Derby-based Composite Braiding Ltd (CBL) were tonight named “Construction Innovator of the Year” at the 2025 Innovation Awards in Birmingham.
The prestigious accolade was announced after a year-long process of voting and judging at a finale awards dinner attended by 500 people at Eastside Rooms in Birmingham.
‘Fantastic opportunity to showcase what we can do’
Steve Barbour, managing director of CBL, reacting to the news, said: “It’s absolutely fantastic. It’s great to get an award. We really want the construction industry to know about our innovation and it’s a fantastic opportunity to be able to showcase what we can do.”
Composite Braiding Ltd (CBL) is leader in sustainable structural composites.
Using highly automated braiding machines and patented rapid-moulding technologies, CBL is making high-volume, affordable composites a reality for the first time while reducing energy consumption by over 95% and reducing scrap to less than 1%.
Dr Richard Fallon, CEO of the Technology Supply Chain (TSC) membership organisation, which runs the annual Innovation Awards, said: “Congratulations to Composite Braiding. We had more entries than ever before this year, and the competition for each category was stronger than it’s ever been.
“Each winner can be justifiably proud and can look forward to ongoing support from the 5,000-member TSC network as they chart their course to future success.”
83% weight saving and 80% carbon saving
CBL specialises in hollow, structural products, like its twin-track cantilever, as well as vehicle structures, logistics equipment and other infrastructure products.
Steve added: “We’re doing high-volume, lower cost, more sustainable composites and we’ve made, structural beams that have gone a very large, 8m tall, 4.5m wide rail structure, called a twin track cantilever.
“It’s saving over 83% of the weight. There’s over 80% of carbon savings, and we’re able to do that at about the same cost as the imported steel, but the installed cost is a lot, lot lower and a lot easier for people to put into the UK and overseas rail systems.”
Innovation Awards are open to individuals, businesses and organisations across the UK
The Innovation Awards recognise, celebrate and reward the businesses, organisations and individuals who are dedicated to innovation.
The awards are open to innovative individuals, businesses and organisations – including universities, local councils and catapults – based in the UK.
