TextureJet Awarded Innovate UK Grant to Advance Next-Generation Composite Surface Processing Technology

TextureJet has secured a £130,000 Innovate UK grant to accelerate the development and commercialisation of its pioneering ArcSlice® surface processing technology designed to improve manufacturing efficiency, quality, and sustainability across high-growth industrial sectors.

The funding has been awarded through Innovate UK’s Advanced Manufacturing Supply Chains: Potential High Growth SMEs competition, which supports innovative UK businesses with the potential to strengthen manufacturing capability, productivity and supply chain resilience.

The nine-month project will focus on advancing ArcSlice, which is a new and disruptive surface finishing technology. The project will enable further development, validation, and customer evaluation of ArcSlice, ahead of future commercial deployment.

Building on TextureJet’s established expertise in intelligent surface engineering, the project will support advanced manufacturing of polymer and composite components by providing a new technology which will address the current industry challenges in the preparation and treatment of such materials.

Polymer and composite materials are increasingly being adopted across industries including aerospace, automotive and construction due to their high strength-to-weight ratio and their lightweight, durable and corrosion-resistant properties.

By addressing key manufacturing challenges around process consistency, productivity, and resource efficiency, the project aims to help manufacturers meet the demands of Industry 5.0 by achieving higher quality outcomes while reducing waste, processing times, and operational costs.

“This award is a fantastic endorsement of both our technology and our vision for the future of advanced manufacturing,” said Dr Jonathon Mitchell-Smith, CEO and Founder, TextureJet. “Innovate UK’s support enables us to accelerate the development of a highly promising technology platform with the potential to deliver significant benefits for manufacturers working with advanced materials. As industries continue to pursue higher performance, greater efficiency, and more sustainable production methods, we believe innovations such as ArcSlice will play an important role in supporting that transition.”

The project forms part of TextureJet’s broader innovation roadmap and reinforces the company’s commitment to developing intelligent, scalable manufacturing technologies that help customers improve performance while reducing environmental impact.

Dr Patrick Bointon, Chief Product Officer at TextureJet, added: “Advanced materials such as composites are becoming increasingly important across modern manufacturing, but many production challenges still remain. This project provides an exciting opportunity to further develop and validate our technology while working closely with industry to ensure ArcSlice delivers meaningful commercial and operational value. The Innovate UK award provides vital support to bring that capability closer to market.”

The Innovate UK award marks an important milestone in TextureJet’s innovation journey, accelerating the development of next-generation manufacturing technologies designed to deliver greater efficiency, improved quality and reduced waste. The project will support future commercial adoption while reinforcing TextureJet’s position at the forefront of advanced manufacturing innovation.