Silicone & Vacuum Bagging
Vacuum and silicone bagging processes delivering precision lamination with minimal voids and maximum strength.
High-Performance Composite Lamination
Vacuum bagging and silicone bagging are advanced composite lamination techniques that deliver superior strength, finish, and consistency. Vacuum bagging eliminates air bubbles and improves fibre consolidation. At the same time, reusable silicone bags offer long-term cost savings and reduced consumable waste - making both methods essential tools in modern fibreglass manufacturing.
Precision Under Pressure
Vacuum bagging and silicone bagging are high-performance lamination techniques used to enhance the quality, strength, and consistency of fibreglass components. By applying uniform pressure during curing, these methods eliminate air voids, improve fibre-to-resin ratios, and produce lighter, stronger, and more dimensionally stable parts.
Vacuum Bagging: Enhanced Quality & Control
How It Works:
- A composite lay-up is sealed under a flexible vacuum bag.
- A vacuum pump removes air, compressing the laminate evenly.
- The result: reduced voids, improved fibre consolidation, and a smoother, stronger finish.
Key Benefits:
- Eliminates air bubbles and dry spots, reducing the risk of delamination or weak points.
- Improves mechanical properties by increasing fibre volume and reducing excess resin.
- Ideal for complex shapes where hand pressure is inconsistent or insufficient.
- Compatible with hand lay-up, wet lay-up, and prepreg systems.
Silicone Bagging: The Reusable Revolution
Silicone bagging uses durable, reusable silicone membranes instead of traditional consumables like peel-ply, breather fabric, and tacky tape.
Why It's a Smarter Investment
- Reusable for hundreds of cycles, drastically reducing long-term consumable costs.
- Self-sealing and quick to install, cutting down labour time and setup complexity.
- Eco-friendly: Less waste, fewer disposables, and a smaller environmental footprint.
- Excellent chemical and heat resistance, suitable for high-performance resins and elevated cure temperatures.
Experience You Can Rely On
With over 50 years in the composites industry, we've vacuum-bagged and silicone-bagged hundreds of components for clients across the globe. As a family-run business, we're proud to retain a team of expert laminators and technicians - some with over 37 years of hands-on experience with us. Their skill, care, and attention to detail ensure every part meets the highest standards of quality and performance.
Vacuum vs Silicone Bagging: At a Glance
| Feature | Vacuum Bagging (Traditional) | Silicone Bagging (Reusable) |
|---|---|---|
| Consumables | High (peel-ply, tape, breather) | Minimal (reusable membrane only) |
| Reusability | Single-use setup | 100+ cycles per bag |
| Setup Time | Moderate | Fast (self-sealing, no tape) |
| Cost Over Time | Higher (ongoing consumables) | Lower (amortised over many uses) |
| Air Bubble Elimination | Excellent | Excellent |
| Ideal For | Prototyping, varied lay-ups | Repetitive parts, and cost efficiency |
Smarter Lamination Starts Here
Whether you need the precision of vacuum bagging or the long-term savings of silicone bagging, we offer both - backed by decades of experience and a commitment to quality. Let's talk about how we can support your next project.
Our Projects
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TBL600 Airport Fibreglass
Manufactured durable GRP tug components, ensuring rapid replacements, minimising downtime, supporting continuous airport operations worldwide.
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F1 Rolex Design
We were commissioned to manufacture a large, specialised sign for a client, to be used by Rolex to promote their luxury timepieces across the global Formula 1 season.
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XBOX One Launch
Our team was commissioned to manufacture a large sectional moulded dome featuring the iconic Xbox branding.
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Baggage Chute Modification & Relining – Manchester Airport
A major UK contractor approached us to resolve ongoing performance issues with several baggage-handling chutes at Manchester Airport.
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Rooftop Stairwell Pod – Somerset Hospital
Kier Construction appointed us to design, engineer, manufacture and install a bespoke rooftop stairwell pod for Somerset Hospital.
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