Cambium, a US-based advanced materials manufacturer, is expanding its North Carolina facility to 60,000 square feet, quadrupling domestic production capacity for its SHD Composites division. The Mooresville site will integrate resin mixing, film, prepreg, testing and development capabilities, with operations starting later this year. The expansion follows earlier upgrades to SHD's UK facility, positioning Cambium among the world's top three prepreg producers. The company manufactures advanced composites for defence, aerospace, space and high-performance automotive sectors. CEO Simon Waddington said demand for high-performance materials is accelerating beyond traditional supply chains' capacity. "Programmes that once measured progress in years now demand weeks," he stated. SHD Composites President Brett Schneider emphasised that speed is engineered into their manufacturing approach, enabling them to maintain short lead times whilst scaling capacity.

Cambium has launched ApexShield 3000, a high-temperature phthalonitrile coating designed for metallic and composite substrates in extreme thermal environments. The coating supports applications from hypersonic flight to electromagnetic interference shielding for electronics. ApexShield 3000 is a sprayable, solvent-based liquid that cures at temperatures as low as 215°C and delivers operational performance up to 315°C, with short-duration capability up to 427°C. The system requires no refrigerated storage and accepts conductive and non-conductive fillers for customised performance. The coating builds on Cambium's phthalonitrile portfolio, including ApexShield 1000, which reduced carbon-carbon parts fabrication cycles by 70-80% for hypersonic applications. Cambium combines AI-driven molecular design with materials science to accelerate production from prototype to full scale.

Cambium Materials has successfully delivered a custom rocket component for a university space mission, marking its first aerospace deployment. The company produced a "boattail" aerodynamic shroud within two weeks of receiving specifications, with launch occurring four weeks later. The high-temperature materials enabled the USC Rocket Propulsion Lab to extend its payload bay length, a critical design advancement for future missions. This marks the first time university students have successfully launched and recovered a rocket as a space payload provider. Cambium's approach integrates molecular discovery, product development, certification and rapid manufacturing across the US and Europe under one roof. The company focuses on developing advanced materials for high-performance applications across multiple sectors, combining AI-driven molecular design with chemistry and materials science.