Bristol Aeroplane Plastics
Part of Bristol Aeroplane Co
of Stonebridge House, Colston Avenue, Bristol.
Bristol Aeroplane Plastics Limited was responsible for manufacturing various substances such as Glassfibre Reinforced Plastic (GRP), which was produced for several uses. The Plastics Division at Filton produced many different products, including car body shells. [1]
1952 Patent on "Improvements in or relating to the manufacture of blades for use in axial flow compressors or the like."
1957 Bristol made the glass-fibre bodies for the cars of York Noble Industries
1958 Patent on "Molded railway vehicle bodies"
1960 Patent on "Resin-bonded fibre structures"
1966 Was a subsidiary of Bristol. Represented the group technically in a collaboration with Cammell Laird (Shipbuilders and Engineers) to study the application of new materials and fabrication techniques in the construction of underwater vehicles. A joint venture company was formed Bristol-Laird to carry out the work[2]
1966 Rolls-Royce acquired Bristol Aeroplane Co
1967 "An order valued at £250,000 has been placed with Bristol Aeroplane Plastics Ltd., of Bristol, for reinforced glass fibre pipe and screens for a West Pakistan Water and Power Development Authority"[3]
1969 "Rolls-Royce (Composite Materials) is the name of a wholly-owned subsidiary company previously known as Bristol Aeroplane Plastics Limited, an advanced technology organisation which has a history in the design and manufacture of high-integrity structures ..."[4]
1971 After years of research by the Royal Navy, shipbuilders Vosper Thornycroft, and scientists at Bristol Aeroplane Plastics, a ship made of glass-reinforced plastics is about to become a reality. She is 153 feet long[5]
1972 Bristol Composite Materials was established to acquire Rolls-Royce (Composite Materials) and the carbon fibre producer Hyfil from the Rolls-Royce plc receiver
1978 GKN and Bristol Composites formed a joint venture, GB Automotive Composites, to develop and exploit carbon fibre application for automotive uses[6]