Cheshire-based Sigmatex (www.sigmatex.com), which supplies a wide range of composite materials to the automotive, aerospace and other sectors, has won the Jaguar Land Rover Innovation Award.

Presented at the Northern Automotive Alliance’s annual awards dinner last month, it recognises Sigmatex’s technical innovation in developing a recycled carbon-fibre textile.

Paul McMullan, global commercial manager, said: “To be recognised with this award is a huge achievement, which we’re very proud of.”

With the carbon fibre market currently producing more than 60,000 tonnes each year, it is estimated that at least 30% of this material is classified as waste and sent to landfill.

Recognising the need to address this issue, Sigmatex has developed a textile that uses this waste.

SigmaRF is a thermoplastic carbon fibre ‘hybrid’ material that can be press-formed into a finished product; this has enabled the company to use a significant proportion of its waste in the past 12 months.

Mr McMullan said: “We’ve received a lot of interest in SigmaRF from the automotive, sports and leisure sectors.

“It is our intention to continue to promote this technology across our customer platforms, with extra focus on the automotive industry.”