TISICS
TISICS is a UK advanced materials company that designs and manufactures silicon carbide fibre-reinforced metal matrix composite components for aerospace primes (e.g., Safran Landing Systems) and spacecraft manufacturers, with vertically integrated production from raw ceramic fibre to finished qualified parts at its Farnborough facility.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2005
- HeadquartersFarnborough, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What TISICS does
TISICS Ltd is a UK-based advanced materials company, founded in 2005 and headquartered in Farnborough, that develops and manufactures metal matrix composites (MMCs) using silicon carbide (SiC) fibre reinforcement of aluminium and titanium matrices. The company is one of a handful of producers globally with continuous SiC mono-filament manufacturing capability via chemical vapour deposition (100µm and 140µm diameter variants), combined with a proprietary net-shape additive manufacturing process that achieves up to 85% material waste reduction versus conventional forging and casting. Its vertically integrated UK facility produces finished aerospace-grade components in-house, from raw ceramic fibre through to qualified parts.
The commercial portfolio spans three sectors. In aerospace, TISICS supplies metal composite landing gear components (side stays, actuators, brake bars), wing ribs, and truss structures, with LightLand - the world's largest metal composite for civil aircraft landing gear, developed with Safran Landing Systems - as the flagship programme. In space systems, the company delivers electric and chemical propulsion tank liners, dual fuel tank modules, robotic arms, and truss struts; Space Forge's ForgeStar-1 mission provided its first commercial flight heritage in 2026. A third industrial vertical targets electrification, renewables, and corrosion-resistant structures. The business model combines hardware sales of qualified composite components with government-funded R&D services: TISICS has captured grants from UKRI, Innovate UK, ATI, UK Space Agency, and ESA totalling roughly £5.1M across 2020-2023 for projects including LightLand, AETHER (hydrogen tanks), DeLLCom (demisable launch components), and the RAiSE digital manufacturing programme. Go-to-market is enterprise-direct, with sales engagement concentrated on aerospace primes and spacecraft manufacturers through programmes like Paris Air Show participation and dedicated sector contact channels.
TISICS firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- TISICS
- Legal name
- TISICS Ltd
- Website
- https://tisics.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2005
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- TISICS is a UK advanced materials company that designs and manufactures silicon carbide fibre-reinforced metal matrix composite components for aerospace primes (e.g., Safran Landing Systems) and spacecraft manufacturers, with vertically integrated production from raw ceramic fibre to finished qualified parts at its Farnborough facility.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
TISICS industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Aerospace Composite Materials Manufacturing
- NAICS
- Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing (33641), Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336413), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419)
- SIC
- Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728), Guided Missiles & Space Vehicles & Parts (3760)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Composite Structures & Layup Manufacturing (IMABAEAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Structural Assemblies & Integration (Airframe Subassemblies) (IMABAEAD), Spacecraft Propulsion (In-Space) & Thrusters (IMABACAE)
Keywords
Where TISICS is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Farnborough
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
TISICS business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Metal Composite Components: Sale of high-performance metal matrix composite components for spacecraft and aircraft including pressure vessels, landing gear components, and structural elements.
- Spacecraft Tanks and Propulsion Systems: Titanium, aluminium and stainless steel tank shells for electric and chemical propulsion applications. Tank types include bespoke dual fuel modules optimised for volume integration.
- Aero-Structural Components: Landing gear, actuators, brake bars, wing ribs, and truss structures for aircraft manufacturers. Components designed and fabricated for specific aerospace applications.
- R&D Services and Technology Development: Government-funded research programmes in collaboration with academic and industry partners. Projects include digital manufacturing automation and Industry 4.0 technologies.
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
TISICS product offering
Product offeringCore offering
TISICS develops and manufactures silicon carbide (SiC) fibre-reinforced metal matrix composites (MMCs), including aluminium and titanium composites, at its Farnborough facility. The company fabricates lightweight aerospace components such as propulsion pressure vessels, spacecraft structures, landing gear parts, and wing ribs using proprietary net-shape additive manufacturing. TISICS serves aerospace primes and spacecraft manufacturers with vertically integrated production from raw ceramic fibre to finished qualified components.
Product overview
TISICS is an advanced materials company offering a portfolio of metal matrix composite products and manufacturing technologies. The core portfolio consists of Ceramic Fibre (silicon carbide mono-filaments), Metal Matrix Composites (SiC fibre reinforced aluminium and titanium matrices), and Net-Shape Manufacture (additive fabrication). Space sector offerings include propulsion tanks (electric, chemical, dual fuel), tank integrations, and spacecraft structures. Aero sector products include LightLand (world's largest landing gear metal composite), composite landing gear components (side stays, actuators, brake bars), wing ribs, and truss structures. The company also develops liquid hydrogen tank technology for zero-emission aviation. TISICS operates vertically integrated production from raw materials to finished components at its Farnborough, UK facility.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- TISICS Metal Composites: Primary brand name used on the website header - world-leading metal composite technology for spacecraft and aircraft components
Products and services
- Ceramic Fibre (SiC Mono-filaments) Continuous silicon carbide mono-filaments produced via chemical vapour deposition at TISICS' Farnborough, UK plant in 100µm and 140µm diameter variants. Foundation material for TISICS' metal matrix composites, supplied to aerospace and industrial customers.
- Metal Matrix Composites (MMCs) Silicon carbide fibre reinforced metal matrix composites in aluminium and titanium matrices. Aluminium composites exceed titanium strength and stiffness at 40% lower density; titanium composites are stronger and stiffer than high-strength steel. Enable up to 70% weight reduction for high-performance aerospace systems.
- Net-Shape Manufacture Additive manufacture process forming complex metal shapes with fully bonded joints. Reduces processing time and material waste compared to conventional forgings and castings, achieving full densification with minimal secondary machining.
- Electric Propulsion Tanks Short lead time, high-performance metallic liners for composite pressure vessels designed for satellite electric propulsion systems. Ultra-thin-wall tank shells optimised for propulsion performance.
- Chemical Propulsion Tanks Short lead time, ultra-thin-wall tank shells suitable for both green and traditional chemical propellants in spacecraft propulsion systems.
- Dual Fuel Tanks Volume-optimised bespoke dual fuel tank modules designed for high throughput integration into satellite platforms.
- Tank Integrations Fully integral, weld-free mounting solutions including mounts, attachments, transition joints, and multi-material bonded joints for spacecraft tank systems.
- Spacecraft Structures Metal composite components for spacecraft including modular tank structures, robotic arms with high stiffness and thermal stability, and truss struts for primary space-frame structures.
- Composite Landing Gear Metal composite landing gear components including composite side stays (achieving greater than 35% weight reduction over aluminium forgings), actuators (up to 50% mass savings over traditional solutions), and brake bars for civil and military aircraft.
- Composite Wing Ribs Aluminium composite wing ribs that increase load-bearing capacity whilst retaining aluminium material compatibility for airframe integration.
- Truss Structures Highly durable airframe structures enabled by metal composite truss struts for aerospace applications.
- Mixed Material Surfaces Bonded full-surface joints for extended material compatibility and mechanical performance in mixed-material aerospace applications.
- LightLand The world's largest metal composite component for civil aircraft landing gear, weighing 36g and carrying 5000kg load. Developed with Safran Landing Systems under £2.5M UKRI/Innovate UK funding. Projected to save airlines £650k/year in fuel per aircraft and reduce CO2 by 9.6 million tonnes annually for wide-body fleets.
- AETHER Liquid Hydrogen Tank Technology Lightweight liquid hydrogen storage tank components for zero-emission aviation. £1.4m ATI-funded AETHER project in collaboration with M.Wright & Sons, OXECO, and University of Derby, aimed at overcoming cryogenic hydrogen storage challenges for long-service aircraft use.
- DeLLCom Demisable Launcher Components Weld-free, one-piece aluminium liner/tank for launchers designed to demise during re-entry, reducing space debris. Funded by the UK Space Agency's Launch UK Technology Investment Programme.
Quantifiable outcome
- Up to 70% component weight reduction
- +6 more outcomes
Companies that use TISICS
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
TISICS technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
TISICS partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Space ForgecoreTISICS developed a critical high-pressure tank subsystem for Space Forge's ForgeStar-1 mission in low Earth orbit. The tank performed to specification and provided TISICS with its first commercial flight heritage. The milestone supports UK's ambitions in In-orbit Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing (ISAM).
- M. Wright & SonscoreAETHER consortium partner bringing expertise in 3D woven shaped fabric for composite aerospace applications. Family-owned business established 1860, specialising in narrow fabric webbing with heritage in aerospace applications.
- OXECOcoreAETHER consortium partner contributing chemistry technology (chemtech) surface treatments for the transport and clean technology sectors using cutting-edge carbene chemistry from University of Oxford.
- University of Derby - Institute for Innovation in Sustainable Engineering (IISE)coreAETHER consortium partner specialising in sustainable life-cycle design and manufacturing processes, computational modelling of materials and structures, and advanced manufacturing expertise.
- OptekminorCollaboration on THERMACH project with Seco, University of Nottingham, and Attenborough Medical to develop solutions for machining difficult materials like metal matrix composites.
- Safran Landing SystemscoreStrategic collaboration on LightLand project - world's largest metal composite for civil aircraft. Safran is the world leader in aircraft landing and braking systems. Development of lightweight landing gear components for ultra-efficient aircraft.
- University of DerbyminorRAiSE project collaboration with University of Derby's IISE for advanced materials and processing expertise, developing automation technologies for metal composite manufacturing.
- University of ManchesterminorRAiSE project collaboration for advanced materials expertise supporting TISICS digital manufacturing processing development.
- Henry Royce InstituteminorRAiSE project collaboration providing TISICS with access to R&D facilities and state-of-the-art processing equipment for advanced materials development.
Scale indicators15 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
TISICS competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Mersen: France-based supplier of advanced materials and components for aerospace and space, including graphite and SiC products for propulsion and thermal management — adjacent competitor in spacecraft and rocket hardware.
- Hexcel Corporation: Global leader in carbon fibre composites for aerospace structures and engines; the dominant incumbent TISICS competes against for lightweighting programmes.
- Toray Advanced Composites: Major carbon fibre and prepreg supplier to aerospace primes; a competing lightweighting approach to TISICS' MMC across airframe and space structures.
- Materion Corporation: Diversified advanced materials supplier with aerospace MMC and beryllium composites, serving similar aerospace and space customers but at much larger scale and broader scope.
- GKN Aerospace: Tier-1 aerospace supplier of composite and metallic structures, including landing gear sub-systems — competes for the same airframe structural weight-reduction programmes.
Direct peers
- DWA Aluminum Composites: US-based manufacturer of aluminium metal matrix composites for aerospace and defence, overlapping directly with TISICS' Al MMC product line for aircraft structures.
- Specialty Materials Inc. US producer of boron and silicon carbide fibre and composites for aerospace and defence, comparable to TISICS at the ceramic-fibre-reinforced composite layer.
- CPS Technologies Corporation: US manufacturer of metal matrix composites and ceramic products serving aerospace, defence, and electronics — directly comparable in MMC formulation and end-markets.
- Touchstone Research Laboratory: US-based MMC and metal composite development firm supplying aerospace and defence customers, overlapping with TISICS on MMC R&D and small-batch production.
Others
- Safran Landing Systems: TISICS' anchor commercial partner on LightLand and the global leader in landing gear systems. While not a direct competitor, it is the dominant customer/incumbent for the same landing gear components TISICS targets.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
TISICS social profiles
Digital presenceTISICS financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
TISICS leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
TISICS funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
TISICS M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about TISICS
What does TISICS do?
TISICS develops and manufactures silicon carbide (SiC) fibre-reinforced metal matrix composites (MMCs), including aluminium and titanium composites, at its Farnborough facility. The company fabricates lightweight aerospace components such as propulsion pressure vessels, spacecraft structures, landing gear parts, and wing ribs using proprietary net-shape additive manufacturing. TISICS serves aerospace primes and spacecraft manufacturers with vertically integrated production from raw ceramic fibre to finished qualified components.
Is TISICS a public or private company?
TISICS is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was TISICS founded?
TISICS was founded in 2005. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is TISICS based?
TISICS is headquartered in Farnborough, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does TISICS make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Metal Composite Components are the primary driver. The others are spacecraft Tanks and Propulsion Systems, aero-Structural Components and R&D Services and Technology Development.
Who are TISICS's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Mersen, Hexcel Corporation, Toray Advanced Composites, Materion Corporation and GKN Aerospace. Direct peers are DWA Aluminum Composites, Specialty Materials Inc., CPS Technologies Corporation and Touchstone Research Laboratory. Safran Landing Systems is listed as an others.
Does TISICS have an API?
No public API is recorded for TISICS.
What industry is TISICS in?
TISICS's product category is Aerospace Composite Materials Manufacturing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is IMABAEAB, Composite Structures & Layup Manufacturing, with a secondary code of IMABAEAD, Structural Assemblies & Integration (Airframe Subassemblies). Its NAICS code is 33641 and its SIC code is 3728.