High Temperature Material Systems (HTMS), a Bristol-based startup developing advanced heat-resistant materials, has raised €1.5 million to make ‘supermaterials’ more accessible for mass-market applications. Founded by engineers Dr Danilo Di Salvo and Dr Richard Grainger, the company aims to take high-performance materials typically used in aerospace and apply them to everyday industries such as automotive manufacturing and electric vehicle battery production.
The funding round was backed by the British Business Bank’s South West Investment Fund and Midlands Engine Investment Fund II, through Maven Capital Partners and Mercia Ventures. Additional support came from SFC Capital, DeepTech Labs, Plug and Play, and several angel investors. The investment will enable HTMS to open a new production facility in Wiltshire, establish an office in Leamington Spa, and continue expanding its research and development efforts.
HTMS specialises in Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs), materials that combine the heat resistance of ceramics with fibres for improved strength and flexibility. CMCs, famously used on the underside of the Space Shuttle, can withstand extreme environments and are significantly lighter than metal. However, their widespread use has been limited due to high production costs.
Dr Di Salvo and Dr Grainger, who together have over two decades of experience in the composites industry, have developed a manufacturing process that dramatically reduces the energy, time and cost required to produce CMCs. Initially experimenting with their method on a kitchen stove, the pair founded HTMS in 2021 to bring their breakthrough to market and create the UK’s first domestic supply chain for these materials.
HTMS is already collaborating with major automotive and battery manufacturers, as well as research partners including Cranfield University. With its materials capable of withstanding temperatures up to 1400°C, the company is currently focusing on applications such as exhaust components, brake shims and electric vehicle battery casings — three of the most pressing thermal challenges facing the automotive sector.
Based in Stratford-upon-Avon, with a laboratory in Bristol, HTMS employs a team of eight and expects to create around 40 new jobs over the next four years as it scales production. The global market for high-performance CMCs is projected to more than double by 2033, exceeding $25 billion.
Dr Danilo Di Salvo, CEO and Co-founder of HTMS, said: “Richard and I saw the potential of advanced thermal composites but were frustrated with the high cost and lack of a UK supply chain. This is a fantastic moment for British manufacturing. We are excited to scale up manufacturing of our world-leading products and look forward to growing our business and championing British innovation.”
Rafi Khan, Investment Manager at Maven, said: “HTMS has developed a truly differentiated manufacturing process for high-performance ceramic composites, combining technical excellence with commercial insight. As industries seek lightweight, heat-resistant materials that are scalable and sustainable, HTMS’s platform is well placed to deliver real impact. We are pleased to support Danilo, Richard and the team as they enter their next stage of growth.”
Shubham Jaipuria, Investor at Mercia Ventures, added: “HTMS’s advanced materials open up new possibilities across a range of industries – from safer electric vehicles and more fuel-efficient aircraft to improved energy storage. By enabling the launch of the new laboratory, this investment will also help to create a domestic supply chain for these important new materials.”
Beth Bannister, Senior Investment Manager at British Business Bank, said: “This investment is the first time the Midlands Engine Investment Fund II and the South West Investment Fund have worked together. By bringing together our expertise and funding, we have been able to support HTMS’s expansion across both regions, helping to create skilled jobs, strengthen the UK’s supply chain for advanced materials, and support one of the key growth sectors identified in the UK’s modern Industrial Strategy.”
Read the orginal article: https://www.eu-startups.com/2025/10/bristol-based-high-temperature-material-systems-secures-e1-5-million-to-develop-advanced-heat-resistant-materials/
