What Germany is building in defence tech (2026)
Apr 30
Back to Companies
Gloucester, United KingdomGloucester, United Kingdom
iComat
Manufactures steered-fibre carbon composite parts for aerospace, defence and space using its patented Rapid Tow Shearing process, producing components up to 65% lighter than conventional composites at production scale.
Founded 201850-100 employeesAthens, Greece5 open positionsWebsiteLinkedIn
Advanced Materials
Products & Solutions
RTS Manufacturing Service
iComat's core commercial offering: end-to-end manufacture of steered-fibre composite parts using the Rapid Tow Shearing process. Customers engage through three stages: Discover (design exploration and prototyping with digital tools and RTS deposition), Validate (low-to-mid volume production using all available processing routes including autoclave, press, RTM and HDF curing, machining and inspection), and Deploy (a dedicated RTS production line installed near the customer's facility and operated by iComat). The model eliminates upfront capital expenditure for the customer while delivering industrial-scale throughput.
Rapid Tow Shearing (RTS)
The patented fibre-steering process at the heart of iComat's manufacturing. RTS pre-steers carbon fibre tapes into a flat 2D preform, which is then stamped into its final 3D geometry without defects, solving the core limitation of conventional automated fibre placement. The process enables composite structures with fibres optimised for actual structural load paths rather than straight-fibre approximations, delivering weight reductions of up to 65% versus conventional laminates. iComat describes RTS as the only defect-free fibre steering technology available at production scale.
Videos
Advanced Engineering Show 2021
iCOMAT Short presentation clip
Lay Flat and Form
About
iComat is a Bristol-founded, Gloucester-based manufacturer of advanced carbon fibre composite structures, spun out of the University of Bristol in 2019 by Dr Evangelos Zympeloudis and Dr ByungChul (Eric) Kim. The company holds the patent on Rapid Tow Shearing (RTS), a process that steers carbon fibre tapes along curved paths during layup without generating defects, something that eluded composite manufacturers for 50 years.
Offices
Gloucester, United KingdomBacked by
8VCNATO Innovation FundSyensqo VenturesVelocity Partners VC
Customers & Partners
Joby AviationBAE SystemsEuropean Space Agency (ESA)HyundaiJaguar Land RoverPall Corporation
Timeline
2024-06
Raised $22.5 million Series A led by 8VC and co-led by the NATO Innovation Fund, with participation from Syensqo Ventures and Velocity Partners VC.
2020
Awarded a European Space Agency grant to apply RTS technology to space launcher structures.
2019
Founded by Dr Evangelos Zympeloudis and Dr ByungChul Kim as a University of Bristol spinout.
iComat
Manufactures steered-fibre carbon composite parts for aerospace, defence and space using its patented Rapid Tow Shearing process, producing components up to 65% lighter than conventional composites at production scale.
Founded 201850-100 employeesAthens, Greece5 open positionsWebsiteLinkedIn
Advanced Materials
Products & Solutions
RTS Manufacturing Service
iComat's core commercial offering: end-to-end manufacture of steered-fibre composite parts using the Rapid Tow Shearing process. Customers engage through three stages: Discover (design exploration and prototyping with digital tools and RTS deposition), Validate (low-to-mid volume production using all available processing routes including autoclave, press, RTM and HDF curing, machining and inspection), and Deploy (a dedicated RTS production line installed near the customer's facility and operated by iComat). The model eliminates upfront capital expenditure for the customer while delivering industrial-scale throughput.
Rapid Tow Shearing (RTS)
The patented fibre-steering process at the heart of iComat's manufacturing. RTS pre-steers carbon fibre tapes into a flat 2D preform, which is then stamped into its final 3D geometry without defects, solving the core limitation of conventional automated fibre placement. The process enables composite structures with fibres optimised for actual structural load paths rather than straight-fibre approximations, delivering weight reductions of up to 65% versus conventional laminates. iComat describes RTS as the only defect-free fibre steering technology available at production scale.
Videos
Advanced Engineering Show 2021
iCOMAT Short presentation clip
Lay Flat and Form
About
iComat is a Bristol-founded, Gloucester-based manufacturer of advanced carbon fibre composite structures, spun out of the University of Bristol in 2019 by Dr Evangelos Zympeloudis and Dr ByungChul (Eric) Kim. The company holds the patent on Rapid Tow Shearing (RTS), a process that steers carbon fibre tapes along curved paths during layup without generating defects, something that eluded composite manufacturers for 50 years.
Offices
Gloucester, United KingdomBacked by
8VCNATO Innovation FundSyensqo VenturesVelocity Partners VC
Customers & Partners
Joby AviationBAE SystemsEuropean Space Agency (ESA)HyundaiJaguar Land RoverPall Corporation
Timeline
2024-06
Raised $22.5 million Series A led by 8VC and co-led by the NATO Innovation Fund, with participation from Syensqo Ventures and Velocity Partners VC.
2020
Awarded a European Space Agency grant to apply RTS technology to space launcher structures.
2019
Founded by Dr Evangelos Zympeloudis and Dr ByungChul Kim as a University of Bristol spinout.
Latest reports
Explore more
Companies in GreeceExplore more
Similar Companies
I
Innatera Nanosystems
Builds neuromorphic processors and developer tools that run brain-inspired AI directly on sensors and edge devices at ultra-low power.
5 roles
VABO Composites
Manufactures lightweight composite doors, hatches and masts for naval vessels, including the only maritime composite door certified for 60-minute fire resistance. Holds a multi-year supply contract with Damen Naval for the Anti-Submarine Warfare Frigate programme.
3 roles
G
Garam Elektronik
Designs and manufactures customised cable assemblies, connectors and interconnection systems for Swedish defence and industrial customers across air, naval, land and space domains. SOFF member founded in 1977 with production sites in Vallentuna and Estonia.
2 roles
SCHUBERTH
Manufactures the Bundeswehr standard combat helmet (Gefechtshelm M92) and the modern M100 ballistic helmet certified to NIJ IIIA and VPAM 2. Produces 1.5 million helmets per year from Magdeburg with around 300 employees. Founded 1922.
iComat owns its name, logo and all referenced trademarks — used here for identification only. Claim, update or remove this profile.