England's company High Temperature Material Systems (HTMS), which makes high-temperature ceramic composites, has raised £1.3 million in a funding round from the British Business Bank’s Midlands Engine Investment Fund II and the South West Investment Fund.
- Established in 2021 by Danilo Di Salvo and Richard Grainger, High-Temperature Material Systems (HTMS) develops advanced Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs) for high-temperature applications.
- The firm focuses on creating materials that combine the heat resistance of ceramics with the strength and flexibility of embedded fibers, producing composites capable of withstanding temperatures up to 1400°C.
- HTMS’s approach involves proprietary matrix chemistries and fiber integration techniques to reduce production time, energy, and cost compared with conventional methods.
- Its products, including ThermaLite, IgniShield, KappaCera, and CarboniteX, target sectors such as aerospace, automotive, and energy, with specific applications in heat shields, fire-resistant components, low-dielectric materials, and high-strength carbon-fiber composites.
- The company operates laboratories and production facilities in the UK, collaborating with automotive and battery manufacturers and research institutions to test, refine, and scale its materials.
Details of the deal
- The £1.3 million investment was backed by the British Business Bank’s Midlands Engine Investment Fund II (via Maven Capital Partners) and South West Investment Fund (via Mercia Ventures), as well as SFC Capital, DeepTech Labs, Plug and Play, and angel investors.
“This investment is the first time the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II and the South West Investment Fund have worked together. By bringing together our expertise and funding, we have been able to support HTMS’s expansion across both regions, helping to create skilled jobs, strengthen the UK’s supply chain for advanced materials," Senior Investment Manager at British Business Bank, Beth Bannister, commented.
- With the fresh capital, the firm aims to expand production of their Ceramic Matrix Composites, open a new office and production facility, advance research and development, and grow their team by up to 40 employees, while establishing a domestic supply chain for their high-performance materials.
“Richard and I saw the potential of advanced thermal composites but were frustrated with the high cost and lack of a UK supply chain. This is a fantastic moment for British manufacturing. We are excited to scale up manufacturing of our world-leading products and look forward to growing our business and championing British innovation,” explains Danilo Di Salvo, CEO and co-founder of HTMS.
