Frequently Asked Questions & Resources

FAQs

Carbon Fibre Tubes Ltd can manufacture composite tubing up to 5m in length and diameters of 500mm. Learn more about our manufacturing capabilities or contact us for more information.

Yes we can. We stock a range of standard square tubing and can also manufacture square composite tubing to meet customer specifications.  See our standard tubing range, or you can learn more about our composite tube manufacture.

Yes we can. In addition to round tubes, we can make oval, square and tapered tubes to suit customer specifications. Visit our composite tube manufacture page to understand more about what we can offer.

Actually, this is a particular area of expertise. Using proprietary techniques we can make composite tubing with bends, as well as tapered tubing. If you have a complex requirement, we want to hear from you so please get in touch to learn more about how we can help with your project.

We have a lot of experience and expertise in this area, having been manufacturing telescopic composite tubes for over 10 years.  You can learn more about telescopic tubing applications  here or contact us for more information

Yes, Carbon Fibre Tubes Ltd have a great deal of expertise in this area and can conduct a range of in-house machining operations on composite parts and tubing.  Our capabilities include, but are not limited to:

  • Vertical machining centres for production of tooling and finishing of parts
  • Machining centres equipped with 4th axis capability for performing CNC machining operations on tubes
  • CNC lathes with live tooling for finishing tubes and production of complex mandrels
  • Tube finishing equipment including centreless sanding machines and precision grinders
  • Positive pressure paint booth

Learn more about our machining and assembly capabilities, or get in touch and we can discuss your requirements.   

Yes we are very used to having to meet specific industry standards in our manufacture of composite tubing or parts.  These include being conversant with Defence-related requirements, Marine grade materials and even EN45545 rail standards. Learn more about how we support specific industries or get in touch to discuss your requirements.

We manufacture composite tubing and parts to meet customer exact specifications therefore we can incorporate specialist materials if the application so requires.  Examples of this have previously included fire retardant and lightning strike materials. Learn more about our manufacturing processes.

CFT are experts in the interfacing of components, both composite-composite and composite-non-composite. Our experience has provided significant feedback and empirical test results to inform and validate our joint-designs. We stock a range of adhesives including structural epoxies, methyl acarates and cyanoacrylates and can assist with adhesive selection, factoring in different substrates and operating environments.  To learn more about machining, assembly and bondingor contact us to discuss your requirements.  

Quality is of paramount importance to us, and we understand our customers’ need to assure quality standards are met.  As such we are ISO9001 accredited, are regularly audited, and are willing to undertake additional quality management processes to satisfy customers requirements.  

Yes, in addition to tubing, we also manufacture carbon fibre sheet. We have a range of sizes and finishes available, please take a look here

Yes, machining of composites is one of our key specialisms and we can offer machining services on composite sheet as well as tubing and parts. Equally, we can use carbon fibre sheet in assemblies. To learn more about how we can help take a look here (like to sheet services page), or contact us directly at [email protected]

References

Defence Industrial Strategy: Making Defence an Engine for Growth, 8 September 2025
https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/68bea3fc223d92d088f01d69/Defence_Industrial_Strategy_2025_-_Making_Defence_an_Engine_for_Growth.pdf

Global Britain in a Competitive Age: the Integrated Review of Security, Defence, Development and Foreign Policy, July 21

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/global-britain-in-a-competitive-age-the-integrated-review-of-security-defence-development-and-foreign-policy/global-britain-in-a-competitive-age-the-integrated-review-of-security-defence-development-and-foreign-policy#foreword-from-the-prime-minister

UK Government Integrated Review Refresh, May 23
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/integrated-review-refresh-2023-responding-to-a-more-contested-and-volatile-world/integrated-review-refresh-2023-responding-to-a-more-contested-and-volatile-world

The UK Government Defence Drone Strategy, Feb 2024 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/65d724022197b201e57fa708/Defence_Drone_Strategy_-_the_UK_s_approach_to_Defence_Uncrewed_Systems.pdf

What are composites?
https://compositesuk.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/WAC%20FINAL.pdf

UK Manufacturing: The Facts 2023
https://www.makeuk.org/insights/publications/uk-manufacturing-the-facts-2023#/

Why Manufacturing Supply Chains Matter – credit Composites UK
https://compositesuk.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/2023-IfM_-Why-manufacturing-supply-chains-matter.pdf

How the UK Composites Industry will deliver Net Zero
Composites-Leadership-Forum-Report-Delivering-Net-Zero-compressed.pdf

JOSCAR Supply Chain Management supporting UK Defence industry
https://hellios.com/joscar/