Photo Credit : Composite Braiding
DERBY, UK – Composite Braiding Ltd (CBL), a leader in advanced automated composite manufacturing, is proud to announce it has been honoured as the “Railway Vehicles & Infrastructure” category winner at the JEC World 2026 Innovation Awards.
The award, presented at a gala ceremony in Paris, highlights the company’s breakthrough development of a lightweight thermoplastic composite twin track cantilever (CTTC) for railway overhead line equipment (OLE). This innovation addresses one of the most significant challenges in rail electrification: the weight and installation complexity of traditional steel structures.
Game-Changing Innovation
Developed as part of the Clean Futures Accelerator programme run by the Connected Places Catapult, the CTTC represents a radical shift in rail engineering. While traditional steel cantilevers weigh upwards of 1,700kg, CBL’s glass-fibre reinforced nylon version weighs just 277kg—a staggering 83% reduction in mass.
“Winning this award is a testament to our team’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the rail sector,” said Steve Barbour, Managing Director of Composite Braiding Ltd. “Our goal was to solve the logistical and environmental headaches of rail electrification. By making infrastructure lighter and more sustainable, we aren’t just saving costs; we’re helping the industry reach its Net Zero targets faster.”
Sustainability and Efficiency
The award recognises not only the design of the product but the revolutionary manufacturing process behind it. Composite Braiding’s patented automated technology offers:
- 95% Energy Reduction: Eliminating the need for traditional high-energy autoclaves.
- Rapid Production: Reducing manufacturing cycle times from hours to minutes.
- Circularity: Unlike traditional thermoset composites, CBL’s thermoplastic composites are inherently recyclable at the end of their service life.
- Cost Efficiency: The drastic weight reduction allows for smaller foundations and less concrete, significantly lowering the carbon footprint and cost of delivery and trackside installation.
Collaboration and Future Impact
The project was delivered in collaboration with Tier 1 partners Amey and installation was conducted at the Black Country Innovative Manufacturing Organisation (BCIMO), providing critical proof of the technology’s readiness for the UK’s national rail network and beyond.
With tens of thousands of cantilevers and other OLE structures required for UK and world rail electrification, CBL’s award-winning technology is poised to become a cornerstone of modern, low-carbon transport infrastructure.
About Composite Braiding Ltd: Based in Derby, England, CBL specializes in high-volume, lower-cost structural composites. Their unique automated braiding process combines reinforcement fibres with thermoplastics to create parts that are upwards of 70% lighter than steel but equally strong, serving the rail, automotive, aerospace and infrastructure industries.
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