down of measures already agreed is akin to playing with fire. Fortunately at […] - [Celebrating 5 years in business](https://orthotropic.co.uk/celebrating-5-years-in-business/): In October 2018 we established #OrthotropicEngineering to offer composites-focused design, analysis and consultancy services to industry – with hindsight, the timing could have been better! Nonetheless, five years, one pandemic, one Brexit and a cost-of-living crisis later, things are going very well – although it does seem that we’re beginning to run out of room for candles. In any case, we couldn’t have got this far without the ongoing support of our customers, suppliers and friends, so we’d like to offer our warmest thanks to anyone and everyone who’s helped us on our journey to date – It’s been a […] - [Meet Orthotropic at ICS2023](https://orthotropic.co.uk/meet-orthotropic-at-ics2023/): At #OrthotropicEngineering, we’re thrilled once again to be exhibiting on 6th & 7th September at the #InternationalCompositesSummit, where we’ll be showcasing our composites-focused engineering services. During the year since ICS2022, we’ve been privileged to conduct a range of assignments and projects for no fewer than eleven separate clients – many of whom we’ve served previously but also including a number of significant new customers. So please do drop by Pod 44 and find out what they already know about our unique blend of theoretical understanding and practical skill. #Orthotropic is a composites-focused engineering consultancy. We offer design, analysis and development […] - [Structural batteries on show in Paris](https://orthotropic.co.uk/structural-batteries-on-show-in-paris/): Brilliant to see a project #Orthotropic has contributed to on display at the #ParisAirShow: Both green and exciting, the GD T70 Moda EV prototype by #GardnerDouglas features structural battery packs by #TheStructuralBatteryCompany. In close cooperation with SBC, GD and #CranfieldUniversity, it was a pleasure at #OrthotropicEngineering to contribute to the concept development process and to undertake an #FEA study demonstrating the considerable contribution of the battery arrangement towards overall chassis stiffness. FE model of chassis with structural batteries by Orthotropic Engineering (original CAD supplied Gardner Douglas) Starting with a CAD model of the chassis supplied by Gardner Douglas, we developed […] - [Orthotropic travels to JEC by EV](https://orthotropic.co.uk/orthotropic-travels-to-jec-by-ev/): In just over a week we’ll be on our way to Paris once again to visit the fantastic #JEC composites show and investigate the latest developments in the industry – so please do get in touch if you’d like to talk #CompositesEngineering over a coffee (or croissant!) on Wednesday 26th April or the morning of Thursday 27th. To prove that it’s now a highly practical option for long-distance international travel, we’ll be making the whole journey there and back from Gloucestershire by electric car! Watch this space to see how we get on… Orthotropic visits JEC by EV With 21 […] - [Composites article in the 'International Design Engineer' magazine](https://orthotropic.co.uk/composites-article-in-the-international-design-engineer-magazine/): It was a pleasure recently to be asked to write a short article for the International Design Engineer magazine – our brief was to discuss the types of fibre in use today, their properties, applications and pros & cons. Check out our article ‘Figuring Out Fibres’ in the International Design Engineer magazine It’s always great to help bring the world of #compositematerials to a wider audience; we strongly believe that building familiarity with the basics is the first step along the path to successfully adopting a new material or technology. Hope you enjoy the article! #Orthotropic offers composites-focused design, analysis […] - [More composite coupons for conditioning!](https://orthotropic.co.uk/more-composite-coupons-for-conditioning/): Always exciting to get another load of #composite coupons into our conditioning unit at #OrthotropicEngineering: This time, we’re comparing the performance of E-glass / vinylester laminates with the many E-glass / epoxy coupons we’ve already tested – both before and after long-term immersion in seawater. We’re also taking a look at the performance of #Advantex / E-CR glass which is claimed to be more durable in the marine environment than standard E-glass. Very interesting to see what we find, but we’ll have to wait a while for results! Even at 45°C, it typically takes 6 months for these coupons to […] - [Festive greetings from Orthotropic!](https://orthotropic.co.uk/festive-greetings-from-orthotropic/): It’s been another busy year at #OrthotropicEngineering, providing composites-focused design, analysis and consultancy services across a number of industry sectors. Completing our fourth year in business in uncertain times, we’ve been fortunate to continue growing our client-base and have now had the privilege to serve customers not just here in the UK but also in a number of EU countries. This year, we’ve prioritised our internal R&D work, completing the manufacture, seawater-conditioning and testing of a large number of composite coupons. The results are proving especially useful when it comes to the selection of materials for marine projects, so thanks […] - [Fibre types and fibre selection](https://orthotropic.co.uk/fibre-types-and-fibre-selection/): When specifying a composite part, one of the first questions facing the designer is that of fibre selection – the choice of fibre is a fundamental driver of laminate performance and cost, so picking the right option is of great importance! Fortunately, there are many types to choose from, offering a wide range of physical and mechanical properties and ranging from low cost to highly exotic. Of course, the sheer number of options on offer can be a little daunting, so in this article we explore the various types of fibre, their properties, typical applications and pros and cons. (Also […] - [Catch Orthotropic at All-Energy](https://orthotropic.co.uk/catch-orthotropic-at-all-energy/): This week, #Orthotropic is visiting #AllEnergy in Glasgow. The need to accelerate the transition to #ZeroCarbon has never been more pressing, so we’re keen to discuss how our composites engineering services can unlock new possibilities for your #RenewableEnergy project. As we arrive at the #SEC, it’s impossible not to take inspiration from some of the engineering achievements of the past: Now let’s solve tomorrow! #OrthotropicEngineering is an independent, composites-focused engineering consultancy with an international client-base. We support projects across several sectors and offer a practically-minded approach to engineering design and analysis. Please do get in touch with Matt Dawson +44 […] - [Meet #Orthotropic at JEC](https://orthotropic.co.uk/meet-orthotropic-at-jec/): After a long, Covid-induced absence, the #JEC is finally back on in a couple of weeks’ time! Matt Dawson from #OrthotropicEngineering is looking forward to attending on Tuesday 3rd and Wednesday 4th May, keen to discuss your requirements for #composites-focussed design, analysis and consultancy services. Please do get in touch to arrange a chat and a coffee in Paris – we’d love to hear from you… #Orthotropic is an engineering design consultancy offering composite materials engineering services to the renewable, marine, industrial and transportation sectors. We can assist with any or all of the steps on your journey from concept […] - [Resin selection for marine applications](https://orthotropic.co.uk/resin-selection-for-marine-applications/): With so many products on the market, selecting the most appropriate resin for a given infusion application can be a tricky business! Different systems offer a variety of processing properties such as viscosity, gel time and exotherm potential that affect both the size of moulding achievable and the corresponding processing time. The glass transition temperature (Tg) and mechanical properties of the cured system are also important considerations in relation to the end application, having a fundamental effect on product performance. And of course, cost can never be forgotten! When decisions need to be made, the first stops in the search […] - [Call Orthotropic for Composites Analysis](https://orthotropic.co.uk/call-orthotropic-for-composites-analysis/): One of our core offerings at #Orthotropic is stress analysis – in particular the analysis of load-bearing composite structures. But we’re certainly not the only company offering analysis services, so what makes us different? With many years’ composites engineering under our belt, we believe it’s all-round practical experience and capability that sets us apart: Our 20 years’ personal experience includes a diverse range of projects, ranging from tidal energy blades to light aircraft and even the gondola of a record-breaking hot-air balloon! Composites engineering is a highly practical subject though, so we’re very fortunate that our experience stretches beyond design […] - [Merry Christmas from Orthotropic!](https://orthotropic.co.uk/merry-christmas-from-orthotropic/): Wishing all our friends, customers and suppliers a happy Christmas and a prosperous 2022… It’s been an exciting year here at Orthotropic – huge thanks to everyone that’s supported us along the way! We’ve been privileged to work on some extremely worthwhile projects and have expanded both our team and client-base, whilst continuing to invest in new equipment. After many months of restrictions, it was also a pleasure to be able to get out and about again, catching up with friends old and new. Please do get in touch to discuss any composites-focused design or analysis requirements that you may […] - [Orthotropic supports tidal stream projects](https://orthotropic.co.uk/orthotropic-supports-tidal-stream-projects/): Great news to see the government getting back behind #tidalstream energy with their announcement yesterday of £20M funding / year for the sector: It’s a source of bemusement at #OrthotropicEngineering that such a predictable source of clean energy has been undervalued in official circles for many years! Whilst it’s been argued that significantly higher levels of funding are required to help tidal achieve its full potential, this is undeniably a step in the right direction and signals official intent that tidal should play its part in our future #greenenergy mix. Enormous credit is due to companies like #OrbitalMarinePower that have […] - [Celebrating three years in business!](https://orthotropic.co.uk/celebrating-three-years-in-business/): As we mark the end of our third full year in business, it’s with a sense of optimism that we look to the future at #OrthotropicEngineering. The steady growth of our first two years has carried forward into the third, enabling us to continue investing in our design and analysis capabilities. We’ve also made several important additions to the ever-expanding collection of equipment in our technical centre, enabling us to support office-based activities with practical services such as material screening trials and small composite prototype manufacture. Looking back, we can additionally note a number of exciting firsts achieved over the […] - [How Orthotropic adds value](https://orthotropic.co.uk/how-orthotropic-adds-value/): We decided it was time to give our website a minor facelift and thought we’d share the results! In particular, we’ve brought two of our core activities into sharper focus: How we bring composites expertise to design and engineering projects and how we provide design / analysis support to composites manufacturers. Please do get in touch if you could use either of these offerings – Thoughts on the website design also welcome! #OrthotropicEngineering #CompositesDesign #CompositesAnalysis #ManufacturerSupport #CompositesExpert #CarbonFibre #RenewableEnergy #ZeroCarbon - [Welcome Tanveer!](https://orthotropic.co.uk/welcome-tanveer/): This week at #OrthotropicEngineering we’re pleased to welcome Tanveer Talokder to the team! Tanveer is studying for a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering at the University of Bristol so the year he’s spending at Orthotropic will count towards his course, of which he enjoys both the theoretical and practical aspects – he’s also particularly interested in #composites so we think he’s come to the right place! When he’s not thinking about engineering, Tanveer enjoys speed-solving his Rubik’s cube and playing the guitar, although he’s yet to be seen doing both at the same time! Please do visit our website to […] - [Meet Orthotropic at ICS](https://orthotropic.co.uk/meet-orthotropic-at-ics/): We’re really looking forward to exhibiting at the International Composites Summit in London, 8th-9th September! #OrthotropicEngineering offers engineering design, analysis and consulting services with a focus on composite structures. We’re happy to quote for one-off jobs and can also provide longer-term engineering support if required: Please come and find us at pod 24 to discuss how we can help with your requirements. In the meantime, please feel free to explore our website or contact us to discuss your project. - [Orthotropic supports Orbital's development of next generation tidal blades](https://orthotropic.co.uk/orthotropic-supports-orbitals-development-of-next-generation-tidal-blades/): Huge congratulations are due to the whole team at Orbital Marine Power on the successful grid-connection of their O2-2000 tidal turbine – recently featured on the BBC. It’s fantastic to see UK companies playing a leading role in the urgent drive towards #ZeroCarbon, especially given the recent run of extreme weather events across the globe. At #OrthotropicEngineering, we’re particularly pleased to have contributed to the analysis of the O2-2000 composite blades (below) during 2019 – Find out more about our involvement here . Tidal energy blades represent a challenging application of composite materials, balancing the need for extreme strength and […] - [Orthotropic joins Composites UK](https://orthotropic.co.uk/orthotropic-joins-composites-uk/): #OrthotropicEngineering is delighted to announce its membership of Composites UK, the representative body of the UK composites industry. Please do check out our profile on the Composites UK hub. As life returns to normal, we look forward to participating in upcoming events, making new friends and keeping in touch with old ones. But in the meantime, please don’t hestitate to get in touch if you’d like to disscuss any of our composites design, analysis or consultancy services. - [Serious engineering - taken seriously!](https://orthotropic.co.uk/serious-engineering-taken-seriously/): At Orthotropic, we know that engineering projects rarely go well by accident: Whilst innovation and creativity are always important, successful outcomes also depend heavily on attention to detail, a willingness to take care of the basics properly and a healthy refusal to leave things to chance! When asked by #RheEnergise to design and build a test rig to study critical components of their #EnergyStorage system, we knew it wouldn’t be easy – although it did sound highly worthwhile and a lot of fun! The brief called for an inner rotor to be aligned very accurately relative to an outer support, […] - [First #SpecialProject delivered!](https://orthotropic.co.uk/first-specialproject-delivered/): At #OrthotropicEngineering, we’re extremely pleased to announce the delivery of our first ever design & build project. Amongst other things, it’s been mistaken for a flux capacitor or even some nefarious type of centrifuge! Alas, the truth of the matter is far more benign; it’s a test rig that will enable our customer #RheEnergise to evaluate critical components of their high-density pumped energy storage system. Having taken shape over the past few weeks in our Gloucestershire technical centre, the rig was shipped last week to #OnStreamEnergy in Devon where it will be set to work very shortly. A challenging project […] - [Back to Basics with Wet-Layup!](https://orthotropic.co.uk/back-to-basics-with-wet-layup/): 19 years ago I produced my first ever composite moulding. I remember it well – a fuselage component for a light aircraft prototype laminated on my first day at AEL (now Airborne UK). As an introduction to the world of composites, it’s fitting that it was made using the time-honoured ‘wet-layup’ method – hard to forget the sense of excitement felt when glass fabric and a pot of resin are combined for the first time to produce a strong yet lightweight part! Fast-forward 19 years and I find myself once again producing wet-layup mouldings as part of an exciting test-rig […] - [Composites Design and Analysis for EU!](https://orthotropic.co.uk/composites-design-and-analysis-for-eu/): Here in the UK we’re getting used to a few changes: Passports are turning blue and we can’t take our ham sandwiches to Holland any more! At #OrthotropicEngineering however, we’re pleased that the new rules enable the offering of our services to EU-based customers just as before: For our part, we of course retain an outward-looking disposition and continue to value the principle of international cooperation. So please don’t hesitate to ask us about our independent and informed design, analysis and consultancy services. We specialise in the engineering of highly loaded composite structures and would love to hear from you! - [Happy Christmas from Orthotropic](https://orthotropic.co.uk/happy-christmas-from-orthotropic/): Wishing all our friends, customers and suppliers a happy Christmas and a healthy 2021! After a year of lockdowns, restrictions and virus-dodging, we’re very much looking forward to getting out and about again as soon as safely possible! In the meantime, please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you’d like to talk composites design or analysis! Happy Christmas, Matt - [Considering composites?](https://orthotropic.co.uk/considering-composites/): The start of a new engineering design project often brings with it more questions than answers, ranging across many topics such as form, function and choice of materials. In this light, it’s understandable that composites sometimes lose out to more traditional materials as engineers stick with what they know to reduce uncertainty. But what if?………… What if engineers were more aware of the benefits of composite materials, ranging from high strength and light weight through to low maintenance requirements and potentially lower full-life costs? What if composites jargon was demystified? What if it was clearer how to effectively specify composite […] - [Orthotropic turns 2!](https://orthotropic.co.uk/orthotropic-turns-2/): This week at #OrthotropicEngineering we’re marking the successful completion of our second full year in business. Fair to say that it’s been an unexpectedly eventful few months so we’re extremely grateful to our clients for their custom, enabling our continued growth despite the difficult times in which we presently live. Our main focus this year has been the ongoing development of our design, analysis and consultancy services, targeted primarily at structural applications of composite materials. Amongst other projects, it’s been a pleasure to conduct the analysis of the composite spar for the Orbital Marine Power O2-2000 turbine. We’ve also been […] - [Orthotropic designs test rig for RheEnergise](https://orthotropic.co.uk/orthotropic-designs-test-rig-for-rheenergise/): The sun shines when it shines and the wind blows when it blows: But when it’s both dark and calm, it’s not possible to take advantage of the ever-increasing wind and solar capacity installed in and around the UK. It follows that energy storage is one of the key technologies needed to enable our urgent transition to #Zerocarbon. British company #RheEnergise is adapting the tried and tested pumped water storage method to enormously enhance its viability and uptake. Their solution – a denser fluid. At 2.5 times the density of water, their new fluid means that the volumetric and height […] - [From concept to fully specified design in under a day](https://orthotropic.co.uk/from-concept-to-fully-specified-design-in-under-a-day/): The problem: How to double-check that our load cell and logger are providing accurate data? Our solution: A 20kg calibrated weight, a balanced lever and some low-friction bearings. Timescale: Less than a day from concept to fully specified and verified design. Throughout my career, I’ve always found the capability to accurately apply, measure and record load one of the most fundamentally useful capabilities in a composite engineer’s toolbox. Even a simple setup unlocks countless possibilities in terms of understanding materials performance, validating structures and answering questions that are impractical to address through analysis. So it’s with significant excitement that we’re […] - [Welcome James!](https://orthotropic.co.uk/welcome-james/): Today we say hello to James Tomlinson who will be spending a few weeks with us before completing his last year at the University of Bristol. Enrolled on the Engineering Design course, James has a particular interest in composite materials, so is well placed to help us meet an increase in demand for our services and accelerate our R&D programme. For Orthotropic, it’s also a big milestone as James is our first ever employee! We hope he finds his time here both useful and enjoyable…. - [Resin testing at Orthotropic highlights range of moisture uptake rates](https://orthotropic.co.uk/resin-testing-at-orthotropic-highlights-range-of-moisture-uptake-rates/): Ten weeks into our #moistureconditioning programme and we’re finding some real variety in the rates at which different #epoxyresin systems gain weight in seawater: Particularly interesting as all ten systems are intended for similar applications! It’s great to see our R&D programme answering questions that will enable informed materials selection for #marinerenewables projects in particular. Next stop, mechanical testing….. Don’t hesitate to contact us to find out more about the composites engineering services offered by #OrthotropicEngineering and of course watch this space for further testing updates. - [A reminder of happier times.....](https://orthotropic.co.uk/a-reminder-of-happier-times/): At moments like this, it’s nice to get the occasional reminder of happier times! So we were really pleased to receive some pictures from a happy client of the bridge that we designed last year. Looking pretty smart in-situ in France, the bridge was designed by #OrthotropicEngineering and fabricated by #EtsoFabrication. It’ll handle regular light traffic and the occasional heavy emergency vehicle. Visit our projects page to read more about this and other work we’ve undertaken: And of course please don’t hesitate to contact us if you have a requirement we may be able to help with. Looking forward to […] - [900 visors delivered](https://orthotropic.co.uk/900-visors-delivered/): Since taking delivery of our first batch of waterjet cut headbands 2 weeks ago, we’ve now processed, boxed and shipped 900 visors to GP surgeries, hospitals and care homes across 5 counties! Just 100 to go to reach our target of 1000…. Prior to bagging and boxing, all parts undergo a thorough inspection and are subject to the heat treatment needed to inactivate the Coronavirus. Although we’ve contributed many hours of our own time at no cost to this project, it wouldn’t have been possible without an amazing response to our fundraising campaign, and help from the friends and family […] - [Watch water jet cut our visor headbands](https://orthotropic.co.uk/watch-water-jet-cut-our-visor-headbands/): In our last blog post, we presented a face visor that we’ve adapted from an open-source design for 3-D printers. Our adaptation is to cut the headbands from 10mm HDPE plastic sheet by waterjet (instead of 3D printing). Following an incredible response to a community fundraising initiative, we’ve now placed orders for all the parts and materials to manufacture 1000 visors. These will be to donated to hard-pressed health and care workers ASAP. Our time is going in absolutely free of charge. Yesterday I picked up our first batch of headbands from Herbert Phillips and Sons who have provided us […] - [Quick-build visor design freely available](https://orthotropic.co.uk/quick-build-visor-design-freely-available/): Building on the great work underway in the 3D printing community and at a significant tangent to our normal work, #OrthotropicEngineering has adapted a #facevisor design to enable cost-effective manufacture using water-jet and laser cutting techniques. The visor may be manufactured immediately and rapidly in large quantities without the need for any bespoke tooling. It’s delivered to where it’s needed in flat-pack form for easy shipping and storage and can easily be assembled for use in less than a minute. Although we managed to build the prototype in under a week, we’ve also taken care to make sure that the […] - [GRP test panel production in full swing](https://orthotropic.co.uk/grp-test-panel-production-in-full-swing/): Over the past month, we’ve been pretty busy at #OrthotropicEngineering! In addition to the design, analysis and consultancy services we continue to provide, we’ve managed to fit in the manufacture of a large number of glass/epoxy test panels and cast resin testpieces. It’s a lot of work, but we’re certain that the findings of our test programme, which compares the effects of seawater immersion on a wide range of resin systems, will be of great benefit in particular to customers in the marine renewables sector. Fitting in this production alongside the ‘day job’ of course means we’ve had to get […] - [Resin testing underway at Orthotropic](https://orthotropic.co.uk/resin-testing-underway-at-orthotropic/): It’s with considerable excitement that we’re able to announce the start of the resin testing phase of our materials R&D programme “Composite Materials for Marine Renewables”. In addition to the exotherm tests already completed, our objectives call for measurement of the density and moisture absorption characteristics of cast resin specimens. The method for establishing the density of cast resin specimens is a particular favourite: This beautifully simple test exploits the principle of displacement first identified by Archimedes over 2000 years ago: Hard to be certain, but he seems reasonably impressed with our efforts! Measurement of cured resin density will in […] - [Business as usual for Orthotropic](https://orthotropic.co.uk/business-as-usual-for-orthotropic/): Wishing the best to all our our friends, customers and suppliers during these extraordinary times. Here at #OrthotropicEngineering we’re fortunately able to continue our work unaffected by the #Coronavirus lockdown: Definitely looking forward to a few face to face meetings when it’s eventually over! In the meantime, stay safe and please do get in touch for assistance in terms of design and analysis of mechanical parts for ventilators etc. Not our bread and butter but we think we can help! - [First test panel infused](https://orthotropic.co.uk/first-test-panel-infused/): At #OrthotropicEngineering, we were so excited to infuse our first glass/epoxy test panel that we decided to capture the event for posterity using timelapse photography! Not bad for a first attempt, but not perfect either: See how the resin front progresses unevenly, leaving small regions slightly short of resin. We’ve since perfected our procedure to eliminate this problem and create top quality panels with no dry spots. A major milestone for Orthotropic, the manufacture of this panel marks the start of the manufacturing phase of our materials test programme. We’re now set up to infuse, cure and process 30 test […] - [Say hello at JEC 2020](https://orthotropic.co.uk/say-hello-at-jec-2020/): Looking forward once again to the #JEC composites show in Paris, now just a couple of weeks away. It’s always a pleasure to catch up with friends old and new! I’ll be there on both Tuesday 3rd and Wednesday 4th March, so please do get in touch if you’d like to meet up for a coffee and a chat. #OrthotropicEngineering offers design, analysis and consultancy services with a focus on heavy-duty composite structures. - [Orthotropic supports Orbital](https://orthotropic.co.uk/orthotropic-supports-orbital/): With ever more dire warnings about the likely consequences of climate change, we’re always keen at #OrthotropicEngineering to support #RenewableEnergy projects. So when approached by #OrbitalMarinePower to assist in the design process for their O2-2000 tidal turbine blades, the decision to say ‘yes’ was one of the easiest we’ve yet had to make. The O2-2000 turbine draws on over 15 years of development at Orbital (previously #Scotrenewables) to deliver the world’s most powerful tidal turbine in a floating configuration that drastically cuts installation and maintenance costs. The engineering of composite blades represents one of the key challenges that must be […] - [Merry Christmas from Orthotropic Engineering](https://orthotropic.co.uk/merry-christmas-from-orthotropic-engineering/): Wishing you a merry Christmas, and a happy and prosperous 2020! It’s been a busy year here at #OrthotropicEngineering:  Building on the firm foundations laid a year ago, we’ve been fortunate to build a good client base both here in the UK and further afield.  We’re particularly pleased to have contributed to the composites engineering of several really interesting marine renewables projects. 2019 has also seen the completion by #JackLindsay of the first Orthotropic-designed hardware; in this case a steel access bridge that looks really rather handsome in red!  2020 is shaping up to be another exciting year:  We’ll be pleased to continue serving our […] - [Ready to ship...](https://orthotropic.co.uk/ready-to-ship/): Today we wave ‘au revoir’ to the bridge that has been a significant part of our lives for the past few months. Designed by #OrthotropicEngineering and built by #JackLindsay, it’s about to leave for installation in France, but not before a last check-assembly and photo-call! The durable green oak deck is secured to the frame with corrosion resistant stainless steel bolts: Long personal experience in subsea engineering means that we understand how to combine dissimilar materials in ways that minimise corrosion. Proof below that night-time lends atmosphere – not a bad job for a couple of guys and hopefully the […] - [Bridge steelwork completed](https://orthotropic.co.uk/bridge-steelwork-completed/): The best bit of any build project must surely be when all the biggest pieces come together for the first time. So when Jack Lindsay called to say that he’d completed the access bridge steelwork and bolted it together, I didn’t need much of an excuse to pop over and see for myself! The highly efficient truss construction discussed in the previous article is clearly visible in the first picture: Even a private access bridge may need to pass heavy vehicles in an emergency, so #OrthotropicEngineering ensured that the structure can handle the weight of a heavy fire engine, as […] - [Access bridge build progress](https://orthotropic.co.uk/access-bridge-build-progress/): Exciting pictures arriving from Jack Lindsay who’s busy building the 14m access bridge recently designed at #OrthotropicEngineering. Fast progress and looking like great workmanship! The first picture shows the structural layout of the bridge to good effect: Longitudinal steel box members provide the bending strength, stabilised by regularly spaced vertical box members and transverse I-section beams. The second picture (below) captures the diagonal lacing added to each side truss cell. Comprising laser-cut plates and round bar, this efficiently lends great shear strength and stiffness to the primary (spanwise) structure, whilst establishing an attractive ‘industrial heritage’ theme. The steelwork will be […] - [1 year already!](https://orthotropic.co.uk/1-year-already/): Here at #OrthotropicEngineering, we’re celebrating our first birthday, and it’s fair to say that much has happened over the course of a very busy year: From a standing start, we’ve established the processes, installed the software and developed the tools needed to provide high quality design and analysis services to the numerous clients we’ve been fortunate to serve. Huge thanks are due to all who’ve supported us on this exciting journey: In particular our customers but also to each and everybody that’s provided encouragement and advice along the way or simply helped to spread the word. Building on the success […] - [Orthotropic completes first end - to - end design project](https://orthotropic.co.uk/orthotropic-completes-first-end-to-end-design-project/): A major milestone for any engineering company, #OrthotropicEngineering is incredibly proud to have recently completed our first end-to-end design project! In a brief departure from our normal focus on composite structures, we were commissioned to design a steel and timber access bridge in association with steel fabricator Jack Lindsay. 14 metres in span and manufactured in three sections for ease of transportation, the bridge is capable of handling regular light traffic and occasional heavy vehicles . At Orthotropic, we were pleased to undertake the design work, CAD modelling and detailed analysis of the bridge before delivering a comprehensive set of […] - [Composites design by Orthotropic](https://orthotropic.co.uk/composites-design-by-orthotropic/): Orthotropic offers design packages to suit a variety of needs. Ask us for details! Whether you need a production-ready design or are just looking to establish a viable concept, it’s likely that one of our packages will fit the bill. In all cases, we’ll couple our long personal experience of composites design with Orthotropic’s efficient software and systems to provide the winning formula. Our ‘Concept Design’ service addresses the need for a ‘front end only’ design service that generates and assesses a variety of candidate designs before recommending and fleshing out the best option. If you’re looking to manufacture proof-of-concept […] - [Composites consultancy by Orthotropic](https://orthotropic.co.uk/composites-consultancy-by-orthotropic/): Orthotropic offers consultancy services in relation to all aspects of composites engineering. We’re happy to provide both general and targeted advice as required to help you make the right decisions. We’ll be pleased to help if we can, and won’t waste your time if we can’t! Please contact us to discuss your requirement. - [Orthotropic chooses Ecosia](https://orthotropic.co.uk/orthotropic-chooses-ecosia/): What a great idea – A web browser that invests it’s profits in tree planting! Today, we’re excited to adopt ‘Ecosia‘ as our default search engine. For every 45 searches we make, they plant a tree somewhere that really needs trees! - [Orthotropic launches design packages for composite structures](https://orthotropic.co.uk/orthotropic-launches-design-packages-for-composite-structures/): Hot on the heels of our analysis packages, Orthotropic is proud to announce the launch of our standard design packages for composite structures. Whether you need a production-ready design or are just looking to establish a viable concept, it’s likely that one of our packages will fit the bill. In all cases, we’ll couple our long personal experience of composites design with Orthotropic’s efficient software and systems to provide the winning formula. Our ‘Concept Design’ service addresses the need for a ‘front end only’ design service that generates and assesses a variety of candidate designs before recommending and fleshing out […] - [Ask us about our structural analysis packages](https://orthotropic.co.uk/ask-us-about-our-structural-analysis-packages/): Orthotropic offers a choice of analysis packages, developed to suit a range of composites project requirements. In all cases you can be assured of a rigorous approach using both classical techniques and up-to-date FE software: Our ‘Analysis & Report’ offering is a straightforward ‘ask a question, get an answer’ package. We would conduct a single full analysis iteration of your design, providing you with a comprehensive report addressing the relevant criteria and / or failure modes. The ball is then back in your court! If it’s likely (as is often the case with more complex structures) that the analysis may […] - [Orthotropic to visit All-Energy Show](https://orthotropic.co.uk/orthotropic-to-visit-all-energy-show/): Looking forward to visiting the All-Energy Exhibition and Conference on 15-16th May. Please do get in touch if you’d like to meet and discuss how Orthotropic can help with the design and analysis of composite structures for renewable energy applications. - [Orthotropic launches analysis packages for composite structures](https://orthotropic.co.uk/orthotropic-launches-analysis-packages-for-composite-structures/): Today we’re pleased to announce the launch of our structural analysis packages. These have been designed to meet a range of requirements: Whether you just need a quick but rigorous check of a completed design, or could use our input to help resolve particular issues, it’s likely that one of our 3 packages is the right option for you. The common theme throughout is that you’ve provided the design and we’ll conduct the analysis. Our ‘Analysis & Report’ offering is a straightforward ‘ask a question, get an answer’ package. We would conduct a single full analysis iteration of your design, […] - [How to specify composite products](https://orthotropic.co.uk/how-to-specify-composite-products/): Getting the #specification right is critical to the smooth running and ultimate #success of any #engineering project, and the design of #composite #structures presents no exception to this rule. In my experience, the projects with the most satisfactory outcome are those where care is taken at the start to formulate and agree a specification that is both achievable and complete. A good specification will also minimise the complications that arise during the design process, saving both time and money in the long run. In this article we review how best to approach the specification process, and check off the key […] - [Why use composites?](https://orthotropic.co.uk/why-use-composites/): It’s hard to overstate the importance of composite materials in the 21st century. From early uses where they first proved their worth, composites are often the material of choice for high-performance structures. Furthermore, there are some applications (for example MW-scale wind turbine blades) that simply would not be possible without composite materials. In this article, we explore some of the reasons that might drive us to use composites. Of course, nothing is the answer to everything, so we’ll also take a look at some of the factors that might limit or prohibit their use. Reasons to use composites Let’s start […] - [Composite laminate terminology](https://orthotropic.co.uk/composite-laminate-terminology/): Like any other technical subject, the discipline of composites engineering is full of jargon. Of course, this is very much a mixed blessing: Although generally beneficial in speeding communication, any set of jargon has the potential to render discussions impenetrable to the uninitiated. Therefore, in this article, we attempt to explain in plain English a number of key terms relating to composite laminates. You’ll also find a downloadable pdf document corresponding to this post in the ‘resources’ section of our website. Terms relating to fibres The fibre is one of the two fundamental constituents of a fibre-reinforced plastic composite laminate. […] - [What are composite materials?](https://orthotropic.co.uk/what-are-composite-materials/): At Orthotropic Engineering, we’re kicking off 2019 with a series of articles designed to answer common queries about composite materials and structures. You’ll also find a downloadable pdf document corresponding to this post in the ‘resources’ section of our website. To start, we’re going right back to basics and asking the question “What are composite materials?” Technically speaking, a composite material is any material that comprises at least two constituent materials, each with significantly different properties. The properties of the resulting composite are also different from those of the constituent materials. Frequently used in high-performance applications such as fighter jets, […] - [Merry Christmas from Orthotropic!](https://orthotropic.co.uk/merry-christmas-from-orthotropic-2/): Wishing you a merry Christmas, and a happy and prosperous 2019! This year saw the establishment of Orthotropic Engineering Ltd, and the completion of our first pieces of work. We’re now fully set up with advanced CAD and finite element software, and have the systems in place to ensure that our work will always be controlled, accurate and traceable. Hoping we can be of service next year! ## Pages - [Privacy Policy](https://orthotropic.co.uk/privacy-policy/) - [Resources](https://orthotropic.co.uk/resources/): [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Our Mission” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”0f057285-de2d-4239-9987-c605faa09db2″ custom_margin=”||||false” custom_padding=”3vw||3vw||true|false” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”900px” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Engineering design consultancy • Composite materials engineering” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”7658d94a-00d2-4776-8b48-dd64977d2727″ title_text_align=”center” title_text_color=”gcid-4c79ba3d-a281-4fb6-9b14-02f9a4c793f2″ title_font_size=”18px” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-4c79ba3d-a281-4fb6-9b14-02f9a4c793f2%22:%91%22title_text_color%22%93}”][/et_pb_heading][et_pb_heading title=”Resources” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”934d1ad3-857b-4737-a997-052bc84e1632″ title_text_align=”center” title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][/et_pb_heading][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_image src=”https://orthotropic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/4bbf8a149cce4a6980ed3aa199d85557.avif” title_text=”4bbf8a149cce4a6980ed3aa199d85557″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_fullwidth_image][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Stats” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”0f057285-de2d-4239-9987-c605faa09db2″ background_color=”#FFFFFF” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-1f1bf5fb-a99d-4acc-8d9e-ddac074c158c%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93,%22gcid-a78660e1-cfc7-4771-a566-6834d6a7f06a%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93,%22gcid-24b0db87-dafa-47d9-995f-b90181e18c52%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”4089e560-359e-4761-8bd6-c297d5ab23dc” text_text_color=”#808080″ link_font=”||||on|||#9FCF63|” link_text_color=”#9FCF63″ hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″] Links to Orthotropic articles: [/et_pb_text][et_pb_button button_text=”What is a composite material?” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” button_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9saW5rX3VybF9wYWdlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsicG9zdF9pZCI6Ijc2In19@” _dynamic_attributes=”button_url” hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″][/et_pb_button][et_pb_button button_text=”Advantages and disadvantages of composite materials” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” button_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9saW5rX3VybF9wYWdlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsicG9zdF9pZCI6IjE0MCJ9fQ==@” _dynamic_attributes=”button_url” hover_enabled=”0″ […] - [Composites engineering & consultancy for engineering projects](https://orthotropic.co.uk/composites-engineering-consultancy/): [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Our Mission” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”0f057285-de2d-4239-9987-c605faa09db2″ custom_margin=”||||false” custom_padding=”3vw||3vw||true|false” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”900px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Engineering design consultancy • Composite materials engineering” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”7658d94a-00d2-4776-8b48-dd64977d2727″ title_text_align=”center” title_text_color=”gcid-4c79ba3d-a281-4fb6-9b14-02f9a4c793f2″ title_font_size=”18px” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-4c79ba3d-a281-4fb6-9b14-02f9a4c793f2%22:%91%22title_text_color%22%93}”][/et_pb_heading][et_pb_heading title=”Composites engineering & consultancy for engineering projects” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”934d1ad3-857b-4737-a997-052bc84e1632″ title_text_align=”center” title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_heading][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_image src=”https://orthotropic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/O2-cropped.avif” title_text=”O2 cropped” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_fullwidth_image][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Stats” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”0f057285-de2d-4239-9987-c605faa09db2″ background_color=”#FFFFFF” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-1f1bf5fb-a99d-4acc-8d9e-ddac074c158c%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93,%22gcid-a78660e1-cfc7-4771-a566-6834d6a7f06a%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93,%22gcid-24b0db87-dafa-47d9-995f-b90181e18c52%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”4089e560-359e-4761-8bd6-c297d5ab23dc” text_text_color=”#808080″ link_font=”||||on|||#9FCF63|” link_text_color=”#9FCF63″ hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″] Composites offer significant benefits over traditional materials in many engineering applications, particularly where light weight, high performance or environmental durability are important considerations.  With many […] - [Engineering services for composites manufacturers](https://orthotropic.co.uk/composite-materials-engineering/): [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Our Mission” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”0f057285-de2d-4239-9987-c605faa09db2″ custom_margin=”||||false” custom_padding=”3vw||3vw||true|false” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”900px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Engineering design consultancy • Composite materials engineering” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”7658d94a-00d2-4776-8b48-dd64977d2727″ title_text_align=”center” title_text_color=”gcid-4c79ba3d-a281-4fb6-9b14-02f9a4c793f2″ title_font_size=”18px” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-4c79ba3d-a281-4fb6-9b14-02f9a4c793f2%22:%91%22title_text_color%22%93}”][/et_pb_heading][et_pb_heading title=”Engineering services for composites manufacturers” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”934d1ad3-857b-4737-a997-052bc84e1632″ title_text_align=”center” title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_heading][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_image src=”https://orthotropic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/channel-analysis-2.avif” title_text=”channel analysis 2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_fullwidth_image][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Stats” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”0f057285-de2d-4239-9987-c605faa09db2″ background_color=”#FFFFFF” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-1f1bf5fb-a99d-4acc-8d9e-ddac074c158c%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93,%22gcid-a78660e1-cfc7-4771-a566-6834d6a7f06a%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93,%22gcid-24b0db87-dafa-47d9-995f-b90181e18c52%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”4089e560-359e-4761-8bd6-c297d5ab23dc” text_text_color=”#808080″ link_font=”||||on|||#9FCF63|” link_text_color=”#9FCF63″ hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″] If you’re a composites manufacturer, you’ll know all about the advantages of composite materials, manufacturing processes and design for production, but you might not be able […] - [Composites solutions for renewables and greentech](https://orthotropic.co.uk/composites-solutions-for-renewables-and-greentech/): [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Our Mission” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”0f057285-de2d-4239-9987-c605faa09db2″ custom_margin=”||||false” custom_padding=”3vw||3vw||true|false” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”900px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Engineering design consultancy • Composite materials engineering” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”7658d94a-00d2-4776-8b48-dd64977d2727″ title_text_align=”center” title_text_color=”gcid-4c79ba3d-a281-4fb6-9b14-02f9a4c793f2″ title_font_size=”18px” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-4c79ba3d-a281-4fb6-9b14-02f9a4c793f2%22:%91%22title_text_color%22%93}”][/et_pb_heading][et_pb_heading title=”Composites solutions for renewables and greentech” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”934d1ad3-857b-4737-a997-052bc84e1632″ title_text_align=”center” title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_heading][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_fullwidth_image src=”https://orthotropic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/4bbf8a149cce4a6980ed3aa199d85557.avif” title_text=”4bbf8a149cce4a6980ed3aa199d85557″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_fullwidth_image][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Stats” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”0f057285-de2d-4239-9987-c605faa09db2″ background_color=”#FFFFFF” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-1f1bf5fb-a99d-4acc-8d9e-ddac074c158c%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93,%22gcid-a78660e1-cfc7-4771-a566-6834d6a7f06a%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93,%22gcid-24b0db87-dafa-47d9-995f-b90181e18c52%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”4089e560-359e-4761-8bd6-c297d5ab23dc” text_text_color=”#808080″ link_font=”||||on|||#9FCF63|” link_text_color=”#9FCF63″ hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″] By virtue of their high strength, light weight and durability, composite materials have enabled a number of key renewable technologies and are a hugely important tool in […] - [Blog](https://orthotropic.co.uk/blog/): [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Header & Video” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”ba6d4ae4-f842-4700-8f7d-45f79098e568″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” locked=”off” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-1f1bf5fb-a99d-4acc-8d9e-ddac074c158c%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93,%22gcid-a78660e1-cfc7-4771-a566-6834d6a7f06a%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93,%22gcid-24b0db87-dafa-47d9-995f-b90181e18c52%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”News” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”c92595ed-5d44-4911-92c6-2a5f2a6bf87b” title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][/et_pb_heading][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Call to Action” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”dc2a2a6c-ce76-44a6-a4e6-3f1b3dcfcdc3″ locked=”off” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” type=”4_4″][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section] - [Contact](https://orthotropic.co.uk/contact/): [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Header & Video” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”ba6d4ae4-f842-4700-8f7d-45f79098e568″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” locked=”off” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-1f1bf5fb-a99d-4acc-8d9e-ddac074c158c%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93,%22gcid-a78660e1-cfc7-4771-a566-6834d6a7f06a%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93,%22gcid-24b0db87-dafa-47d9-995f-b90181e18c52%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Orthotropic Engineering Contact Details” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”c92595ed-5d44-4911-92c6-2a5f2a6bf87b” title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” title_font_size=”55px” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_heading][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_5,3_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”9bd0600e-5a52-4549-916c-73d44ea82e89″] phone:07879 210025 (UK)0044 7879 210025 (international) ​e-mail: info@orthotropic.co.uk or please complete the form [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_code _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”|120px||120px|false|true” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_code][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Call to Action” _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”dc2a2a6c-ce76-44a6-a4e6-3f1b3dcfcdc3″ locked=”off” collapsed=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https://orthotropic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot-2025-08-19-at-23.15.28.png” title_text=”Screenshot 2025-08-19 at 23.15.28″ url=”https://www.google.com/maps/place/Orthotropic+Engineering+Ltd./@51.7349737,-1.8040609,15z/data=!4m6!3m5!1s0x487139dc1a60695b:0x9c048345c48178d2!8m2!3d51.7349704!4d-1.7937612!16s%2Fg%2F11gxw10qpx?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDgxNy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D” url_new_window=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][et_pb_button button_url=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9saW5rX3VybF9wYWdlIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsicG9zdF9pZCI6Ijg5In19@” button_text=”Explore OUR Services” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _dynamic_attributes=”button_url” _module_preset=”4c759de4-7ad0-4f49-a35e-5b32e0ca95fe” button_bg_color=”#9FCF63″ hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][/et_pb_button][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section] - [Facilities](https://orthotropic.co.uk/facilities/): [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Header” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”286b72ae-42bc-4bbd-9a05-8aceff4172dc” background_color_gradient_stops=”gcid-d119accd-44d7-4f2f-b9d7-599c8463324b 0%|rgba(255,255,255,0) 25%|rgba(7,33,48,0.6) 76%|#072130 100%” background_image=”https://orthotropic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/non-profit-03.jpg” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-1f1bf5fb-a99d-4acc-8d9e-ddac074c158c%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22,%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93,%22gcid-4c79ba3d-a281-4fb6-9b14-02f9a4c793f2%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22,%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93,%22gcid-688c464a-d6f2-4296-b592-395352c71c79%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22,%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93,%22gcid-d119accd-44d7-4f2f-b9d7-599c8463324b%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22,%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Orthotropic – Engineering design & development facilities” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”2ed78969-bc75-493e-9421-8a7d876e0233″ title_text_align=”center” title_font_size=”50px” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_heading][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”21a547ea-ee72-4fdf-9f20-96aba117a466″ global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-4c79ba3d-a281-4fb6-9b14-02f9a4c793f2%22:%91%22background_color%22%93}”][et_pb_heading title=”Engineering office” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”749a03ea-8cb0-4564-b663-f9103fd43c3b” title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_heading][et_pb_image src=”https://orthotropic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/office2.avif” title_text=”office2″ url=”#office1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”21a547ea-ee72-4fdf-9f20-96aba117a466″ background_color=”#44789D” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Workshop and test” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”749a03ea-8cb0-4564-b663-f9103fd43c3b” title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_heading][et_pb_image src=”https://orthotropic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/workshop.avif” title_text=”workshop” url=”#office2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”455d4840-1a5f-46a4-b3aa-f66e5a818ba2″ hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″] Visitors are always welcome to our Gloucestershire base:  Although small, you’ll find that we’re […] - [Fibre types and selection](https://orthotropic.co.uk/fibre-types-and-selection/): [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Header & Video” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”453a73bf-6d48-464e-8fc6-80d2d5c672ca” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”29px||30px|||” locked=”off” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-1f1bf5fb-a99d-4acc-8d9e-ddac074c158c%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93,%22gcid-a78660e1-cfc7-4771-a566-6834d6a7f06a%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93,%22gcid-24b0db87-dafa-47d9-995f-b90181e18c52%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Fibre types and fibre selection” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”913799ac-10e6-4dc6-bab6-18cb952b593c” title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”f0f6a279-ce59-45cf-85b8-6864a10d5187″ hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″] When specifying a composite part, one of the first questions facing the designer is that of fibre selection – the choice of fibre is a fundamental driver of laminate performance and cost, so picking the right option is of great importance! Fortunately, there are many types to choose from, offering a wide range of physical and mechanical properties and ranging from low cost to highly exotic. Of […] - [How to specify composite structures](https://orthotropic.co.uk/how-to-specify-composite-structures/): [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Header & Video” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”453a73bf-6d48-464e-8fc6-80d2d5c672ca” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”29px||30px|||” locked=”off” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-1f1bf5fb-a99d-4acc-8d9e-ddac074c158c%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93,%22gcid-a78660e1-cfc7-4771-a566-6834d6a7f06a%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93,%22gcid-24b0db87-dafa-47d9-995f-b90181e18c52%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”How to specify composite structures and products” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”913799ac-10e6-4dc6-bab6-18cb952b593c” title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”f0f6a279-ce59-45cf-85b8-6864a10d5187″ hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″] Getting the specification right is critical to the smooth running and ultimate success of any engineering project, and the design of composite structures presents no exception to this rule. In my experience, the projects with the most satisfactory outcome are those where care is taken at the start to formulate and agree a specification that is both achievable and complete. A good specification will also […] - [Composite laminate terminology](https://orthotropic.co.uk/composite-laminate-terminology/): [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Header & Video” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”453a73bf-6d48-464e-8fc6-80d2d5c672ca” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”29px||30px|||” locked=”off” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-1f1bf5fb-a99d-4acc-8d9e-ddac074c158c%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93,%22gcid-a78660e1-cfc7-4771-a566-6834d6a7f06a%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93,%22gcid-24b0db87-dafa-47d9-995f-b90181e18c52%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Composite laminate terminology” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”913799ac-10e6-4dc6-bab6-18cb952b593c” title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”f0f6a279-ce59-45cf-85b8-6864a10d5187″ hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″] Like any other technical subject, the discipline of composites engineering is full of jargon. Of course, this is very much a mixed blessing: Although generally beneficial in speeding communication, any set of jargon has the potential to render discussions impenetrable to the uninitiated. Therefore, in this article, we attempt to explain in plain English a number of key terms relating to composite laminates. Terms relating to fibresThe fibre is […] - [Advantages of composite materials](https://orthotropic.co.uk/advantages-of-composite-materials/): [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Header & Video” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”453a73bf-6d48-464e-8fc6-80d2d5c672ca” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”29px||30px|||” locked=”off” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-1f1bf5fb-a99d-4acc-8d9e-ddac074c158c%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93,%22gcid-a78660e1-cfc7-4771-a566-6834d6a7f06a%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93,%22gcid-24b0db87-dafa-47d9-995f-b90181e18c52%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Advantages and disadvantages of composite materials” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”913799ac-10e6-4dc6-bab6-18cb952b593c” title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”f0f6a279-ce59-45cf-85b8-6864a10d5187″ hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″] It’s hard to overstate the importance of composite materials in the 21st century. From early uses where they first proved their worth, composites are often the material of choice for high-performance structures. Furthermore, there are some applications (for example MW-scale wind turbine blades) that simply would not be possible without composite materials.  In this article, we explore some of the reasons that might drive us to […] - [Projects](https://orthotropic.co.uk/projects/): [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Header” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”286b72ae-42bc-4bbd-9a05-8aceff4172dc” background_color_gradient_stops=”gcid-d119accd-44d7-4f2f-b9d7-599c8463324b 0%|rgba(255,255,255,0) 25%|rgba(7,33,48,0.6) 76%|#072130 100%” background_image=”https://orthotropic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/non-profit-03.jpg” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-1f1bf5fb-a99d-4acc-8d9e-ddac074c158c%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22,%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93,%22gcid-4c79ba3d-a281-4fb6-9b14-02f9a4c793f2%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22,%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93,%22gcid-688c464a-d6f2-4296-b592-395352c71c79%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22,%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93,%22gcid-d119accd-44d7-4f2f-b9d7-599c8463324b%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22,%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Orthotropic – Projects” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”2ed78969-bc75-493e-9421-8a7d876e0233″ title_text_align=”center” title_font_size=”50px” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”70121c25-3bca-4734-ba60-06edf5dcbb5a” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″] Orthotropic has been privileged to contribute to many exciting engineering projects since our establishment in 2018.  We can’t talk about everything we’ve done, but please explore the links below to find out about some of our projects and customers… [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”21a547ea-ee72-4fdf-9f20-96aba117a466″ background_color=”#808080″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Access bridge design” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”749a03ea-8cb0-4564-b663-f9103fd43c3b” title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” title_font_size=”20px” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_heading][et_pb_image src=”https://orthotropic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot-2025-08-07-at-15.06.40.png” title_text=”Screenshot 2025-08-07 at 15.06.40″ url=”#project1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ […] - [Services](https://orthotropic.co.uk/services/): [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Header” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”286b72ae-42bc-4bbd-9a05-8aceff4172dc” background_color_gradient_stops=”gcid-d119accd-44d7-4f2f-b9d7-599c8463324b 0%|rgba(255,255,255,0) 25%|rgba(7,33,48,0.6) 76%|#072130 100%” background_image=”https://orthotropic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/non-profit-03.jpg” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-1f1bf5fb-a99d-4acc-8d9e-ddac074c158c%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22,%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93,%22gcid-4c79ba3d-a281-4fb6-9b14-02f9a4c793f2%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22,%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93,%22gcid-688c464a-d6f2-4296-b592-395352c71c79%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22,%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93,%22gcid-d119accd-44d7-4f2f-b9d7-599c8463324b%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22,%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Engineering design, Stress engineering, FEA & Composites consultancy by Orthotropic” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”2ed78969-bc75-493e-9421-8a7d876e0233″ title_text_align=”center” title_font_size=”50px” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_heading][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,1_3,1_3″ make_equal=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”21a547ea-ee72-4fdf-9f20-96aba117a466″ global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-4c79ba3d-a281-4fb6-9b14-02f9a4c793f2%22:%91%22background_color%22%93}”][et_pb_heading title=”Engineering design services” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”749a03ea-8cb0-4564-b663-f9103fd43c3b” title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_heading][et_pb_image src=”https://orthotropic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot-2025-08-07-at-14.16.52.png” title_text=”Screenshot 2025-08-07 at 14.16.52″ url=”#service1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”21a547ea-ee72-4fdf-9f20-96aba117a466″ background_color=”#44789D” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Stress engineering and FEA consulting” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”749a03ea-8cb0-4564-b663-f9103fd43c3b” title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_heading][et_pb_image src=”https://orthotropic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/Screenshot-2025-08-07-at-14.17.25.png” title_text=”Screenshot 2025-08-07 at 14.17.25″ url=”#service2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”21a547ea-ee72-4fdf-9f20-96aba117a466″ background_color=”#9FCF63″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Composites engineering consultancy” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”749a03ea-8cb0-4564-b663-f9103fd43c3b” title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” title_font_size=”22px” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_heading][et_pb_image […] - [What is a composite material](https://orthotropic.co.uk/what-is-a-composite-material/): [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Header & Video” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”453a73bf-6d48-464e-8fc6-80d2d5c672ca” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”29px||30px|||” locked=”off” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-1f1bf5fb-a99d-4acc-8d9e-ddac074c158c%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93,%22gcid-a78660e1-cfc7-4771-a566-6834d6a7f06a%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93,%22gcid-24b0db87-dafa-47d9-995f-b90181e18c52%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”What is a composite material?” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”913799ac-10e6-4dc6-bab6-18cb952b593c” title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”f0f6a279-ce59-45cf-85b8-6864a10d5187″ hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″] Technically speaking, a composite material is any material that comprises at least two constituent materials, each with significantly different properties. The properties of the resulting composite are also different from those of the constituent materials. Frequently used in high-performance applications such as fighter jets, racing cars and high-end road bikes, it’s tempting to assume that composite materials must be a modern development, but nothing could be further […] - [About](https://orthotropic.co.uk/about/): [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Header & Video” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”ba6d4ae4-f842-4700-8f7d-45f79098e568″ custom_margin=”||||false|false” locked=”off” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-1f1bf5fb-a99d-4acc-8d9e-ddac074c158c%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93,%22gcid-a78660e1-cfc7-4771-a566-6834d6a7f06a%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93,%22gcid-24b0db87-dafa-47d9-995f-b90181e18c52%22:%91%22background_color_gradient_stops%22%93}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”About Orthotropic Engineering” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”c92595ed-5d44-4911-92c6-2a5f2a6bf87b” title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” custom_margin=”||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”9bd0600e-5a52-4549-916c-73d44ea82e89″ hover_enabled=”0″ sticky_enabled=”0″] Orthotropic is an engineering design consultancy, established in 2018 to offer high-quality composite materials engineering services to industry.  We focus primarily on composite structures and composite materials, but are also very happy to undertake more general structural engineering and mechanical design work.  We like to think of ourselves as more than just a composites consultancy; our engineering office is supported by workshop and test facilities, enabling us to augment our offering with practical services such as composite materials evaluation, […] - [Orthotropic](https://orthotropic.co.uk/): [et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Our Mission” _builder_version=”4.25.2″ _module_preset=”0f057285-de2d-4239-9987-c605faa09db2″ custom_margin=”||||false” custom_padding=”3vw||3vw||true|false” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”900px” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.25.1″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Engineering design consultancy • Composite materials engineering” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”7658d94a-00d2-4776-8b48-dd64977d2727″ title_text_align=”center” title_text_color=”gcid-4c79ba3d-a281-4fb6-9b14-02f9a4c793f2″ title_font_size=”18px” global_colors_info=”{%22gcid-4c79ba3d-a281-4fb6-9b14-02f9a4c793f2%22:%91%22title_text_color%22%93}”][/et_pb_heading][et_pb_heading title=”Orthotropic is an engineering design consultancy offering composite materials engineering services to the renewable, marine, industrial and transportation sectors. We can assist with any or all of the steps on your journey from concept to qualification.” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”934d1ad3-857b-4737-a997-052bc84e1632″ title_text_align=”justify” title_text_color=”#FFFFFF” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][/et_pb_heading][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Call to Action” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”142e5bfd-4be5-467a-9865-dee108d8b33e” background_enable_color=”off” background_image=”https://orthotropic.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/08/4bbf8a149cce4a6980ed3aa199d85557.avif” parallax=”on” custom_margin=”||||false” custom_padding=”8vw||8vw||true|false” collapsed=”on” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”e0c0f354-556b-4253-9801-ececce11158c” background_color=”#9FCF63″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_heading title=”Composites solutions for RENEWABLES […] [comment]: # (Generated by Hostinger Tools Plugin)