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The Northwest North Carolina Advanced Materials Cluster is a targeted industry cluster — a diverse group of companies, suppliers, service providers and institutions within a specific region who have joined forces to attract and retain companies within a specific industry — in this case, advanced materials companies. Advanced materials are highly engineered materials such as semiconductors, fiber-reinforced polymers, micro-electro-mechanical systems, ceramics, nano-sized particles, and other high-tech materials. The Northwest North Carolina Advanced Materials Cluster specifically targets advanced materials companies that manufacture fiber-reinforced polymers (FRP), which are also known as reinforced plastics. FRPs are stronger than traditional plastics because they are made of a composite material that combines strong fibers, such as glass fiber, with equally durable plastics. FRPs are also lighter and less bulky than materials of similar strength such as steel. By combining these properties, FRPs deliver significant performance advantages over other more traditional materials. Products made from FRP range from bathtubs and decking boards for the construction industry, to railcar components and trailers for 18-wheelers in the transportation industry, as well as highway bridge decks and power poles in civil infrastructure applications. FRPs can also be custom-designed for a wide variety of additional applications. By attracting advanced materials companies to its targeted industry cluster, The Northwest North Carolina Advanced Materials Cluster helps its partners leverage their combined strengths by sharing common resources, workforce skills, training and educational institutions, suppliers, research labs, competitors, and customers. These clusters also contribute to stronger local economies and help increase the region's global competitiveness through focused structural economic change. |
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