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Material Possibilities

Innovating at the edge of science
We take pride in our heritage of innovation and are proud of the pioneering work our team of scientists are undertaking to solve the challenges of tomorrow. Leveraging our expertise in materials science and fostering strong collaborations with our customers and partners, our materials scientists are dedicated to developing solutions that are addressing some of the world's most pressing challenges.

Specialists in Advanced Materials

Over 175 years of innovation

James Cropper is a leading manufacturer in advanced materials and paper & packaging, with a proud legacy spanning over 175 years. Our deep-rooted expertise and innovative spirit have positioned us as leaders in the industry, consistently pushing the boundaries of materials science. We pride ourselves on being experts in our field, continuously developing and manufacturing cutting-edge solutions that address the evolving needs of our customers. From pioneering advancements in carbon fibre coating technology to revolutionizing sustainable packaging, our commitment to excellence and sustainability sets us apart.

Material Innovation

Pioneering products

Our dedicated Innovation Team continually pushes the boundaries of possibility, pioneering next-generation coatings, spearheading lightweight nonwoven materials to accelerate new energy, and advancing sustainable consumer packaging solutions.

Excellence, Precision, Quality

Setting the standard in manufacturing excellence

Our products are designed to perform at the highest level, supported by cutting-edge quality and control systems. These systems include high-resolution fault detection for paper and nonwovens and rigorous in-house XRD and ICR testing of electrochemical materials, ensuring continuous monitoring and exceptional quality.

Customised Material Solutions

Research and development partnerships

We have over 100 active new product developments. Developing custom materials for our customers is part of our DNA. We recognise that in many cases a standard product will not suffice and our success lies in our ability to develop unique materials which meet specifications that other providers can't fulfil. This means that we work closely with our customers to understand their specific performance, processing, and aesthetic needs and develop a suitable material solution to meet these, time and time again.

Scalable Technology

Meeting global demand

We have recently expanded both our nonwovens and electrochemical materials production capacity to meet increasing demand and provide a blueprint for future growth. With a 3.2GW current coating capacity and facilities in the USA and UK, we are prepared to meet global demand and implement future expansions to support industry needs.

Our innovation

Unmatched technical capability
Our relentless curiosity, agility, and unparalleled expertise enables us to deliver pioneering solutions to our customers. Scroll to learn about our range of new materials, products and capabilities. Our team of material scientists, colour experts and electrochemists operate globally, with state-of-the-art laboratories located in the UK and USA.

Nonwoven Technology

Our nonwoven manufacturing, based in the UK, leverages advanced paper-making technology from James Cropper. This enables us to transform synthetic or mineral fibres into high-performance veils and mats, preserving the fibres’ key characteristics in the final product. The wet-forming process offers exceptional flexibility, allowing the use of a wide range of short-chopped fibres, binders, and fillers. We can produce materials up to 2100 mm (82.7″) wide, with areal weights ranging from 2 g/m² to 3000 g/m².

Lamination

Lamination adds further functionality to paper and nonwoven products. By incorporating lamination into our paper and nonwoven manufacturing process, James Cropper eliminates downstream processing steps, and simplifies fabrication, enabling customer to reduce their processing time.

Through lamination we can:

  • bond different papers, nonwovens and layers together.
  • compress substrates to improve flexibility
  • apply surface coating and bind the materials to produce surface coated products
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Nanocoating

Recognizing the potential of nanotechnologies, James Cropper leveraged nonwovens as carriers for nanomaterials, enabling their integration into various materials and products. Through substantial investment in developing nanotechnology expertise, we have realized this potential by establishing one of the world’s largest textile rolled good nanocoating facilities in Schenectady, NY.

Fibre Plating

Harnessing both electroless and electrolytic plating technologies, James Cropper excels in fine-tuning material properties at the fibre level. Our team of material scientists has achieved superior metal-carbon bond adhesion, ensuring each carbon fibre strand is meticulously and uniformly plated in terms of coverage and coating weight.

Our specialized carbon fibre plating expertise allows for precise customization of metal coatings (such as copper or nickel) and deposition weight, meeting stringent requirements for properties like conductivity and EMI shielding effectiveness.

Particle Plating

James Cropper’s latest innovation, particle plating technology, enhances their carbon fibre coating with metallised particles containing up to 65% metal. These particles, produced from carbon, graphene, and graphite-based materials, can serve as functional ingredients for creating hybrid nonwoven materials. Additionally, they can be used as additives or fillers in plastics compounding or in specialty resin and coating formulations. This advanced technology exemplifies James Cropper’s commitment to pioneering cutting-edge solutions in materials science.

Moulded Fibre

Through our design led process, we’ve crafted a mono-material, plastic-free thermo-formed packaging solution to meet the needs of premium brands. Our 178 years of expertise, personalised design, and unique colour capabilities set us apart, making a material difference every day.

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FibreBlend UpCycled Technology

FibreBlend UpCycled Technology is a testament to our commitment to a circular economy. With over 175 years of mastery in papermaking, our selection of natural and renewable fibres is meticulously curated, ensuring each product not only meets but exceeds expectations in both aesthetics and function.

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