UNIVERSAL CARBON’S DRIVE TO NEW ERA
Director buys fibre company

The environmentally friendly car of the future will cruise along with help from a Yorkshire fibres business.

Apart from driving the development of ‘green’ cars, Universal Carbon Fibres Ltd also protects fire fighters and law enforcers from bullets and flames.

The company, based in Wyke, West Yorkshire has been bought by site director Bill Capstick from its US owners, Lantor Advanced Materials Group, with funding provided by NatWest and Euro Sales Finance.

Mr Capstick believes there’s massive scope for expansion in the carbon fibres sector because of its applications in motoring. He thinks Universal Carbon Fibre’s market leading position will pay dividends at a time of a world carbon shortage. Unlike many of its neighbouring firms, the company has no links with conventional textiles or the fashion industry.

Mr Capstick said: “Our fibres are technical fibres. For example, we make a piece of carbon that goes into the gearbox in 16 wheel trucks in the US, that enables the manufacturer to guarantee that the whole transmission system will last for a minimum of 750,000 miles.

“Our carbon products will be used in the cars of the future – electrically powered cars which use hydrogen as a fuel. This will make it a “zero emissions” environmentally friendly vehicle.”

“We also provide fire protection for aircraft and make water absorbent protectors for telecoms cables.” He added.

“The biggest enemies of cables are rats. Rats nibble at insulation material and water gets in. Our product stops water from getting to the cable so you don’t have to dig the whole road up.”

“I intend to grow the company by 5-10 per cent over the next 2 years.”

Following the acquisition, Mr Capstick becomes the company’s Managing Director. Universal Carbon Fibres was founded in 1982 as a division of Thomas Burnley which was based in nearby Gomersal. The firm exports to the US and Europe. Mr Capstick has retained all 34 staff from the original Universal Carbon Fibres division.

The £2.5m turnover company also supplies textiles for use in protective suits worn by Britain’s emergency services.

James Cornell, Associate Director Business Development for the Leeds Commercial Banking team represented NatWest in the deal, while Andy Grantham, Director for Euro Sales Finance, helped provide working capital.

Mr Capstick added “I am pleased to lead Universal Carbon Fibres into private ownership. The business has enjoyed significant success to date and the acquisition demonstrates my commitment to the future growth of the firm and the development of the automotive side of the business.”

Mr Grantham added: “We are delighted to have been able to support Bill in his transaction. He has tremendous experience in this sector and we look forward to working with him and his team in the future.”

Yorkshire Post
26th October 2005
Greg Wright – Deputy Editor