Loop Technology, a specialist in industrial automation and robotics, has recently established a new UK office in Sheffield, located close to the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC). The company, headquartered in Dorchester, Dorset, already maintains an additional office in Bristol. The decision to expand follows a period of increased orders.
Alun Reece, CEO, explained: “Due to a big upswing in orders we had to execute a rapid expansion plan. Several sites were considered, but the standout was the Advanced Manufacturing Park. With modern, energy-efficient factory space ready for occupation and abundant local talent, the Sheffield/Rotherham conurbation provided everything we were looking for.”
The company’s FibreLINE robotic system for the high-rate manufacturing of large-scale composites gained attention at this year’s JEC World composites exhibition in Paris. The technology offers complete automation for preforming large composite structures. It was recognised with the 2025 JEC World Innovation Award in the Aerospace Process category, an award shared by Loop and its UK development partners, Fanuc, Güdel, Zung, and the National Composites Centre in Bristol.
FibreLINE is designed for advanced material deposition, intended to speed up the construction of aircraft wings and fuselage sections, engine nacelles, wind turbines, and drones. It works by cutting, sorting, and sequencing carbon fibre material before shaping and placing it onto a mould where it is inspected, heat staked, and prepared for the next production stage.
The new Sheffield office is also situated near the new COMPASS (Composites at Speed and Scale) facility. Loop Technology is involved with the Isothermic High Rate Sustainable Structures project at this location, collaborating with partners Boeing, Spirit AeroSystems, and the AMRC. The Sheffield site currently accommodates three Fanuc M-2000iA robots, which will complement the automated composite manufacturing technology being installed at COMPASS.
Image source: Loop Technology
