Composites UK is proud to announce that Professor Mike Hinton will be honoured with the prestigious Outstanding Contribution to the Composites Industry Award, sponsored by Zünd, at the upcoming Composites UK Awards Dinner, taking place on the 30th of October at the National Motorcycle Museum, Birmingham.
This accolade recognises Professor Hinton’s significant and enduring impact on the composites industry through his remarkable career spanning decades in both industrial and academic settings.
Professor Hinton’s career has been distinguished by his leadership in pioneering composites technologies, beginning with senior technical and management roles within the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the Defence Research Agency, and later QinetiQ. His expertise played a pivotal role in introducing the first use of composite structures in safety-critical weapon systems, such as the NLAW rocket motors, now integral to SAAB’s LAW MBT.
During his time as MoD/Defence Evaluation and Research Agency (DERA) Chief Scientific Officer (land), Professor Hinton was deeply involved in composites development across all technology and manufacturing readiness levels. Notably, he launched the Technical Fellows community, serving as Dean, where he fostered a collaborative environment for experts in composites research and development.
One of Professor Hinton’s most influential initiatives was the Worldwide Failure Exercise (1992–2014), a 22-year project designed to evaluate different failure theories for predicting how composite materials respond under stress. This pioneering effort has left a lasting legacy in the global composites community and culminated in Professor Hinton being inducted as a World Fellow of the International Committee on Composite Materials (ICCM) in 2019.
In addition to his technical contributions, Professor Hinton has also played a strategic role in shaping the composites industry in the UK. As the inaugural technology director of the National Composites Centre (NCC) and later the High Value Manufacturing Catapult (HVMC), he has been instrumental in guiding the development of technical capabilities that are vital to the industry’s growth. Since 2017, he has chaired the CIMComp Advisory Board, further demonstrating his leadership in shaping the future of composites innovation.
Professor Hinton’s contributions, often behind the scenes, have been crucial to the strategic direction of the UK composites industry. His expertise and guidance on numerous boards and committees have made him a respected scientific and engineering influencer, both in the UK and internationally.
The Outstanding Contribution to the Composites Industry Award is a fitting recognition of Professor Mike Hinton’s exceptional service and dedication to the composites industry. His legacy continues to inspire future generations of engineers and researchers in the field.
Tickets are still available for the awards dinner up to 23rd October. Click here for details.
Website: https://compositesuk.co.uk