SHD Composite Materials

About SHD Composite Materials

SHD Composite Materials is a British-headquartered group specializing in the manufacture of advanced composite prepreg materials. The company was founded in 2009 by Steve and Helen Doughty and has since expanded its operations globally, with manufacturing sites in the United Kingdom, Slovenia, and the United States. Steve Doughty has over three decades of experience in the composites industry, while Helen Doughty's background is in business management, administration, and finance.

The group produces a wide array of thermoset prepregs, including those based on carbon, glass, aramid, and natural fibers, suitable for autoclave, press, and oven curing. These materials are used to create tooling and components for various sectors. The company serves a diverse client base in markets such as motorsport, aerospace, automotive, marine, and tooling. SHD's business model focuses on providing high-quality, high-performance materials with short lead times, typically averaging two weeks, and strong technical support. Revenue is generated through the sale of these prepreg materials to a global customer base.

SHD's product line includes tooling and component prepregs, adhesive films, and materials with specific properties like flame retardancy and suitability for high-service temperatures. A key feature is their research and development facility which focuses on the continuous development of new materials, including a focus on sustainability through bio-based resins. The company holds AS9100 accreditation, enabling it to supply to the demanding aerospace sector. SHD has grown significantly, establishing SHD Holdings Ltd to form a group of companies, opening a factory in Slovenia in 2018, and incorporating its US division in the same year with facilities in North Carolina and Oklahoma. In 2025, the company was recognized as one of Britain's fastest-growing private technology companies by The Sunday Times 100 Tech list.