Attwater Group

What Attwater Group does

Attwater Group is a UK-based manufacturer of industrial laminates and composite materials, founded in 1868 by Richard Henry Attwater as a ship's chandler in Preston. The company remains family-owned and is the longest-established manufacturer of industrial laminates in the United Kingdom. It operates through its Preston headquarters and a manufacturing facility in Rochdale (Custom Composites Ltd subsidiary), producing paper-based (SRBP), fabric-based (SRBF), glass-based (SRBG), and specialist composite laminates alongside CNC-machined precision components. The portfolio spans 1,000+ products including proprietary grades such as B34 polyimide glass laminate (co-developed with BAE Systems for the Eurofighter Typhoon programme), B10 phenolic cotton laminate, Technolaque high-performance laminates for power electronics, and epoxy-steel laminate (believed to be the only UK manufacturer). Production capabilities include CNC machining, contract pressing, and laminate processing up to 150mm thick via a Holzma beam saw, supported by an in-house testing facility with 30+ methods.

The company maintains AS9100D aerospace certification, ISO 9001:2015, and compliance with REACH, RoHS, and conflict minerals regulations, positioning it as an approved supplier to aerospace and defence customers. Commercially, Attwater operates a direct enterprise sales model with quote-based pricing and multi-year contracts, reaching customers via phone, email, website contact, and ten-plus years of trade show participation at the Composites Engineering Show and Advanced Engineering Show. Its customer base includes Airbus, GKN Aerospace, Westland Helicopters, BAE Systems, the RNLI, NATO, and Team GB Olympic Sailors. Revenue derives from one-time industrial laminate sales, CNC machined components, composite tubes and rods (via Custom Composites), and technical/support services. The aerospace sector has been a focal growth area, with over £350,000 in orders secured in a three-month period in 2016, and the company has continued to invest in organisational capability, appointing Andy Goode as Managing Director in August 2019 and Matt D'Arcy as Technical Director in July 2020.

Name

Attwater Group

Legal name

Attwater & Sons Ltd

Website

https://attwater.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1868

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Attwater Group is a family-owned UK manufacturer of industrial laminates and composite materials, founded in 1868. The company produces SRBP, SRBF, SRBG, and specialist composite laminates plus CNC-machined components for aerospace, marine, rail, electrical, and energy sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Laminates Manufacturing

NAICS

Laminated Plastics Plate, Sheet (except Packaging), and Shape Manufacturing (326130)

SIC

Unsupported Plastics Film & Sheet (3081)

akta.pro primary industry

Composite Structures & Layup Manufacturing (IMABAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

FRP/GRP & Composite Materials (Resins, Fibers, Core Materials) (IMAJAKAC)

Keywords

• Industrial laminates manufacturing
• Composite materials supply
• CNC machined components
• Aerospace composite laminates
• Phenolic glass laminates

Headquarters

HQ city

Preston

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Industrial Laminates and Composite Materials Sales: Manufacturing and sale of industrial laminates including paper-based (SRBP), fabric-based (SRBF), glass-based (SRBG), and specialist composite laminates. Products sold to aerospace, rail, marine, electrical/engineering sectors.
2. Machined Components: CNC machining services to produce precision components from laminate materials to customer specifications. Includes contract pressing capabilities.
3. Composite Tubes and Rods: Supply of specialist fabric, paper and glass fibre tubes and rods through Custom Composites subsidiary.
4. Technical Services: Technical support, in-house testing capacity, and product development services to support customers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Attwater Group manufactures and supplies industrial laminates, including paper-based (SRBP), fabric-based (SRBF), glass-based (SRBG), and specialist composite laminates, sold as sheets, tubes, and rods. The company also operates an in-house CNC machine shop producing precision-machined components to customer specification and offers contract pressing services. Products serve aerospace, rail, marine, electrical/engineering, and energy sectors, with subsidiary Custom Composites supplying carbon fibre composite tubes and rods.

Product overview

Attwater Group offers a unified portfolio of industrial laminate products and precision machining services. The core product line comprises three laminate types: Paper Based Laminates (SRBP), Fabric Based Laminates (SRBF), and Glass Based Laminates (SRBG), complemented by specialist composite and bespoke laminates. These materials are available as sheets, tubes, and rods, with the company's in-house CNC machine shop providing precision machined components as an integrated service. Subsidiary Custom Composites supplies carbon fibre tubes and specialist composite products. Services include contract pressing for customer materials. The product range serves sectors including aerospace, rail, marine, energy, and general electrical engineering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Paper Based Laminates (SRBP) Phenolic paper laminates used for electrical insulation applications in the SRBP (Synthetic Resin Bonded Paper) product line, part of a 1,000+ product catalogue.
• Fabric Based Laminates (SRBF) Fabric-based industrial laminates made with phenolic cotton materials, offering high machinability for aerospace and engineering applications.
• Glass Based Laminates (SRBG) Glass fibre reinforced industrial laminates including proprietary polyimide glass (B34 grade) and phenolic glass (B10 grade), used for high-temperature aerospace and engineering applications.
• Composite / Specialist Laminates Specialist bespoke composite laminates including Technolaque high-performance laminates for electronic assembly and power electronics, epoxy-steel laminate for oil and gas gaskets/seals, peel ply phenolic laminates, elastomer-faced composites, PTFE-faced composites, and anti-ballistic materials.
• Glass Fibre Tubes High-strength glass fibre composite tubes used in marine, aerospace, and industrial applications, supplied by Attwater.
• Composite Tubes and Rods (Carbon Fibre / SRBP / SRBF) Carbon fibre and composite tubes and rods including SRBP and SRBF variants, manufactured by subsidiary Custom Composites Ltd in Rochdale for marine, military, sport, and industrial applications.
• Machined Components Precision CNC machined components manufactured from Attwater's industrial laminates to customer specifications, with capability to produce laminates up to 150mm thick and components serving aerospace, automotive, and electrical market sectors.
• Contract Pressing Contract pressing service where Attwater works with customer-supplied materials to produce quality pressed products to customer needs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Delivered 165mm thick epoxy glass industrial laminate - considerably thicker than standard orders
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• British MarineminorOthers · 4 January 2019Attwater & Sons Ltd joined British Marine, the organization promoting and supporting the £3bn UK marine sector. Marine is where Attwater began 150 years ago as a ship's chandler on Preston Docks. Membership denotes quality and provides access to industry network and potential customers.
• Team Lloyd Williams – Alloway (Olympic Sailors)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 October 2017Custom Composites (Attwater Group subsidiary) partnered with Olympic 49er class sailors Will Alloway and Henry Lloyd Williams to improve carbon fibre tiller extensions and boat components within strict class regulations. Team ranked 34th in world, targeting top 10.
• Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2016Attwater supplies materials for Shannon Class All Weather Lifeboats and Custom Composites (subsidiary) provides composite rollers for launch/recovery systems. Partnership involves designing custom components to withstand 18-tonne craft weight and harsh marine environments. Manufacturing includes 17 cassettes housing the rollers for Swanage lifeboat station.
• RNLI (Shannon Class Lifeboat Project)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 28 October 2016Ongoing supply of composite materials for RNLI Shannon Class All Weather Lifeboats, including materials for the craft themselves and rollers for the £3.5 million Swanage lifeboat Station launch system.
• Custom Composites LtdcoreOthersRochdale-based subsidiary specializing in carbon fibre tubes and composite products. Part of Attwater Group, serving sectors including military, sport, marine, and industrial applications. Andy States serves as General Manager.
• Accrington and Rossendale CollegeminorOthersSupplied composite and sheet materials for the college's Electric Racing Car Club competing in Greepower Formula 24+ racing series. Program helps 16 to 25-year-olds learn about engineering.
• Lyndon Poskitt (Dakar Rally)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerProvided carbon fibre composites for Dakar Rally motorcycle, helping reduce bike weight by 10% while maintaining strength. Supported media coverage of Dakar Rally 2017 and 2018 events during company's 150th anniversary.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Emerging players

• PRF Composite Materials: UK-based manufacturer of prepreg materials and composite reinforcements. Operates in the same UK advanced composites ecosystem as Attwater with overlapping aerospace, motorsport, and industrial customers.

Direct peers

• Norplex-Micarta: US-based manufacturer of thermoset composite laminates (phenolic, epoxy, silicone resin systems) for electrical, aerospace, and industrial markets. Highly comparable product set including SRBP/SRBF/SRBG equivalents and serves aerospace primes.
• Von Roll: Swiss manufacturer of electrical insulation, composite materials, and high-performance laminates. Direct competitor in electrical insulation laminates and a comparable specialty industrial laminates supplier serving similar European industrial customers.
• Tufnol Industries: UK-based manufacturer of industrial laminates (paper, fabric, and glass-based grades) very similar in product portfolio to Attwater. Long-established specialist competitor in the same niche with overlapping aerospace and engineering customers.

Others

• GKN Aerospace: Major Tier-1 aerospace structures and composite aerostructures supplier. Attwater is an approved supplier to GKN Aerospace, and they operate in the same aerospace composites value chain at different tiers.

Broad incumbents

• Gurit: Specialty composites company supplying core materials, prepregs, and engineered composites to wind energy, marine, and aerospace markets. Comparable in marine and aerospace composite materials to Attwater's Custom Composites business.
• SGL Carbon: Global manufacturer of carbon-based products including carbon fibre composites used in aerospace, automotive, and industrial applications. Comparable to Attwater's Custom Composites subsidiary in carbon fibre tubes and rods, but operates at global industrial scale.
• Hexcel: Large global aerospace composite materials supplier (carbon fibre, prepregs, honeycomb). Overlaps with Attwater in aerospace-grade composite laminates but operates at vastly larger scale and broader product breadth.
• Eastman Chemical: Global specialty materials company with advanced materials segment producing high-performance polymers and composites. Broader incumbent in performance materials relevant to Attwater's specialty laminate value chain.
• Park Aerospace: US-based manufacturer of composite parts and materials for aerospace and high-performance industrial applications. Comparable aerospace-grade composite laminate supplier serving similar Tier-1 primes as Attwater.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AttwaterGroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-attwater-group

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Attwater Group