Airbond Splicers (GTW Developments Group Ltd.), a Pontypool-based engineering company that designs and manufactures specialist tools used in carbon fibre manufacturing, has won the national MAKE UK Energy & Sustainability Award for its Lattice 3D Printing Project.
Airbond is a small team of five people, designing and building everything in-house in Pontypool. The award recognises the company’s use of industrial 3D printing and advanced design methods to reduce material use and waste, while improving manufacturing efficiency and maintaining the reliability demanded by industrial customers.
The project was led by Maxim Wright, Airbond’s Head of Design and Development, who leads the company’s design engineering and additive manufacturing programme.
Maxim Wright said:
“We’ve used 3D printing to do something traditional manufacturing can’t: build strength and performance into the inside of the part, using far less material. Winning a national sustainability award is a big moment for a small team in Pontypool — and it shows what modern Welsh engineering can deliver.”
Airbond supplies tools used in fibre and composites production and exports internationally. The company continues to invest in product development and manufacturing capability in South Wales, applying advanced design to make industrial tools lighter, more efficient to produce, and more sustainable.
Airbond is available for interviews, photography, and visits to its Pontypool facility.