Velocity Composites achieves Nadcap Special Process accreditation

Advanced composite material kit supplier Velocity Composites has successfully achieved Nadcap Special Process accreditation for composites scope kitting service provider (KSP), it announced on Monday, as a result of what its board said was an “ongoing commitment” to quality by satisfying customer requirements and industry specifications.

The AIM-traded firm said Nadcap - the National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program - was the leading worldwide cooperative program of major aerospace primes and was designed to manage a cost-effective consensus approach to special processes and products, and provide continual improvement within the aerospace and defense industries.

It said it provided an industry-managed supply chain oversight programme that worked to improve quality, while reducing costs by assessing process capability for compliance to industry standards and customer requirements.

The accreditation came after Velocity had worked with various customers over a “long and sustained” period, and whilst the accreditation - which the company described as “significant” - did not represent any increase in short term income, Velocity said it did represent an enhanced ability to secure work on both Airbus and Boeing programmes around the world in the medium and long term.

Velocity added it would continue to develop advanced kits for both structural - carbon fibre prepreg, glass fibre prepreg, film adhesives and surface products - and consumable - vacuum bag - engineered kits for all major aerospace programmes.

“This is a significant approval with important and positive implications for Velocity and its ability to win contracts going forward,” said CEO Jon Bridges.

“The accreditation scope covers the structural material kit cutting and material control and storage, and is recognised across the aerospace industry and specifically mandated by many Primes.

“It represents an important piece of the Velocity growth story and a clear endorsement of our business model.”

Bridges said Nadcap accreditation was the culmination of “years” of hard work by the company’s team.

“The Nadcap accreditation supplements our global Airbus approval for kitting and cutting and Velocity continues to seek further, specific, approvals which will complement our current suite.”