A specialist service offered by 4Four Associates is composites structures design. After graduating in 1984, Matthew joined John Barnard and Steve Nichols in the McLaren design office where, three years previously, John had introduced to F1 the first-ever single-shell moulded carbon fibre monocoque (chassis). From that moment on carbon fibre composite structures became ubiquitous in F1 as well as many other forms of motorsport. Since that time designing composite structures and crash structures has become a mainstay of Matthew's services offered to clients in increasingly diverse industry sectors, where the benefits of lightweight, structurally efficient components can be exploited.
4Four Associates now provides design services and consultancy to the Automotive, Aerospace, Motorsport, Energy, Defence and Marine industries who are all exploiting the benefits of lightweight, highly efficient composite structures. Apart from passing on the technical lessons learnt from close to 40 years' involvement in designing composite structures, we find a common requirement for nearly all our clients is the need to 'think outside of the box' and not try to reproduce a previously-made metallic component with a similar geometry now comprising composites. In addition, the need to consider how components will be manufactured from the outset is of paramount importance. Being able to connect the design process with the best manufacturing process from the start is all part and parcel of our services.
