Dash-CAE to showcase LFAM-enabled carbon monocoque manufacturing process at Goodwood Festival of Speed
Engineering and composites specialist Dash-CAE will showcase its LFAM-enabled tooling and composite production process at the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2026 (stands 74 and 75), revealing a new single-seat carbon monocoque technology demonstrator to highlight what the approach can deliver. The process builds upon Dash’s experience as a pioneer of Large Format Additive Manufacturing (LFAM) tooling in composite applications.
The new demonstrator has been created to showcase how Dash can move from CAD to a complete carbon chassis in a matter of days using recyclable 3D-printed tooling, proprietary LFAM materials, and in-house composite production. The process is designed to make low-volume carbon monocoque development faster, more flexible, and more commercially viable.
The new demonstrator follows the 2024 launch of Dash’s widely acclaimed TR01 carbon chassis for supercars, hypercars, and racecars. TR01 will be displayed alongside the new monocoque, showcasing how Dash is applying its engineering, additive manufacturing, and composite production expertise to quickly and cost-effectively produce these complex composite structures.
The unveiling comes as Dash prepares for its 20th anniversary celebrations later this year, following its recent expansion into a new 30,000-square-foot headquarters facility in Abingdon.
How LFAM changes low-volume carbon chassis production
Development of the demonstrator was enabled by Dash’s use of Large Format Additive Manufacturing, allowing the rapid production of accurate and recyclable composite tooling. As a result, Dash can move from CAD to a complete chassis in a matter of days, reducing the upfront tooling time and cost usually associated with conventional carbon monocoque production.
The demonstrator has been produced using quasi-isotropic sheet moulding compound, similar to that used by supercar manufacturers, which provides strong energy distribution/absorption while remaining light and stiff. This makes the process well-suited to structural applications for all chassis programmes.
Dash’s process also allows for the monocoque design to be adjusted quickly for different race series or vehicle requirements. This flexibility is enabled by Dash’s proprietary Dastrude100 and Dastrude165 LFAM materials, which are optimised for the demanding thermal cycling of composite tools. Dastrude100 is an optimised pattern and jig material, while Dastrude165 can be used for A Class production direct tooling.
Headquarters expansion to drive growth
In June, Dash expanded into its new 30,000-square-foot headquarters facility, within the same industrial park in Abingdon. The new site has increased composite production capacity and space for more 5-axis and LFAM technologies. Additional vehicle build bays expand support for the company’s end-to-end ‘full vehicle’ offering, including automotive, motorsport, marine, and aerospace programmes.
The expansion aligns with a significant milestone for the family business, as Dash prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary in November. Starting as a Formula 1 consultant and designer in the mid-2000s, Dash has grown and diversified in the following decades. Today, it is recognised as one of the UK’s leading high-performance composite suppliers, supported by a variety of in-house engineering and manufacturing capabilities.
Tim Robathan, Chairman at Dash, commented: “We are excited to return to the Festival of Speed with a technology demonstrator that shows what our LFAM-enabled tooling and composite production process can achieve. By leveraging our LFAM capabilities and proprietary materials, we can quickly produce the required tooling, significantly lowering the upfront costs of manufacturing high-performance carbon monocoques. It builds on the same innovative thinking behind TR01, which drew international attention, including from global OEMs.
“The demonstrator comes as we expand into our new facility, increasing our production capacity and manufacturing capabilities. This includes more room for advanced machining technology and dedicated build bays for Dash Bespoke projects. It is one of the most significant changes in the 20-year history of the business, which we look forward to celebrating later this year.”
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