Carbon Fibre Tubes and Composite Tubes

Carbon Fibre Tubes

If you’re sourcing carbon fibre tubes for aerospace, defence, marine, motorsport, or industrial applications, you need a manufacturer that can engineer to your exact specification, not just ship from a catalogue.

At Advanced Composites Engineering, we design and manufacture roll-wrapped carbon fibre tubes, glass fibre tubes, and Kevlar™ composite tubes from our certified facility in Cramlington, Northumberland. Every tube is built to your specification: the right material, the right dimensions, the right finish, backed by 40+ years of composites manufacturing experience.

ISO 9001:2015 Certified

Composites UK Member

UK Manufacturing - Cramlington, NE

40+ Years Experience

Our Carbon Fibre Tubes and Composite Tubes

Here at Advanced Composites Engineering, we design and manufacture composite tubes from a wide range of materials, including carbon fibre, glass fibre, and aramid fibre (otherwise known as Kevlar™), as well as hybrid combinations specifically engineered to meet the demands of your application.

From a standard tube to a fully bespoke composite structure, our in-house engineering team works with you from initial specification right through to the finished component. We don’t sell from a catalogue, we build to your exact requirements.

Material Key Properties Common Applications
Carbon Fibre High tensile strength, low weight, stiff Aerospace, motorsport, defence, robotics
Glass Fibre (GRP) Cost-effective, good corrosion resistance Marine, industrial, infrastructure
Aramid / Kevlar™ Impact and abrasion resistance, tough Defence, ballistic, safety-critical parts
Hybrid Combinations Tailored property balance Bespoke engineering applications

How We Make Your Carbon Fibre Tube: Roll Wrap Technology

A large percentage of our composite tubes are manufactured using what’s known as the ‘male moulding process’, often referred to as “roll wrap.” It works by wrapping pre-impregnated fibre sheets (prepreg) around a precision mandrel, giving our engineers exact control over fibre placement, orientation, and wall thickness at every point along the tube.

This results in a tube with true zero-degree axial fibre alignment, consistent mechanical properties across its full length, and absolutely no tooling compromises. As a carbon tube supplier with over 40 years of composites experience, we’ve found this to be the optimal technique for manufacturing thin-walled composite tubing, and it’s why roll wrap remains the preferred method for demanding sectors across the world.

We have achieved the ISO 9001:2015 certification, demonstrating our commitment to consistently providing products and services that meet customer and regulatory requirements.

Carbon Tube Close Up

Want to Know if Roll Wrap Is Right for Your Application?

Our engineers can advise on the best manufacturing method for your specification for fibre alignment, wall thickness, taper requirements, or something else entirely. Get in touch, and we’ll walk you through.
Speak to a Specialist

Carbon Fibre Tube Specifications

All of our tubes are manufactured at our UK facility in Cramlington. Custom specifications outside these ranges are available. Contact our engineers to discuss your requirements.
Specification Standard Range Extended / Custom Range
Internal Diameter (ID) 4.49 mm – 152.40 mm (0.176″ – 6.000″) Up to approx. 325 mm (13″)
Wall Thickness 0.6 mm – 10.00 mm (0.024″ – 0.400″) Dependent on diameter and application
Standard Length Up to 3,600 mm (approx. 12.5 ft) Longer lengths via jointed sections
Tube Profile Round (standard) Square, oval, tapered, on request
Materials Carbon fibre, glass fibre, aramid (Kevlar™) Hybrid combinations available
Fibre Alignment True zero-degree axial Multi-angle layups on request
Surface Finish Woven carbon, smooth matte, unground Painted, ground, custom finish on request
Localised Reinforcement Available anywhere along the tube length Specify at the enquiry stage
Taper Available (roll wrap method) Specify taper angle and profile at enquiry

Why ACE Carbon Fibre Tubes Are Trusted Across Industries

Composites possess a number of unique qualities that make them ideal for use in a range of different environments. However, the quality of a carbon fibre tube depends entirely on how it is manufactured, the fibre selection, the layup precision, the tooling, and the quality controls applied at every stage. Here is what sets Advanced Composites Engineering apart.

Manufactured in the UK

We are a UK-based carbon tube manufacturer and supplier. All of our carbon tubes, composite tubes, and other components are designed and manufactured in our state-of-the-art facility in Cramlington, giving you supply chain certainty, shorter lead times, and direct access to our engineering team whenever you need it.

True Zero-Degree Axial Fibre Alignment

A result that simply isn’t achievable using alternative ‘winding technologies’, your finished carbon tube will benefit from fibres that are perfectly aligned precisely where they should be, ensuring the perfect carbon fibre tube for your application, every time!

Localised Reinforcement  

In addition to creating tubes from composites, our engineers are able to introduce additional materials anywhere along the tube to reinforce a particular section, handling concentrated loads without adding unnecessary weight across the whole component.

Tapered Profiles Available

When working with pultrusion manufacturing processes, it’s generally not possible to deliver an end product with a tapered tube. By employing our Roll Wrap technique, we are able to deliver a perfectly tapered tube – a capability refined during decades of experience creating high-performance fishing rods and bespoke structural components.

Choice of Finishes Available

Our composite tube specialists can deliver a range of surface finishes on your end product, from smooth-to-the-touch matte options to a painted tube in a particular colour, to the ‘classic’ woven carbon fibre finish. No matter your requirements, we’re able to provide you with the perfect end product for your needs.

Repeatable quality: The Very Best, Every Time

Our focus on the highest possible standards and with tightest possible tooling tolerances we are able to offer you a consistent level of quality; delivering the highest quality composite tubes, every time.

Affordable Custom Composite Tubes

Due to the way we manufacture our composite tubes, setup for jobs does not require the expensive tooling and mould set-up costs associated with traditional moulding methods. Even in the unlikely situation where we don’t have the correct size tool off the shelf, we can create one. The manufacture of these new tools and casts is cost-efficient and affordable for businesses of all sizes.  

Industries We Supply

Our carbon fibre tubes are specified by engineers across a wide range of sectors. Each industry brings different performance demands, and our engineering-led approach means we understand them all.

Aerospace

Lightweight structural tubes for UAVs, drones, fixed-wing aircraft, and metrology equipment. Thin walls, tight tolerances, precise fibre alignment.

Defence

Tubes and composite components for land, air, and sea defence applications. Experience with defence supply chains and military-grade finishing.

Marine

Epoxy resin systems with near-zero water absorption. Paddle shafts, masts, booms, spars, tiller extensions, and superyacht fixtures.

Motorsport

Suspension struts, chassis members, exhaust sleeves, and pit equipment for automotive OEMs and motorsport organisations.

Industrial & Robotics

High-stiffness tubes for automation, robotic arms, and industrial machinery, where weight reduction directly improves cycle speed and energy efficiency.

Medical Technology

Radiolucent carbon fibre tubes for imaging and diagnostic equipment. Lightweight, biocompatible, and engineered to precise dimensional tolerances.

Sports Equipment

Tapered tubes and high-performance shafts for cycling, rowing, paddlesports, angling, and other weight-critical sporting applications.

Need Carbon Fibre Tubes for Your Sector?

Our engineers can advise on the best manufacturing method for your specification for fibre alignment, wall thickness, taper requirements, or something else entirely. Get in touch, and we’ll walk you through.
Speak to a Specialist

Engineered by Composites Specialists with 40+ Years of Experience

Every carbon fibre tube we manufacture is overseen by our in-house composites engineering team, specialists in structural design, fibre mechanics, and precision manufacturing for aerospace, defence, and marine applications.

Our Cramlington facility holds ISO 9001:2015 certification, and we are a member of Composites UK, the trade association for the UK composites industry. We work directly with engineering and procurement teams to define the correct specification for each application, no intermediaries, no generic compromises.

Carbon Fibre Tubes available in a Range of sizes:

All manufactured in the UK, our general tube internal diameter (ID) sizes range from 4.49 mm – 152.40 mm (0.176″-6.000″) but other sizes can be manufactured up to about 325 mm (13″). Wall thicknesses range generally from 0.6 mm – 10.00 mm (0.024″-0.400″) depending on diameter and intended use. Lengths up to 3600 mm (12½ft) are possible but we can offer jointed tubes to create longer lengths if required. As your trusted carbon tubes manufacturer, we welcome you to contact us with your requirements.

carbon tubes composite tubes diameter range

Delivery and Lead Times

We dispatch carbon fibre tubes and composite components from our manufacturing facility in Cramlington, Northumberland. All orders are packed individually and protected for transit by our team before dispatch.

Standard Lead Time

Typically 5 – 10 working days from order confirmation for standard specifications.

Bespoke / Custom Tubes

Lead time confirmed at quotation stage, varies by specification complexity and tooling requirements.

UK Mainland Delivery

Available via next-day courier for standard stocked specifications.

International Shipping

Available on request, we supply customers across Europe and internationally.

Packaging

All tubes are individually wrapped and protected for safe transit.

Urgent Requirements

Call us on 01670 335490, and we will do our best to accommodate time-critical orders.

Frequently Asked Questions

Carbon fibre tubes are approximately five times lighter than steel and roughly twice as light as aluminium, while matching or exceeding their tensile strength. This makes them particularly valuable in applications where weight reduction directly affects performance, fuel efficiency, or structural load.
Our standard manufacturing range covers internal diameters (ID) from 4.49 mm to 152.40 mm, with wall thicknesses from 0.6 mm to 10 mm, and lengths up to 3,600 mm. We can manufacture tubes with IDs up to approximately 325 mm on request. Custom sizes outside these ranges are available. Contact our engineering team with your requirements.
Roll wrap (the manufacturing method used by ACE) wraps pre-impregnated fibre sheets around a mandrel, enabling true zero-degree axial fibre alignment. Filament winding wraps continuous fibre strands at helical angles, which cannot achieve zero-degree alignment. For applications requiring maximum axial stiffness and precise thin walls, such as aerospace struts or precision poles, roll wrap produces a superior result.
In terms of specific strength (strength relative to weight), carbon fibre tubes are significantly stronger than steel, often five times stronger per unit of weight. However, carbon fibre behaves differently under impact loading compared to metals, so the correct specification depends on your application’s full load case. Our engineers can advise on the appropriate material and construction for your requirements.
Yes. We manufacture tubes to specified lengths up to 3,600 mm, and can produce longer assemblies via jointed sections. Post-production cutting is also possible; carbon fibre should be cut using diamond or carbide tooling with appropriate dust extraction and respiratory protection.
Yes. Our roll wrap manufacturing process allows us to produce perfectly tapered carbon fibre tubes, a capability that pultrusion methods cannot match. Tapered profiles are used in fishing rods, structural poles, aerospace components, and other applications where a varying cross-section improves performance.
We offer a range of surface finishes, including: natural woven carbon fibre weave, smooth matte finish, ground finish, and painted (specify RAL or colour reference). The right finish depends on your end product’s visual requirements and functional environment. Our specialists will advise at the enquiry stage.
Carbon fibre tubes are used across aerospace, defence, marine, motorsport, industrial automation, robotics, sports equipment, medical technology, and renewable energy. Any application where reducing component weight, without sacrificing strength or stiffness, delivers a meaningful performance, efficiency, or safety benefit is a candidate for carbon fibre tubing.
Standard carbon fibre tubes with epoxy resin systems typically perform up to 120 – 150°C. High-temperature resin systems can extend this range for more demanding applications. Discuss your operating environment with our engineering team so we can recommend the appropriate resin system for your tube.
Carbon fibre itself is electrically conductive. However, the surrounding epoxy resin matrix acts as an insulator, so the conductivity of a finished tube depends on its construction and surface finish. If your application involves electrical isolation requirements, please specify this at the enquiry stage.
We accept both small batch and volume production orders. Because our roll wrap process does not require expensive mould tooling for every size, setup costs are relatively low, making custom orders viable for smaller quantities. Contact us with your requirement, and we will confirm feasibility and pricing.
Minor surface damage, chips, scratches, or localised resin cracking, can often be repaired by a qualified composites technician. Structural damage to the fibre layers is more complex and may require section replacement or full tube replacement. Correct handling, storage, and protective sleeves, where appropriate, will prevent most damage in service.

Speak Directly with Our Carbon Tube Experts

If you have a detailed specification ready or you’re still working through your requirements, our composites engineering team is the right first call. We work with procurement teams and design engineers at every stage, from initial feasibility through to delivered components.
Request Technical Guidance

Get a Quote for Your Carbon Tube Requirements

Tell us your dimensions, material, and quantity, and our engineers will respond within one business day.
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