Skip to content
Polar Technology (Lentus/STT)
About us
Polar Technology is an engineering business operating at the leading edge of composite and metallic technology. We deliver innovative, technology-based solutions around advanced composite materials, emerging metal processes and metallic fabrications, through our brands Lentus Composites and SST Technology, from the Horizon Technology Park in Oxfordshire, UK.
Polar have supplied our products and services on many of the major aerospace and defence programmes delivered in the last ten years. Our innovative and enabling solutions address many of the global challenges that the industry faces, including saving fuel, reducing emissions and improving durability. We can offer constant engineering support, the most advanced manufacturing technology and strict quality systems that ensure the highest standards are always maintained.
Products
Safety Critical Structures
Polar Technology manufacture highly stressed weapon mount structures for helicopter platforms and are the named supplier of the enhanced safety roll-over protection assembly for the High-Mobility Transporter (HMT), a vehicle used in land operations by the British Army. These structures are made with a variety of fabrication methods, including tube manipulation, coded welding, precision machining and hydroforming. We use materials that are resistant to harsh environments, such as aluminium, titanium and stainless steel, and that can sustain extreme speeds and vibrations. We also provide further processes, including heat treatment and non-destructive testing, meaning we are able to offer customers a fully integrated, verified, turnkey solution.
Electric Motor Retention Sleeves
Polar Technology have become a key supplier in the development of composite retention sleeves, for electric motor applications to maximise efficiency, performance and power density. The composites sleeves, manufactured in a humidity and temperature-controlled environment on CNC winding machines, can be pressed onto rotor assemblies and work to retain the magnets in the rotor at the highest speeds. To support this demand, we have also installed a brand-new 3-spindle filament winding machine, which forms part of a designated, world-class manufacturing cell. The features of this new machine include precision tension control, a 9 tow fibre delivery system and high-speed, 4 axis winding.
Lightweight Hydrogen Storage
Polar Technology have developed extremely lightweight hydrogen cylinders to support the decarbonisation of the transport industries and the journey to a future of net zero emissions. One current use case is the partnership with Intelligent Energy, a leading fuel cell provider, which triples the range of UAVs. This system emits no CO2 compared to IC engine alternatives and generate less vibrations and noise, meaning UAVs with the new system are cleaner and longer lasting than the alternatives. The cylinders offer class-leading weight efficiency, which enhances the flight time of the UAV by up to 25% and can accommodate high volumes up to 1000l, whilst the manufacturing method is flexible and adaptable, and therefore suitable to a range of potential.
LEEF (Leading Edge Electro Forms)
Polar Technology have collaborated with Ultima Forma to develop a specialist erosion protection solution for defence and aerospace applications. Through combining their technologies, they have achieved improvements in the ability of carbon fibre composites to withstand the thermal and erosion requirements of the most demanding environmental conditions. Leading edges of propeller blades and other aerodynamic structures are vulnerable to continual erosion from grit, sand, ice and water droplets, or damage in highly stressed areas encouraging crack propagation resulting in catastrophic failure. Protecting these areas with a thin layer of metal on the surface can extend the lifetime by a factor of 10. Ultima Forma have developed the protection layer through a process of electro-forming, which involves electric currents depositing a thin layer of metal onto a substrate. Polar Technology are experts in design and manufacture of critical composite products and are working closely on the best method to integrate this electroform into the structure. Scalable manufacturing of parts is underway, with the electroformed leading edges integrating seamlessly with composite aerofoils as co-moulded or secondary bonded structures, enabling faster builds and retrofit flexibility. Three key use cases have been identified as ideal demonstrators of the technology: rotor and propeller blades for eVTOL and UAV applications, aerofoils for turbine inlets, and outlet guide vanes for aircraft engines.
News
Polar Technology selected by ISTEC to manufacture the sub-frame for the USAF Grey Wolf helicopter weapon integration mounts
One of the UK’s leading designers and manufacturers of specialist weapons integration mounts, to manufacture the sub-frame required to connect the ISTEC designed weapons mount to the United States Air Force (USAF) Grey Wolf Helicopter.
Ultima Forma and Polar Technology’s leading edge protection layer enhancing durability for aerospace and defence applications
LEEF (Leading Edge Electro Forms) project*, collaborating to improve the ability of a composite structure to withstand erosion, impact and corrosion in extreme operating conditions.