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MAY 2018

www.aero-mag.com
DESIGN/PRODUCTION/SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

FARNBOROUGH
INTERNATIONAL
AIRSHOW PREVIEW
Page 13
THE EUROPEAN
1 October 2013 www.aeromag.com MAGAZINE FOR A GLOBAL INDUSTRY
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COMMENT & CONTENTS

When reach exceeded grasp 5 NEWS


EVENT PREVIEW
In the run-up to this year’s Farnborough Airshow, I’ve been watching a
fascinating TV series covering an era when British aviation ruled the skies.
13 The world is your oyster at FIA! –
It was a time when Britain waived the rules that constrained the old Farnborough International Airshow
technology of passenger aircraft serving British Empire routes, as it set AIRCRAFT PROGRAMMES
about winning the race to fly passengers across the Atlantic to the USA.
20 Living in a material whirl –
Virtually penniless after the Second World War, Britain’s achievements
Airbus aircraft family
were vast, but largely in the past. At the time, it was in debt to America
until the launch of the De Havi lland Comet suddenly represented a way 24 From the racetrack to the edge of space
of escaping austerity. Unfortunately, cruel fate brought the aircraft down – Airbus aircraft family
when a spate of catastrophic failures involving a wing design prone to
over-rotation and metal fatigue throughout the Comet’s pressurised cabin TECHNOLOGY FEATURE
resulted in a series of fatal accidents. 25 The art of folding – Wings
The Vickers Viscount and the Bristol Type 175 Britannia turboprop ADVANCED MATERIALS
passenger aircraft took up the challenge. America wanted to place orders,
but the large band of small British companies were unable to cope, leading 27 3D printing’s mission to the moon –
to many orders being delayed. Cue some painful forced marriages of Additive manufacturing
companies made to merge with each other by the government.
28 The shape of things to come –
There was also commercial pressure from BOAC, waggishly referred to as Additive manufacturing
the ‘Boeing Only Aircraft Corporation’. No British aircraft could succeed
without its backing, but despite the Vickers VC10 being built to its exacting 33 The ultimate design opportunity
specifications, BOAC wanted a more economical-to-run jet airliner – arrives! – Additive manufacturing
an American one called the Boeing 707. SPECIAL REPORT
The end of an era came with the 1966 37 Sticking it to the plane – MRO
Farnborough Airshow, which finally
went ‘international’ because there weren’t SUPPLY CHAIN
enough British planes to fill it. It drew to
42 Never forget! – Obsolescence
a close a wonderful creative age for
British aviation. FINAL APPROACH
Britain had launched the first passenger 46 Sourcing the skills to help
turboprop plane and the first jetliner in composites fly – Stephen Ollier,
a golden age of confidence that changed managing director of Pentaxia
the way the world would fly forever. By the
end of the 1960s, the supersonic Concorde Next issue:
was born. But that’s another story!
Farnborough Airshow issue, Programmes: The Boeing
Mike Richardson, editor aircraft family, Technology feature: Engines, Materials:
Machining, Special report: Automation, Supply chain:
Volume 13 Issue 118 Partnerships, Design: CAE, Final approach

Circulation, Subscriptions and Database Research | The Jamieson Consultancy


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Publisher | Liam McCauley
Director | David Rose
Published by | MIT Publishing Limited | Featherstone House |
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Editor | Mike Richardson | newsdesk@aero-mag.com | Tel: +44 (0) 1634 825709 Tel: +44 (0) 1634 830566 | Fax: +44 (0) 1634 408488
Deputy Editor | Ed Hill | ehill@mitpublishing.co.uk | Tel: +44 (0) 1634 825705
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Business Development Manager | Mason McLean information, the publishers cannot accept liability Circulation Statement
mmclean@aero-mag.com | Tel: +44 (0) 1634 825708 for errors or omissions, no matter how they may arise. Aerospace Manufacturing has
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Art Editor/ Production Manager | Sarah Blake Printed by: Pureprint Group key named decision makers
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ISSN 2056-3434
Front cover photo By Phil Weymouth. Copyright Farnborough International Airshow

www.aero-mag.com Aerospace Manufacturing May 2018 3


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NEWS

Dedienne
Boeing HorizonX selected as GE
announces Reaction engine tooling
Engines investment licensee
GE has announced Dedienne Aerospace as its choice
Boeing has announced its investment in Reaction Engines, a leader in of tooling licensee for the GE9XTM engine. Dedienne
advanced propulsion systems based in Oxfordshire. Reaction Engines’ will sell, maintain, support, provision, test, calibrate,
technology will contribute to the next generation of hypersonic flight and lease and service GE9X engine tooling.
space access vehicles. Dedienne Aerospace’s entire global operations will be
Reaction Engines is known for its Synergetic Air-Breathing Rocket Engine focused on GE9X customer support, while a large service
(SABRE), a hybrid engine blending jet and rocket technology that is capable of Mach centre will be opened in Cincinnati to serve as the central
5 in air-breathing mode and Mach 25 in rocket mode for space flight. operations for supporting GE Aviation, the GE9X engine
Sir Michael Arthur, president, Boeing Europe and managing director, Boeing UK and programme and GE’s customers.
Ireland stated: “This is an exciting time to partner with cutting-edge British innovators, “We are proud to be part of the GE9X engine
and a reflection of the impressive technology coming out of the UK’s aerospace programme and the entire Dedienne team is committed
industry today. Investments in future technologies, such as Reaction Engines, support to delivering premium airline customer service and
the prosperity of the UK and ensure we meet our customer’s future needs.” production for GE,” explained Karel Volot (second left),
Boeing HorizonX Ventures participated in this £26.5 million Series B funding president and CEO of Dedienne Aerospace.
round alongside Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems. www.dedienne-aero.com
www.boeing.co.uk

GEFERTEC unveils additive 3DMP technology


Fast production at low costs are the with high production rates up to 650cm3/h
main advantages of wire-based additive employed in combination with joining
manufacturing technologies for aircraft technology for the manufacturing of integral
applications. structural components will now be developed
Within the Regis project, which is funded to industry grade standards. When compared
by the German Federal Ministry of Economic to standard manufacturing, the costs are
Affairs and Energy, Airbus is working on foreseen to be reduced by 50%.
the application of additive manufacturing “Airbus considers wire-based, high
together with various companies. performance additive manufacturing
GEFERTEC - represented in the UK by methods, like GEFERTEC’s 3DMP technology,
exclusive agent, MT SQUARED - was chosen to to provide enormous cost and resource saving
contribute as a partner due to its invention of potentials in manufacturing of structural
the additive 3DMP technology, which allows components in the aerospace industry.
for fast and cost-effective production of larger manufacturing methods, especially when Together with our Regis team partners
parts. The new method is based on well- compared with those based on powder as the we aim to develop methods for additive
proven electric arc welding and is therefore original material. The Regis project intends to manufacturing of larger parts along the entire
benefiting from wire as the original material. overcome the geometrical restrictions, which process chain,” said Dr Jens Telgkamp, head
The near net-shaped part is formed welding are given due to the limited working space of of Additive Layer Manufacturing Research
layer by welding layer. other technologies for 3D printing of metal & Technology (ESCRNA team) with Airbus
This technology offers a wide range of parts. Operations.
advantages compared to other additive As an alternative, wire-based methods www.mtsq.co.uk

www.aero-mag.com
www.aeromag.com Aerospace Manufacturing 2014 5
May 2018
Xxxxxxxx
NEWS

Starrag takes
multi-million
orders during
MACH week
In addition to receiving orders
valued at multi millions of Euros,
Starrag UK reported a hugely
successful MACH week with many
positive comments by visitors.
“Visitors also commented
favourably on our extensive
experience of Industry 4.0 and
automation, aspects of modern

Roadshow gets ready to roll production that are proving


increasingly important to companies
of every size across all industry
Taking place this September across the UK, the Defence & Aerospace Technology Roadshow sectors,” stated Starrag UK’s director
supported by Aerospace Manufacturing, is an innovative addition to the industry calendar for sales and applications, Lee Scott.
for 2018. The stand promoted all product
Organised by Dream Marketing International, and now in its eleventh year, the Roadshow involves ranges marketed under the Starrag
a bespoke exhibition vehicle that takes technology driven companies directly to major manufacturers brand - Berthiez, Bumotec, Dörries,
and design centres across the industry – essentially putting technology and service providers right in Droop+Rein, Ecospeed, Heckert,
front of major decision makers on their own premises. Scharmann, SIP and Starrag – though
The Defence & Aerospace Technology Roadshow represents an ideal opportunity for companies the focus was on the Heckert range
within the aerospace sector to come and present their products directly in front of the major players in of affordable yet highly productive
the industry in a unique environment. Exhibitors will gain significant exposure as a result of being ‘on and high-speed 4-/5-axis horizontal
board’ the Roadshow as it visits OEM and Tier One companies, such as BAE Systems, Thales, Airbus, machining centres.
Leonardo, Rolls-Royce, MBDA, Cobham Mission Systems and GE Aviation among others. Heckert’s recently-announced new
“By placing the exhibition vehicle directly inside the customers’ premises, we get to meet all of the machine series has been designed to
people who, for various reasons, do not make it to the more traditional show – the engineers,” stated cost-effectively meet the needs of a
Dream Marketing International’s managing director, John Aldridge. “Leonardo, Thales, Rolls-Royce, wide range of companies of any size
Cobham, GE Aviation and many others featured on the tour list for 2017, so why not jump on board within supply chains across multiple
with us and do something a bit different this year.” industries.
This year, 24 spaces will be available on the tour bus but they are selling fast! Anyone interested in www.starrag.com
taking part in the Roadshow or who would like to see the event as it tours the UK, please contact the
organiser: John Aldridge on tel. +44(0)1189 886823 or e-mail john@dream-marketing.co.uk.
www.dream-marketing.co.uk ANSYS AM set
to transform
NEW A&D industries
ANSYS says it is transforming how
the industry manufactures metal
ELIMINATING parts thanks to its new solutions for
metal additive manufacturing.
CHANGE-OVERS The newly-released ANSYS
Additive Print and ANSYS Additive
AND SET-UPS BY Suite are said to deliver powerful and
comprehensive solutions for metal
COMBINING A additive manufacturing, enabling
users to print lightweight complex
3-JAW AND 2-JAW metal parts successfully the first time
and analyse microstructure properties
CHUCK and behaviour. These new ANSYS
solutions can dramatically reduce
the cost of additive manufacturing by
limiting design constraints, reducing
waste and shrinking print time.
“ANSYS is committed to
3/2-JAW CHUCKS DURO-NC transforming how products are made
Set-up times reduced by combining a 3-jaw and 2-jaw chuck through additive manufacturing
Takes just seconds to change from round to quadratic or by delivering the most powerful,
rectangular workpieces complete solution in the space,” said
Balancing quality retained through the use of blank jaws Brent Stucker, director of additive
manufacturing, ANSYS.
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6 May
October Aerospace
20182013 www.aeromag.com
Manufacturing www.aero-mag.com
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NEWS

NCMT hails
Queen's Award win
NCMT has won the Queen's Award for Enterprise in International
Trade 2018 for its rapid growth in exports to contract machinists
supplying international aero engine and land turbine manufacturers.
The award is based on Viper grinding, which was developed in
collaboration with Rolls-Royce and Japanese machining centre
manufacturer Makino, whose machines NCMT sells exclusively in the UK
and Ireland.
The process, which uses small aluminium oxide grinding wheels
exchanged from the tool magazine on Makino machining centre platforms
and more recently purpose-built grinders, led to the manufacture of
nickel alloy components, such as turbine blades to a much higher level of
efficiency than had previously been possible. Metal removal rates were
about five times greater than when using traditional, higher capital cost,
creep-feed grinders that use large, expensive wheels.
David Burley, managing director of NCMT said: "This accolade is a result
of more than a decade of hard work by staff across our entire organisation
and excellent collaboration between departments. I am delighted that their
efforts have been recognised in this way."
www.ncmt.co.uk

MACH 2018
sees 5% trade
visitor growth
The Manufacturing Technologies
Association, which owns and organises
the MACH Exhibition, has announced
that the number of trade visitors to
MACH 2018 was up 5% on the equivalent
figure for the Exhibition’s last edition in
2016.
23,125 trade visitors came into the halls at
the NEC between 9-13 April. 19,445 of those
Countdown to South West visitors registered directly with MACH (a
7% increase on 2016) and an additional
3,680 registered with one of the co-located
aerospace Oscars begins exhibitions and visited MACH too.
James Selka, MTA CEO said: “It was great
Stars of the South West’s aerospace and defence sectors will need to submit their entries to see so many people at MACH 2018. For
for the West of England Aerospace Forum (WEAF) Aerospace Ambassadors Awards, as all those using or supplying manufacturing
the deadline of June 1st is fast approaching. technology, MACH is the place to do
This is the second year WEAF has run the awards, which are designed to celebrate individuals business and keep up to date with the latest
who have made an outstanding contribution to the region’s aerospace and defence industry. technology. That so many people made
The awards are free to enter and are open to everyone working in the sector. The six award sure they were there is testament to the
categories are: Best Aerospace Engineer; Best Young Aerospace Entrant; SME Star Employee strength of exhibition and its place at the
Ambassador Award; The Ed Strongman Life Time Achievement Award; Best Aerospace Extra heart of UK manufacturing.”
Mile Ambassador Award; Best Aerospace Media Ambassador Award. www.machexhibition.com
Adrian Harding of WEAF, the leading membership trade organisation for aerospace and
defence companies in the South West, said: “Aerospace and defence industries in the South
West have some of the most creative and innovative people in the world. These awards will
celebrate all those who are day-in-day-out making significant contributions to their companies.
We welcome applications from across the board, from engineering excellence to the cross over
between aerospace and creative industries in the form of short films.”
The headline sponsors for the Awards are Artemis Optical and SKF Aerospace. Individual
award categories are being supported by AACE, Airbus, Bridgwater & Taunton College,
Castlemead Insurance, Trowers and Hamlins LLP, and Aro PR and Marketing.
The winners will be selected by an independent panel of recognised experts from across
the region’s aerospace and defence industry. They will be announced at a celebration dinner at
Aerospace Bristol, on Wednesday 27th June 2018, under Concorde.
www.weaf.co.uk

8 May
October Aerospace
20182013 www.aeromag.com
Manufacturing www.aero-mag.com
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NEWS

JJ Churchill
makes savings
with Blue Photon
JJ Churchill has announced it has reduced its tooling costs by 5% with
a 50% reduction in the number of machining operations on a specific
critical part. This has been achieved with Blue Photon technology which
is marketed in the UK and Europe by NCMT.
This technology is applied to a titanium aluminide aerofoil blade
component which is an extremely difficult material to fixture and machine.
Blue Photon fixes the component to the tool with an adhesive, which cured
under UV light, is strong enough for the most rigorous machining techniques
including 5-axis CNC. The process is a replacement for encapsulation,
providing reduced fixture complexity.
Each machining operation can need its own fixturing, so any reduction
Complex in the number of operations will have a huge impact on the efficiency of
the process. The reduction in machining operations are achieved by fixing

aerospace onto a single face of the component, as opposed to potentially many-faced


attachments.

parts ‘done-on-one’ Locating on a single face provides access to other faces, enabling several
complex features to be machined at the same time. This delivers greater
precision during machining, with much tighter tolerances achievable
between features. It ultimately reduces the amount of metal wasted/
Equipped with a Trumpf TruDisk laser, Okuma’s LASER scrapped, providing resulting benefits.
EX series of super multitasking machines are said to Once the blade root and tip have been machined, held using the Blue
enable high-quality laser metal deposition (LMD) to Photon technology, the workpiece is transferred to a Starrag 5-axis machining
create complex parts like Inconel turbine blades with centre - in this case a 28kW/18,000rpm LX051. The workpiece is held in
integrated cooling channels. specifically-developed fixturing for the fast and effective complete machining
To maximise efficiency, the LASER EX series is able to of the aerofoil from forged blanks that are, at most, 5mm oversize.
automatically switch between up to four powders mid- The impact on JJ Churchill’s overall production is to increase capacity
operation without changing the nozzle. To eliminate the need which is essential as the company continues its high growth trajectory, while
to completely replace worn or damaged parts, the LASER EX also benefiting the environment, another of JJ Churchill’s key performance
series enables easy spot repairs via LMD. Laser hardening measures. Using Blue Photon reduces the energy (electricity) required for the
reduces thermal deformation to a minimum, resulting in process.
unparalleled workpiece accuracy. Mark Cooper, JJ Churchill’s managing director, said: “Blue Photon has
The LASER EX machines’ capabilities include conventional substantially increased the capacity and accuracy of our machining
turning, cutting, milling and grinding even of materials like operations. We have always manufactured the highest quality components.
titanium and Inconel. This is especially useful for finishing Now we can do it more quickly and more precisely than before. We will build
aerospace components to achieve excellent surface quality. on this by continuing to invest in the latest technology and apply it to the
www.okuma.eu benefit of our aerospace and power generation customers around the world.”
www.jjchurchill.com

Oerlikon Balzers
UK appoints
new director
Oerlikon Balzers Great Britain (BUK) has announced
that Alistair Burns joined the company on 8th May as
director of sales & operations. He reports to Martin
Bartsch, head of area Europe North-Centre.
Burns has worked at Chromalloy UK as general
manager for the past few years and has held various
managerial positions at AGC AeroComposites and SPS
Aerostructures, among others.
He holds a BSc Honours in Manufacturing Systems
Engineering and is Six Sigma Green Belt qualified.
He comes with considerable experience in Lean
management, quality and operations.
www.oerlikon.com/balzers/uk

10 May
October Aerospace
20182013 www.aeromag.com
Manufacturing www.aero-mag.com
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EVENT PREVIEW: FARNBOROUGH INTERNATIONAL AIRSHOW

Image courtesy of Farnborough Airshow


THE WORLD IS
YOUR OYSTER

AT FIA!
In a Q&A session, Aerospace Manufacturing hears from Farnborough
International Airshow’s (FIA) group marketing and communications
director, Andrew Pearcey, on what promises to be the event’s most
international show ever!
hat’s the aim and to be valued as such. Especially today We’ve teamed up with IATA

W
ABOVE: During
intention for this when the entire industry seems very and created a dedicated Air Cargo the Airshow the
exhibition hall will be
year’s show compared much on the cusp of change with conference programme. The two-day home the UK Pavilion
with 2016 and is it the development of technologies. conference will look at the future and the Space Zone
alongside other
still important to For every part of the supply chain, of Air Cargo and the impact of new exhibitors
the aerospace industry and the digital technologies are affecting technologies in this sector.
international aerospace supply working practices and new product We’ve also teamed up with
chain? development. The Farnborough Flightglobal to develop an Airline
International Airshow is more relevant Chiefs Strategy Roundtable. Planned
Our objectives for the 2018 show are than ever for the industry and the for the Monday of the show, with a
the same as other shows: to facilitate aerospace supply chain. number of high-profile airline heads
business amongst the aerospace participating, the focus will be Aviation
community. As a global industry event, Which partners and stakeholders in 2030. They’ll be discussing what
it’s a great opportunity for UK business are you working with to inject some they perceive the industry will look like
to showcase its expertise to the real thought leadership into our by 2030, talking about everything from
international community. With Brexit industry? disruption and digitalisation to big data
high on the agenda, we believe the and open skies.
show will be particularly significant for We’ve carried out extensive research in Finally, under the Farnborough
industry as it seeks to establish business our efforts to develop the content of the International News Network (FINN)
relationships within this new landscape. show to make it even more relevant for brand, we have created two theatres
The Farnborough International our audience. As such we have created dedicated to providing a forum to
Airshow has a long history of an extensive conference and seminar share and discuss some of the major
showcasing innovation and continues programme for the 2018 show. topics of the day. We’ve just closed

www.aero-mag.com Aerospace Manufacturing May 2018 13


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EVENT PREVIEW: FARNBOROUGH INTERNATIONAL AIRSHOW

our call for papers, but topics range What aircraft will be on display and exhibitors such as HMV Catapult, SAP,
from space habitation and the Mars flying? 3D Systems, Skyrora and Salesforce.
missions to international trade and In our Live Product Demo Area,
supersonic travel. We’re really excited We have a packed aircraft programme we’ve created an ‘Air Force Command
by the submissions and by the planned as usual. Whilst Boeing and Airbus are Centre’, where visitors will be able
keynote speakers. These free-to-attend keeping their planned aircraft close to to see products from Lockheed
sessions will add real value to anyone their belt, we can confirm aircraft from Martin, Leonardo, Grob Aircraft, UTC
attending the show. Antonov, ATR, Bell, Dassault, Embraer, Aerospace Systems, Bell and MBDA in
L3 Technologies, Piaggio Aerospace use in this ‘real-life’ scenario setting.
How are bookings progressing for and Pilatus to name just a few. From Monday – Wednesday, the
exhibitor space at the show and will We are really excited that the Live Product Demo will see invited
visitor attendance figures exceed much-anticipated Mitsubishi MRJ delegations and guests visiting,
those of 2016? will be making its flying display debut however on Thursday and Friday
ABOVE: Andrew
Pearcey, group
at the show and we’ve recently had trade visitors will be able to explore
We’ve never sold the show this marketing and confirmation from the US Dept of the feature.
quickly and chalet demand is at an communications Defence about the aircraft they plan We’re really pleased with how
director of
all-time high. Business is starting Farnborough to bring which includes an F-16 in the the Cargo Village has developed
to look beyond Brexit and explore Airshow flying programme and a C-17 on static after its first introduction in 2016.
opportunities that will allow them to display. Sponsored again by Volga-Dnepr and
grow trade in international markets. CargoLogicAir the area will feature
BELOW: FIA is very
It’s also our most international show much a show for
What new tradeshow exhibitor aircraft, a dedicated exhibition hall and
with 29 national pavilions confirmed smaller enterprises as attractions can visitors expect to see a two-day conference.
from countries including Mexico, much as it is for OEMs at this year’s show and how do you
Turkey, the US, Japan alongside a intend to build on the last event? Aerospace 4.0 will closely examine
significant European presence from technologies, such as automation,
Germany, France and Spain. The show Alongside regular Airshow features additive manufacturing,
will also see the largest presence such as the Innovation Zone and Space simulation, virtual and augmented
yet from China with 25 participating Zone, we’ve developed a number of reality and digitalisation. What
companies. new features. We’ve created an exhibit kind of take-up are you expecting
The number of international dedicated to the fourth industrial for this show feature?
exhibitors is expected to exceed the revolution and the digitisation of the
71% achieved in 2016. This increase aerospace industry. Entitled Aerospace Aerospace 4.0 is a big talking
doesn’t reflect a decrease in UK 4.0 and sponsored by Deloitte, visitors point for the industry as it is for all
exhibitors but an expansion of the will be able to explore the possibilities manufacturing businesses and we
show’s overall exhibitor base. of these new technologies from have experienced a huge amount of

Image courtesy of Farnborough Airshow

www.aero-mag.com Aerospace Manufacturing May 2018 15


EVENT PREVIEW: FARNBOROUGH INTERNATIONAL AIRSHOW

LEFT: The 20,000m2 interest at the show. Not only within


Hall 1 comprises a the dedicated exhibit but from many
12,000m2 exhibition
hall and a further other exhibitors at the show. For
6,000m2 of other example, GKN will be showcasing
function space
some of its additive manufacturing
products with their own chalet and
the subject will feature heavily in the
FINN Sessions programme.

We’re trying to encourage


more young, skilled people
into an industry faced with
ever-increasing demands for
automation, and yet the hands-
on manual side of the job is
diminishing. Isn’t this all a bit of a
paradox?

It’s difficult to predict exactly how


automation will affect the industry,
like previous industrial revolutions
we’d envisage increased productivity
and employment. There’s no
Image courtesy of Farnborough Airshow doubt that Industry 4.0 will impact
the labour market and it will be
interesting to find out exactly what
impact it will have, but one thing
is for sure, the skills needed for the
future will be different than today
and the industry needs to support
that. We envisage the Farnborough
International Airshow will be the
perfect forum for this debate.

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2014
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What kinds of international and
governmental delegations will be
visiting the show and how will they
be engaging with organisations,
clusters and exhibitors in general?

The 2016 Airshow saw the highest ever


number of defence and commercial
delegations. Over and above those
invited by UK Department for
International Trade (DIT), there
were 98 military delegations from
66 countries and 29 commercial
delegations from 22 countries. We’re
are hoping to achieve similar numbers
this time around.
We work with the DIT and FCO
in developing the military and
commercial delegations programme
and so far, invites have been issued
to around 60 countries. We are
continually managing requests for
commercial delegations and so far,
have confirmed delegations from the
UK Airline Delegation from the Board
of Airline Representatives (BAR UK), a
space delegation and one from the UK
Indian Business Council.

SMEs exhibiting at larger airshows


are often overlooked by visitors
because they are ‘hidden’ by the
larger OEMs. What steps is FIL
taking to ensure they receive
enough prominence?

The Farnborough International


Airshow is very much a show for
smaller enterprises as much as it is
for OEMs. Whilst we understand that
larger businesses have bigger budgets,
there are still plenty of opportunities
to promote your business at the show.
Simply ‘turning up’ will not give you
the return on your investment you’re
looking for. Exhibitors need to be
proactive to encourage visitors to their
stand and we have created plenty of
tools to do this.
We have a dedicated LinkedIn
group for exhibitors and visitors and
a large social media audience. Both
of which will allow you to promote
your presence at the show. Target
your sales leads and invite them
to the show, attend one our many
networking events, or host an event
on your stand. These are all great
marketing opportunities, you just
need to let us know about them. If
your budget allows, there are also
plenty of advertising and sponsorship
Image courtesy of Farnborough Airshow

opportunities available. The world is


your oyster at FIA, you just have to
grasp it.

Other B2B events place the


emphasis on suppliers being able to ABOVE: FIA will
target, meet and network directly have a packed
aircraft programme
with major OEMs. Will you be as usual
doing something similar and if so,

www.aeromag.com
www.aero-mag.com Aerospace Manufacturing
Xxxxxxxx 2014 17
May 2018
EVENT PREVIEW
CNC Machine Simulation

what levels of success do you The 20,000m2 development


anticipate? comprises a 12,000m2 exhibition
hall and a further 6,000m2 of other
Our Meet the Buyer event is very function space. Exhibitors will be
similar to events at Airtec and able to gain a sneak preview of
Aeromart, enabling suppliers the venue when the attend the
to meet with global decision- exhibitor briefing in Mid-May.
making buyers. The MTB event During the Airshow the
in FIA16 generated £11 million exhibition hall will be home the
worth of business for those that UK Pavilion and the Space Zone
participated and 60% of buyers alongside other exhibitors. Other
are still in contact with the function space will be used for
suppliers they met after those restaurants, conference rooms
initial introductions. That’s not a and the media centre.
bad result and definitely worth Importantly, the hall will be
the investment. open for the full seven days of
The 2018 edition is looking the show giving those exhibitors

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companies already confirmed
the opportunity to engage with
our public Airshow visitors. We
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at putting on a mini-MtB event enjoy.
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AIRCRAFT PROGRAMMES: THE AIRBUS AIRCRAFT FAMILY

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A
fter nearly a century Are the days of metal aircraft Raphael Duflos: “Metallic materials BELOW: Composite
production
of dominance as the numbered? Two experts from are our legacy – the aviation industry technologies are
material of choice Airbus’ Material Procurement has been building aircraft out of metals evolving but for now,
for aircraft, metals division explain that it’s more ever since wood and canvas were they aren’t cheap
are seeing increased complicated than that. Raphael Duflos phased out. We know a lot about their
competition from composite is Airbus’ lead metallics buyer, and properties and there are plenty of
materials in use on aircraft such as Cedric Thibout is the company’s lead suppliers who are also very familiar
Airbus’ widebody A350 XWB jetliner. buyer for composites. with working with them.

20 October
May 2018 Aerospace
2013 www.aeromag.com
Manufacturing www.aero-mag.com
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AIRCRAFT PROGRAMMES: THE AIRBUS AIRCRAFT FAMILY

“Generally speaking, we shape right material is about balancing ABOVE: Metals are possible decisions on materials and
seeing increased
metals by taking away what we don’t performance, weight and cost. competition from
processes at every stage.”
need – it’s a subtractive process and “That’s why we work with composite materials
that means a lot of waste. The ‘buy-to- multi-functional teams and play a in use on aircraft, Thibout: “It will be a massive job, but
such as Airbus’
fly’ ratio isn’t good. Depending on the coordinating role – ultimately, the widebody A350 XWB big data has made it possible for the first
metal, only 10-20% of what we buy decisions are collective, and all the time. We’re also preparing the future
ends up in use on an aircraft; the more Airbus divisions involved have to generation of aircraft by ensuring that
complicated the design, the worse the agree on the way forward. I’m focussed the best suppliers and partners are on
buy-to-fly becomes.” on metals and Cedric looks after board, cooperating with us to develop
composites, but we’re both part of the best materials and technologies
Cedric Thibout: “Composites, which Materials Procurement, helping the at the most competitive total cost of
usually means reinforced plastics, are wider business choose materials ownership.”
almost the complete opposite. They’re wisely.”
new and there is very little waste Will composite materials replace
indeed. Composite materials also can How does Airbus ensure quality, metals?
be modified to ‘tweak’ their properties particularly with a new alloy or
fairly easily, and designs can be very composite? Thibout: “I don’t think so. There are
flexible. areas of an aircraft where the strength
“The flipside is that we have fewer Duflos: “Testing to check that a and familiarity of metals make sense.
suppliers to choose from and the material has the properties we require Take the A350 XWB: much of the wing
materials and manufacturing processes is absolutely key. Even though we was perfectly suited for composites,
can be expensive. The technologies choose reliable suppliers and trust but for the underwing pylons that
involved are evolving so we can expect them, we still regularly push materials support the jet engines, titanium had
prices to drop and expertise to become to their limits in testing to be sure that the properties that made it our top
more common, but for now, composite they’re safe and that we meet our choice. Another factor is what happens
materials aren’t cheap.” responsibilities. This is expensive, when materials mix – aluminium
but big data could open up new fasteners corrode quite quickly when
What considerations go into opportunities.” they are in contact with composite
choosing one material over another? panels, so we use titanium instead. The
Thibout: “When we buy a composite increase in composites has actually
Thibout: “Material buyers are involved or a metallic alloy, our testing lets us be stimulated demand for titanium.”
at the earliest stages of the design certain that the supplier used the right
process. Sometimes it’s best to explore mixture of materials and followed the Duflos: “There’ll always be a balance
a number of possibilities for a part right process to give us the properties needed, and even that will continue to
and doing that properly involves we agreed on. Using their data, we’ll evolve. Now, composites can be used to
complicated considerations. It isn’t just be able to check all this more easily – make much more complex parts than
about raw materials and manufacturing we won’t replace destructive testing metals and they also have the edge as
– we also need to take into account completely, but we can envision fewer far as waste is concerned. However,
costs for development, testing, sessions.” we’re seeing more and more work
certification, servicing and the end of being done using powdered metals in
the component’s lifecycle.” How is material procurement additive layer manufacturing. For now,
changing? the powders are far more expensive
Duflos: “That isn’t easy. We’ve even than plate metals. But as prices come
been involved in the design of new Duflos: “We’re launching the Integrated down, we could see metals becoming
metallic alloys to do the exact job Metallic Material Management project, a viable alternative in areas where
that we want – we have to explore all or IM3. It’s an Airbus-driven approach composites are currently the preferred
realistic possibilities thoroughly to be that will see us challenging every part option. The idea of metal as a legacy
as sure as possible that the decisions throughout our entire supply chain. material that relies on a subtractive
made are the best for the company We’ll be working alongside suppliers process is starting to blur.”
and our customers. Choosing the to check that we’re making the best www.airbus.com

www.aeromag.com
www.aero-mag.com Aerospace Manufacturing
Xxxxxxxx 2014 23
May 2018
AIRCRAFT PROGRAMMES: AIRBUS AIRCRAFT FAMILY

FROM THE RACETRACK


TO THE EDGE OF SPACE
WilliamsAdvancedEngineering’sbusinessdevelopmentmanager,
Stu Olden revealshowAirbus’sZephyrisallsettoflyhighwith
WilliamsF1-inspiredmotorracingtechnology.

H
ow do two globally- flyatmorethan65,000ft,above BELOW: Zephyris Itsmostrecentdevelopmentshave
asolar-powered,
renowned companies commercialairtraffic,formonthsata unmannedaerial
includedaninnovativetakeonusing
take technology from time.Thefirstproductionexamplesare systemthatcanflyat recycledcarbonfibretomanufacture
the racetrack to the beingmanufacturedatFarnboroughfor morethan65,000ft, componentsthatcanbeupto40%
abovecommercialair
edge of space? It’s all theUKMinistryofDefence. traffic,formonthsat lighterthancurrentalternativesata
in a day’s work, when combining “AtAirbuswehaveenormousrespect atime comparablecost.
Airbus with Williams Advanced forWilliamsAdvancedEngineering’s Assolebatterysuppliertothe
Engineering, the engineering and technicalexpertiseandachievements, FIAFormulaEchampionshipsince
services business of the Williams aswellasfortheirimpressiverecord itsinception,WilliamsAdvanced
Group, most famous for its Formula inrapidlybringingnewtechnologies Engineering’sbatterytechnology
One team. andproductstomarket,”statesAirbus’ hasbeentriedandtested.Itsworld-
Thetwocompaniessigneda headofunmannedaerialsystems,Jana leadingexpertiseinelectrification
MemorandumofUnderstanding Rosenmann.“Ourengineeringteams hasbecomecoretothebusiness,
inDecember2017toworktogether arethrilledtohavetheopportunity workingwithanumberofhighprofile
applyingFormulaOneandFormula tolearnfromtheFormulaOneworld vehiclemanufacturers,aswellasother
E-inspiredtechnologyandinnovation andjustasenthusiasticaboutsharing applicationsofbatterytechnology.
tothewealthofaerospaceexperience muchofwhatwehavelearnedin Thisexpertiseisnowbeingrolledout
atAirbus. developingsolutionstohigh-altitude, beyondautomotiveandmotorsportinto
Thecollaborationwillfocuson solar-poweredflight.” aerospaceandbeyond.
thewaysinwhichultra-lightweight “Airbusisanamesynonymous
materials,batterytechnologiesand Get the pulses racing withinnovationandtechnologyin
electricalcellchemistriescanbe Withfourdecadesofexperienceatthe theindustry,”explainsCraigWilson,
integratedonAirbus’ZephyrHigh pinnacleofmotorracing,including managingdirectorofWilliamsAdvanced
AltitudePseudo-Satellite(HAPS) 16worldchampionships,where Engineering.“Assuch,wearedelighted
programme. lightweightmaterialsandstructuresare tobeworkingwiththemonthisproject
Zephyrisarecord-breaking,solar- crucialtospeedandsafety,Williams andhopetosharesomeofourexpertise
powered,unmannedaerialsystem isnowdevelopingthesetechnologies inelectrification,batterysystemsand
(UAS)withuniquecommunications andfindinginnovativesolutionsfor advancedlightweightmaterials,aswell
andsurveillancecapabilities.Itwill weightsavingwithitsknow-how. aslearnfromtheirvastexperiencein
aerospace.Weareverymuchlooking
forwardtoworkingtogetheronthis
projectandhopetherelationship
andlearningsfromoneanothermay
continuelongintothefuture.”
Inadditiontothepartnershipon
Zephyr,bothcompaniesarealso
lookingtoinspirethenextgenerationof
engineers.Suchtechnologysolutions
deliveringsustainablecapabilitiesare
seenasidealpromotionalopportunities
toengageyoungpeopleconsidering
engineeringandassociatedrolesas
long-term,rewardingcareers.
“BothAirbusandWilliamsarealways
lookingtorecruittalentedengineersand
wehopethatthisjointactivityillustrates
theterrificopportunitiesweofferto
ImagecourtesyofAirbus

workinthekindoftechnologiesthat
willbecriticaltofuturetransportation,”
concludesRosenmann.
www.williamsf1.com/advanced-
engineering

24 October
May 2018 Aerospace
2013 www.aeromag.com
Manufacturing www.aero-mag.com
TECHNOLOGY FEATURE: WINGS

THE ART OF
FOLDING
Wings that can fold or change shape in flight – yet without needing bulky
control systems – could revolutionise flight efficiency. Lou Reade reports.

A
eroplane wings are While the idea of folding wings is not ABOVE: Researchers as a heavy hydraulic system – but with
designed for rigidity. new – and was studied on the XB-70 at the University of just 20% of the weight.
Michigan have used
After all, they must Valkyrie aircraft back in the 1960s – it supercomputers to “Folding wings has been done in
withstand the rigours is usually achieved using a bulky model ‘morphing’ the past, but we wanted to prove the
wings – which could
of aviation. However, arrangement of motors and hydraulic save up to 10% in fuel feasibility of doing it using shape
their fixed position is not optimal systems that can weigh down the costs memory alloy technology – which
for every aspect of flight, and all aircraft. is compact, lightweight, and can be
the various conditions between Now, Nasa has tested a lightweight positioned in convenient places on
take-off, cruising, banking and shape memory alloy that allows aircraft the aircraft,” says Othmane Benafan,
landing. Operations such as lifting to fold their wings during flight. The co-principal investigator for the SAW
the flaps for landing help to change material is controlled by temperature project.
wing dynamics, but this involves and fashioned into a tube-shaped In a recent series of flight tests,
shifting one rigid design in relation actuator. When heated, the tube twists, the researchers used the material
to another. which moves the wing’s outer portion to fold the wings either upwards or
For some time, researchers have up or down. downwards by 70° during flight. More
been looking into the idea of more The development forms part of flights are planned for later this year,
‘flexible’ wings that can change their Nasa’s Spanwise Adaptive Wing (SAW) which will bend the wings in both
shape with more fluidity. An example is project. The shape memory alloy is directions during flight.
a wing whose tips can be moved up and built into to an actuator on the aircraft, Folding wings could reap huge
down during flight. which folds the wings in the same way aerodynamic benefits for both sub-

www.aero-mag.com Aerospace Manufacturing May 2018 25


TECHNOLOGY FEATURE: WINGS

and super-sonic aircraft, says Nasa. On test flights, it fitted the flexible, twistable multidisciplinary design optimisation ABOVE: Nasa has
subsonic aircraft, such as commercial wing flaps onto aircraft and flew them can create more detailed computer tested a shape
memory alloy that
planes, folding wings could improve over an array of microphones. (The models. However, it requires the use can fold aeroplane
controllability and reduce the need project also measured the noise from of parallel supercomputers to run wings in flight, and
is 80% lighter than
for heavy components, such as the landing gear and nose cones.) complex calculations on thousands of traditional hydraulic
tail rudder. This would reduce fuel The ACTE flap was recently flown to design variables. systems
consumption and allow pilots to adapt validate its ability to reduce vortices “We try to get each simulation to be
more easily to flying conditions by off wing flaps at high speeds, and in of the order of a few minutes – and the
BELOW: Flexible,
adjusting the wings automatically. May 2017 demonstrated the first ever optimisation to converge within eight to twistable wing flaps,
However, Nasa believes the most flight of a twisted flap configuration. In 48 hours,” he says. developed in the
ACTE project, could
significant benefits of folding wings addition to its aerodynamic benefits, Boeing and Nasa are both testing boost fuel efficiency
in flight would be for with supersonic the ACTE flap also produces lower prototypes based on wing designs and cut aircraft noise
flight. airframe noise levels, according to suggested by his optimisations.
Matt Moholt, principal investigator project manager Kevin Weinert. However, applying these algorithms
on the SAW project, says: “Folding the “ACTE technology reduces noise, in industrial process will require extra
wing tips downward – to ‘ride the wave’ though that wasn’t part of the original work – such as integrating them with
in supersonic flight – will reduce drag, intent,” said Weinert. manufacturing costs, to test whether
which may result in more efficient The original testing did not measure the more efficient aircraft designs can
supersonic flight. It could also increase noise directly, but the researchers be built economically.
performance, as you transition from believed that, because the ACTE flap Foldable wings have existed since
subsonic to supersonic speeds. This is reduced vortices off the flaps, it would the earliest days of aviation – when
made possible using shape memory also be quieter. the Wright brothers used pulleys and
alloy.” “I see this being something that may levers to twist the trailing edges of
be integrated into aviation within the wings. However, as aeroplanes got more
Flexible flaps next 10 years, as reducing noise for sophisticated the systems to control
Nasa has also carried out research into communities around airports is a goal them became very heavy.
wing flaps – and has found that making of aircraft manufacturers,” he said. Now, the availability of new materials
them from flexible materials could and more raw computing power have
boost flying efficiency and cut aircraft Super designs made it possible to design and build
noise. Meanwhile, Joaquim Martins – an new types of wing – which could
The flap, manufactured by US-based aerospace engineer who leads the one day have a huge effect on flight
Flexsys, was developed under the Multidisciplinary Design Optimisation efficiency.
Adaptive Compliant Trailing Edge Laboratory at the University of www.nasa.gov
(ACTE) project and uses a ‘twisted’ Michigan – has used a supercomputer
configuration: here, the inboard and to develop shape-changing wing
outboard sections of the flap are designs that burn less fuel.
deflected in opposite directions – which “We’re bridging the gap between
changes the centre of lift on a wing an academic exercise and a practical
during flight. This could be used to method for industry,” he states.
alleviate gust loading more effectively Martins and colleagues have
– which could lead to the creation of developed a new wing design that
lighter wings. could burn 2% less fuel than current
In tests, the inboard section was designs. He says that improved wing
deflected down by 2.5°, whilst the designs could improve fuel efficiency
outboard sections were deflected up by by up to 10%.
the same amount. “Research on new materials and
“When incorporated with new wing morphing mechanisms will make
designs, ACTE will make aeroplanes morphing systems lighter, more energy
more efficient, quieter, and lighter – efficient, and more economical,” he
which helps reduce overall fuel burn,” says. “It is just a question of time before
said Kevin Weinert, ACTE project we see aircraft wings with morphing
manager. capabilities that seem impossible
Nasa has also examined the acoustic today.”
benefits of the technology. In a series of He says that using a technique called

26 May
October Aerospace
20182013 www.aeromag.com
Manufacturing www.aero-mag.com
ADVANCED MATERIALS: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING

3D PRINTING’S
MISSION TO THE MOON
On a mission to the moon, Stratasys joins forces with Lockheed Martin
and PADT to engineer advanced 3D printed parts for Nasa’s Orion mission.
Aerospace Manufacturing reports.

S
tratasys 3D printers vehicle are produced at the Additive ABOVE: Orion is and the most rigorous manufacturing
and materials provide Manufacturing Lab at Lockheed Nasa’s spacecraft that processes in the industry,” states
will send astronauts
extremely high Martin in conjunction with PADT, to the Moon and Scott Sevcik, vice-president of
levels of strength, which now employs the latest in beyond manufacturing at Stratasys. “Part
durability and thermal Stratasys 3D printers and materials. integrity and repeatability are essential
BELOW: Stratasys’
properties to power missions Using advanced materials such as FORTUS 900mc 3D and must pass Nasa’s demanding
to deep space. A global leader ULTEM 9085 resin and the new Production System testing and validation process. Based
in applied additive technology Antero material incorporating on decades of experience delivering
solutions, Stratasys, and Phoenix critical electro-static dissipative (ESD) strong and lightweight additive
Analysis & Design Technologies, functionality – Nasa could meet key manufacturing solutions for leaders
Inc. (PADT) have jointly announced requirements for 3D printed parts to across the aerospace industry, Stratasys
the companies are teaming with perform in the extremes of deep space. technology is ideally suited to match
Lockheed Martin Space to deliver Antero is ideally suited to meet Nasa’s the high-reliability manufacturing
next-generation 3D printed parts for requirements for heat and chemical processes required for production parts
Nasa’s Orion deep-space spacecraft. resistance, along with the ability to in space exploration.”
Key to the project are Stratasys withstand high mechanical loads. Rey Chu, principal and co-owner
advanced materials – including an ESD “Working with PADT, Stratasys, at PADT adds: “It’s exciting to be a part
variant of the new Antero 800NA, a and Nasa has enabled us to achieve of the Orion mission and Lockheed
PEKK-based thermoplastic offering highly consistent builds that move Martin’s efforts to transition additive
high performance mechanical, beyond the realm of prototyping and manufacturing from prototyping to
chemical, and thermal properties. into production,” says Brian Kaplun, production. Additive manufacturing
Orion is Nasa’s spacecraft that manager of Additive Manufacturing technology and materials have come a
will send astronauts to the Moon at Lockheed Martin Space. “We’re not long way to become a full-fledged end-
and beyond. Orion’s next test flight, just creating parts, we’re reshaping our use manufacturing option.”
dubbed Exploration Mission-1 (EM-1), production strategy to make spacecraft www.stratasys.com/aerospace
will be the first integration mission more affordable and faster to produce.”
with the world’s most powerful rocket, The Lockheed Martin, Stratasys
the Space Launch System, where an and PADT-engineered collaboration
un-crewed Orion will fly thousands is differentiated by an ability to create
of miles beyond the Moon during an consistency and repeatability in
approximately three-week mission. mass scale across the entire additive
The following flight, EM-2, will also manufacturing part production
go near the Moon, but with astronauts process. Lockheed Martin is also one of
on board, a first since 1972 and will the first customers leveraging Stratasys’
enable Nasa to prepare for increasingly Antero, using the new thermoplastic
complex missions in deep space. The for a critical part situated just outside
mission will use more than 100 3D of Orion’s docking hatch. The complex
printed production parts on board, part consists of six individual 3D
engineered in conjunction with printed components locked together to
Lockheed Martin, Stratasys and PADT. form a ring on the craft’s exterior.
The production-grade, thermoplastic “The demands of space travel require
3D printed parts for Nasa’s Orion extremely high-performance materials

www.aero-mag.com Aerospace Manufacturing May 2018 27


ADVANCED MATERIALS: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING

THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO

COME
In a Q&A session, Aerospace Manufacturing hears from LISI Aerospace
Additive Manufacturing’s CEO, Christophe Sarrazin, about the company’s
role in additive manufacturing, and how it’s helping to shape the way
large aerospace components are being made.

A
BELOW: With an 800 dditive manufacturing machine of its size that is currently What are today’s customers
x 400 x 500mm build (AM) continues to qualified to produce flying parts. With looking for in terms of AM-related
chamber, the Concept
Laser X line 2000R demonstrate its a capacity of 400 x 800 x 500mm, it performance solutions?
is said to be the only legitimacy in aerospace currently produces aluminium parts
machine of its size
currently qualified to manufacturing. The whilst claiming to offer a unique range Large size build chambers are vital
produce flying parts gains in mass and volume optimised of designs. for our customers. Our Concept Laser
by the new geometries offered by this X line 2000R with an 800 x 400 x
process - combined with topological What are the types of trends and 500mm build chamber is definitely an
optimisation, make AM a technology demands placed on your company asset in the market. Also, our customers
much sought after by the aerospace by today’s aerospace designers? are looking for a complete solution -
sector. from co-design to delivery of final part.
Thales Alenia Space and LISI A very close relationship with our They are very receptive to the complete
Aerospace Additive Manufacturing customers is essential, from co-design workshop sessions we arrange which
(LAAM) recently announced a to co-establishing evaluation criteria. let their engineering ‘swim’ in the
partnership by qualifying and Customers now understand that a re- process. Half a day is enough for the
manufacturing large parts for design phase is regularly necessary in main theoretical course, whilst half day
satellites. The LISI group has provided order to enjoy the full power of AM. We is also spent on our shopfloor to get
Thales Alenia Space with products need to develop a mutual trust, so that ‘hands-on’ with the parts and see the
manufactured using a Concept Laser the co-working stages are beneficial to team in action.
X Line 2000R, said to be the only both of us.
How mature is the current additive
manufacturing supply chain?

Maturity is at an early stage and


definitely needs to improve. Each
subcontractor needs time to assimilate
AM constraints. Raw material supply
isn’t a problem anymore, because much
of capacity was created last year. This
is why we work very closely with our
local partners for heat treatment and
machining operations, for example.

Comprising major machine tool


suppliers, subcontractors and
powder suppliers, where is the real
‘hive’ of innovation and activity
currently taking place?

It is moving every day, as we speak.


Nevertheless, we believe the reliability
and robustness of the machines are
the most important activities currently
in progress. We also believe that the

28 October
May 2018 Aerospace
2013 www.aeromag.com
Manufacturing www.aero-mag.com
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ADVANCED MATERIALS: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING

work done on simulation is starting to


provide good results in order to avoid
repetitive design loops; this is indeed
very good in terms of cost.

How much of a post-production issue


is it to remove support webbing after
the printing process?

The main issues remain for internal


channels and geometries. We are
currently working on various post-
treatments which can be used to
remove the supports (mechanical
and chemical etching being the two
of them), even though they aren’t
reachable by hand. The second way
of development is the automation of
this manual removing process, which
will be very beneficial when serial
production becomes the standard in aerospace ALM. Therefore, we’ve asked Firstly, a defined strategy. If you start ABOVE: Two antenna
supports being
additive layer manufacturing (ALM). our partner, Poly-Shape to evaluate the to jump on every available new ALM manufactured on the
various available machines in order to machines and technology, you’re not X Line 2000R
How much is AM being used to print select the best current players in this focusing your limited resources on an
tools, say for sending parts over the area. If the technology appears to be achievable goal and you will not reach
BELOW LEFT: LISI’s
wire to support an aircraft on the reliable and competitive, we will be the industrial strength - which the work done through
ground (AOG)? ready to invest. market is demanding. This is why we the use of simulation
helps to avoid
focus on powder bed metal 3D printing repetitive design
The ‘AOG ALM market’ is indeed picking AM enables manufactures to for aerospace. The experience of people loops
up, but part qualification can often ‘print’ incredibly complex parts. Is is indeed key for the success of this
be a roadblock afterwards. We have this truly the way forward, or are new technology; our human resources
BELOW RIGHT: LISI
already received a couple of requests cycle times and flight-ready part department needs to be very proactive Aerospace Group’s
for specific repair tooling – but our main qualification an issue? in order to propose career evolutions recognition as an
aerospace industrial
focus is on serial flying parts which we and avoid losing this specific workforce. partner combined
started to develop for Dassault Aviation. Most of the AM parts used to be with Poly-Shape’s
subassemblies; this is obviously the Finally, what differentiates your ALM know-how
will contribute to its
Are derivatives of AM, such as main way to reach competitiveness in company from the competition - why future success
wire and arc additive manufacture this market. Nevertheless, qualification should a customer use you over your
(WAAM) and Electron Beam remains the main roadblock so far. It’s nearest rival?
Melting (EBM) finding favour in the very difficult for our customers to find
aerospace industry? the right reference in order to qualify Dedication to the aerospace market is
a part to fly. They have to amend their key. Large parts manufacturing and serial
Our customers have high hopes for previous material databases to include production are the other main reasons
EBM, especially for parts with much ‘ALM dedicated figures’ and it might why our customers are counting on
more volume than surfaces. Our take some more years to build them, us. We believe that the support of the
ARCAM Q20+ using EBM technology especially when we talk about Class 1 LISI Aerospace Group as a recognised
is the right tool to evaluate and qualify parts. aerospace industrial partner - combined
this specific process. The WAAM is with the Poly-Shape team’s ALM know-
not in our strategy which is more What do you feel are the most how - will contribute to our future success.
concerned with the powder bed metal important assets of a company? www.lisi-aerospace-am.com

www.aeromag.com
www.aero-mag.com Aerospace Manufacturing
Xxxxxxxx 2014 31
May 2018
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ADVANCED MATERIALS: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING

THE ULTIMATE
DESIGN OPPORTUNITY

ARRIVES!
Hexcel took to the JEC World event to display an increasing array of
additive manufacturing product innovations for a host of aerospace
component-related applications. Mike Richardson reports.

A
mong the aerospace weight, cost and time-to-market BELOW: The ultimate, “Back in the 1980s, thermoplastic
optimum design
promotions on show reductions, replacing traditional cast opportunity has
materials were considered within the
at Hexcel’s JEC World, or machined metallic parts with a new arrived with additive technology field for developments of
Paris booth were technology. manufactured parts prepreg materials for use in aerospace
carbon-reinforced With the acquisition of OPM (now structures,” begins Hexcel’s senior vice-
additive manufactured parts made renamed Hexcel Hartford and based president and CTO, Paul Mackenzie.
from its HexAM technology (AM) in Connecticut) rolled up into its “We are seeing greater use and adoption
using PEKK ultra-high-performance engineered products business, Hexcel of thermoplastic technology, and
polymers. now offers 3D carbon fibre-filled Hexcel’s acquisition of OPM is a great
Hexcel acquired this technology PEKK thermoplastic AM parts. The testament to the capability they have
from Oxford Performance Materials company believes there are tremendous built up and the technology available.
(OPM) in December 2017 to provide advantages with respect to tooling, cycle “Typically, we are using our
weight-saving solutions for intricate time, and designing and manufacturing proprietary matrix based on PEKK,
parts in demanding aerospace, satellite very complex parts in a single shot, but we add carbon fibre materials to
and defence applications. HexPEKK single application. Hexcel already has it in order to get an optimum product
structures are said to offer significant materials qualified and flying. performance for use in the selective

www.aero-mag.com Aerospace Manufacturing May 2018 33


ADVANCED MATERIALS: ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING

capabilities, we’ll look to include it


within the Les Avenières site too,
making it a centre of excellence in
Europe for additive manufacturing.”

Faster, lighter, stronger


I’m interested to learn what advantages
Hexcel is seeing in the speed of
using AM as opposed to traditional
manufacturing. According to
Mackenzie, Hexcel is seeing faster
manufacturing improvements.
“It’s about the complexity of the
part,” he concludes. “We want to make
complex parts that take time in terms
of CNC routing machining in order to
get to the complex structures that they
want. It is also very much about weight
saving too: these additive manufactured
parts will be much lighter and faster
to produce. The industry realisation
is certainly there, and we are doing
increasingly more work to demonstrate
this and garnering more interest in the
technology as industry gradually sees
the applicability and value in it. It’s in its
early stages, but we are one of the first
companies to be qualified in aerospace
applications, so it’s a testament to the
capability and technology.”
laser sintering (SLS) process. The real ABOVE: Hexcel can innovation in other thermoplastic Mackenzie notes that the real
now offer 3D carbon
issue and capability here is in replacing fibre-filled PEKK
areas via additive manufacturing as a differentiator of additive manufacturing
aluminium machined and titanium thermoplastic AM manufacturing process. is that certain components can be
machined parts, not only in terms of parts Another technology area of great manufactured via this process that
weight savings, but also ultimately interest concerns infusion technology. could never be considered through the
in terms of the actual capability to Hexcel is part of a UK Aerospace use of conventional means.
BELOW: Paul
manufacture parts at a lower cost. Mackenzie, Hexcel Technology Institute (ATI) and UK “The ultimate, optimum design
Additive layer manufacturing (ALM) senior vice-president Government match-funded project opportunity has arrived with additive
and CTO
is coming of age and is being closely called Multi Axial Infused Materials manufactured parts. In many cases,
looked at for the mass production of (MAXIM), with the aim of developing we can additively manufacture to
specific parts in certain aerospace multiaxial non-crimp fibres (NCF) near net shape,” he concludes. “We’re
applications. in terms of infusion products. Over thrilled with the technology and we are
2m in width, Hexcel has developed expanding our portfolio to cover the
The HexAM effect this material and is in the process of high, intermediate and even the lower
Hexcel’s trade name here will be installing equipment at its Leicester end product offerings, because not
HexAM and comprises two particular facility, whilst the resin technology will every application will require the most
products: its already aerospace be manufactured at its Duxford facility. premium product type. As the scale
qualified HexPEKK 100 and HexPEKK “The opportunity for Hexcel to of adoption increases, cost will clearly
150. Mackenzie says there are many provide materials for infusion: the come down and expand into more
comparisons with fused deposition resin technology, the NCF and our opportunities.
modelling (FDM), a technology that has HiTape and HiMax products - which “Additive manufacturing is ideal for
been around longer in terms of ALM. provide extra mechanical performance producing lightweight components but
“The machinery is less capital- - enables the entire infusion envelope it will never replace every part because
intensive, but the parts made using to be competitive with prepreg in terms it just isn’t economically viable for basic
FDM tend to be less complicated, of the overall mechanical performance. parts that can be easily manufactured.
whereas if you want to take the more We are very pleased to be associated However, for aerospace parts with
complicated path, ALM and SLS are with the UK Government for funding on complex geometric features where
really the only areas to opt for. Hexcel’s this scheme. space and weight are critical, design
HexPEKK 150 provides a better overall “Innovation is one of our core areas engineers want the freedom to optimise
performance in design allowables, and values that we take extremely their designs. The breadth of Hexcel’s
compared with ULTEM, which is made seriously and we have invested greatly product portfolio is truly unique
using the FDM process. in our innovation centres. We are now within this industry and no-one has
“Hexcel is in the first stages of its building a new centre in Les Avenières, our capability in respect of vertical
journey with additive manufacturing, France, due for completion towards integration: from the PAN precursor
but the opportunities to replace cast the end of this year and opening to the manufacture of high strength
aluminium and titanium are very real, in 2019. Les Avenières’ capability intermediate and high modulus carbon
and we will be progressive in pursuing will be associated with infusion, fibre materials to satisfy applications
all these opportunities, not only in out-of-autoclave technology, HiMax in both the aerospace and industrial
replacing traditional metallic materials and HiTape, and ultimately as we sectors.”
– but also in looking to provide expand our additive manufacturing www.hexcel.com

34 May
October Aerospace
20182013 www.aeromag.com
Manufacturing www.aero-mag.com
MEET
THE
MEET THE BUYER
BUYER

MEET
THE
BUYER
MEET THE
BUYER

MEET THE
BUYER
MEET THE
BUYER
SPECIAL REPORT: MRO

STICKING
IT TO THE
PLANE
Ed Hill speaks to Invert Robotics about its innovative surface crawling
robot now being used to carry out visual inspection tasks on aircraft.

I
n the highly space was considered from the ABOVE: Invert Fletcher continues: “The suction
competitive world of company’s inception but by focusing Robotics technology methodology in use on Invert’s climbing
demonstrated on a
the aviation industry, on an area with lighter regulation Boeing 767 robots is a world first and built specifically
aircraft time on the around inspection and maintenance to climb on smooth (including curved)
ground leaks money Invert Robotics was able to grow surfaces. Flat horizontal surfaces such as
away from airline’s increasingly tight whilst learning and developing the wings present no problem and the suction
profit margins. Any technology that technology. Once it reached sufficient technology allows inspections with the
can help speed up safety inspections maturity, it caught the attention of the robot upside down under a wing – an
is a benefit not only to airlines but MRO industry.” important consideration for close visual
also the MRO companies that support inspections at the height of wings on wide-
them and consequently passengers Quicker than the eye bodied jets.
who avoid delays. The system uses high definition “The system is fully automated to
Now a New Zealand company is cameras and sensors to assess surfaces enable operators to focus on the task at
revolutionising the way in which for flaws such as pits and cracks, whilst hand. Our robots can climb any smooth
visual inspections are carried out on also recording the location and size of surface and can cross obstacles such
aircraft. Invert Robotics has designed an these defects. Inspectors are fed real- as joins between panels, weld seams,
innovative new climbing robot that can time video during the inspection and are edges of doors and other surface
adhere to a range of surfaces including able to identify and classify faults often discontinuities. Our initial areas of
aluminium, glass and carbon fibre, even unable to be picked up by the human focus are around difficult to access
when aircraft are wet or the surface eye. A full repair assessment report can areas including crowns of fuselages and
requires upside down inspection. then be provided within 72 hours. vertical stabilisers/rudders.”
Initially developed for the dairy/food The crawling robot also eliminates As the robot tracks its way around the
and drink industry (a sector with lighter many of the health and safety risks aircraft data is streamed in real-time to an
regulation) to inspect stainless steel associated with traditional inspection engineer on the ground and/or recorded
tanks, the system uses a patented suction methods as it means the operators, in industry standard formats. Operators
mechanism which enables it to crawl rather than working at height from can review all data in real-time during
over almost every inch of an aircraft. access systems such as cherry pickers or an inspection and following the survey
Neil Fletcher, managing director of towers, can remain safely on the ground an inspection a report is automatically
Invert Robotics explains: “The aviation while inspections are being carried out. generated that can then be sent wirelessly

www.aero-mag.com Aerospace Manufacturing May 2018 37


SPECIAL REPORT: MRO

for review by other engineers, airlines or Fletcher says: “In the same way as Invert Robotics believes its system BELOW: Invert
OEMs, for example. our visual inspections have improved has the potential to be used for Robotics technology
developed in
The system is not only faster than pre-existing workflows our ultrasonic many more aerospace inspection Christchurch, New
manual inspection it is also safer with thickness testing and thermographic applications. As well as the food and Zealand began
as a spin-off from
less opportunity for human error. It also inspection payloads now being tested drink industry, it is also being used in research carried out
frees up skilled aircraft engineer’s time will enable clients to work from the the pharmaceutical, and oil and gas at the University of
Canterbury
so they can attend to more complex ground and deliver inspections utilising industries. There is also potential to
tasks rather than spending time on the those technologies at matching or integrate other new technologies such
labour-intensive and tedious manual increased quality. The robot can be as remote monitoring and virtual reality.
maintenance inspection processes. In deployed to conduct testing with these Fletcher concludes: “Numerous
turn, this further reduces the time and established technologies on most parts parties have attempted to build
cost of aircraft maintenance. of the aircraft where they are already crawlers for planes. The benefits are too
Fletcher affirms: “Compared with manually applied. Enabling personnel great to ignore and yet the problems
traditional methods, our system to work from the ground not only associated have proven too great until
provides faster turnaround and reduces the overhead of using height now. This technology will undoubtedly
minimises delays and disrupts from access equipment it also unlocks the find other uses and not only for civil
AOG (time airline is on the ground). opportunity to perform work in adverse and military aircraft.
The proper comparison is not always weather conditions, including at the “Our technology can most definitely
with a direct visual inspection – severe gate, avoiding expensive delays.” integrate advances from other areas
damage will usually be readily visible One MRO company that has and we are following
from the ground, but more often teamed up with Invert Robotics to use each of these very
damage that requires closer inspection. the system is Zurich-based aircraft closely. However, We are excited
“Using our system with a maintenance group SR Technics. internally we are to be part of this
20-30-minute inspection time avoids SR Technics’ CEO, Jeremy Remacha very careful to innovation that we
aircraft being towed to hangars, or comments: “We are constantly looking walk before we
operators sourcing and setting up a for ways to improve our services and run - we are trying
believe will have a
cherry picker avoiding delays often reduce the costs to our customers in to minimise the significant effect in
of many hours. This flexibility of this highly competitive industry. Time risk of investing our industry
operation and time saving is enhanced savings mean our customers have their in solutions that are
by the ability to record and transmit the aircraft back in service sooner and for before their time whilst
data for remote analysis at an MRO or airlines that is a huge benefit. Being able ensuring that we are delivering a world
OEM where the high definition images to record the state of an aircraft proves leading solution.
from the camera allow for much more the need for and quality of our work “The opportunity to evolve from
accurate assessments of airworthiness.” and allows more accurate scheduling of inside concave surfaces to outside
Invert Robotics is now developing required maintenance. We are excited convex surfaces have brought the
ultrasound and thermographic sensors to be part of this innovation that we aviation industry into clear focus as
to help further expand the capabilities believe will have a significant effect in a significant market for Invert Robotics.”
of the crawling robot. our industry.” http://invertrobotics.com

38 May
October Aerospace
20182013 www.aeromag.com
Manufacturing www.aero-mag.com
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Managing Gaps in
Airframe Assembly
Small, but perfectly formed… It is therefore no surprise that Shimtech works with almost every
Compared with the impressive composite and metallic structures major airframe manufacturer and their major suppliers, providing not
that surround them, shims are a small, and relatively unglamorous just components, but – increasingly - specialist engineering support
commodity. But as Shimtech CEO, Howard Kimberley points out, and solutions that are tailored to customers’ specific requirements.
they fulfil a vital role in helping ensure some of the most advanced This includes providing custom parts direct to assembly jigs.
airframes in the world fit together cost-efficiently.

The primary function of a shim - which can be solid, peelable or a Reducing cost - Shortening the supply chain…
hybrid of the two - is to enable toleranced components and With its vertically integrated business model, Shimtech is also unique
structures to fit together precisely. Getting it wrong can prove very in the aerospace world in fabricating its own GFRP and CFRP
costly in many ways, but primarily in valuable lost production time. shimstock to customer-specific process specifications.
Says Shimtech CEO Howard Kimberley, “Being a qualified fabricator of
A surprising degree of science… composite blanks means we can eliminate one or more tiers from the
Often seen as a “dark art”, there is a surprising amount of science traditional supply chain. This means cheaper parts and shorter lead
that goes in to shimming when assembling airframes. Factors such times. Put simply, it’s a very easy win for our customers”.
as weight, chemical and electrical resistance, thermal and mechanical
stability and compatibility with surrounding materials determine the
material to be used for the shim or filler. Cost of course is an Gap measurement…
increasingly key factor. Mouldable plastic shimming compounds can As you would expect of the largest aerospace shim manufacturer in
also be an option, but are generally much trickier to apply, and suffer the World, Shimtech also knows a thing-or-two about the end
from the major disadvantages of long cure times, mechanical application of its products. Kimberley explains: “For many shim
performance limits and a much greater risk of FOD introduction. locations, standard flat, tapered or radiused fillers can be fitted as
well as parts with more complex curvatures, for example to follow the
contours of a door frame or a flight control surface.
Technical leadership…
When it comes to shimming, Shimtech are the acknowledged experts. “But when it comes non-linear surfaces, gaps must first be measured
As the largest specialist shim manufacturer in the world – and the - often in confined spaces - allowing custom shims to be cut to size.
only one with significant manufacturing presence in both Europe and Various techniques can be used, depending on the assembly cycle
the Americas - Shimtech has been operating in this space for over time, tolerancing requirements and physical accessibility.”
sixty-five years through its businesses Attewell, Lamsco West and
Bolsan. Over 125,000 square feet of modern factory space is Gaps can be scanned in both an open and closed state. When open,
dedicated purely to shim production, with some 10 million metallic, both mating surfaces are scanned independently with the scans
composite, plastic and hybrid shims, fillers, gaskets and engineered being “matched” digitally through the use of specialist software.
details being shipped every year. Kimberley explains: “Matching surface contours relies on accurate

World-class
aerospace engineering & manufacturing...
reference points, from which data is merged in pairs. Scanning open Says Kimberley: “From design and programming, to researching and
gaps gives the advantage of being able to scan surfaces where they qualifying alternative materials to customers’ specifications, to
are located with minimal disturbance to the manufacturing process.” helping optimise control systems and improving work flow processes
around metrology. Concierge Engineering is all about parachuting in
Alternatively, the surface topography of joining faces can be flexible, world-class expert support as and when needed to assist
measured through scanning in a closed state where the structures to with a variety of technical tasks. This makes it a highly cost-effective
be joined are already in their final place. Here, the part size and support proposition for our customers.”
geometry and the design of the assembly tooling itself will be factors
to be taken into consideration. Once the data is acquired and
converted to NC code, the shim can be cut to the custom profile and Early involvement pays dividends…
delivered rapidly to the point of assembly. Says CEO Kimberley: “Aerospace is a competitive market and that isn’t
about to change. Being the lowest cost producer is now a must,
wherever you sit within the supply chain.
Engineering focus…
Aside from the obvious benefits of international scale and vertical “But where we can add incremental value is in reducing our
integration, it is the surprising depth of engineering and technical customers’ total cost of acquisition. This means managing inventory
capability within the group that is one of the other major factors that on our customers’ behalf, and using our engineering expertise to help
sets Shimtech apart. reduce assembly cycle times and if needed, assist with the metrology
as well as the actual manufacturing and fulfilment.
Explains CEO Kimberley: “Over the last five years or so we have
invested very heavily in R&D in parallel with our manufacturing “The most important thing, however is to get involved in the
infrastructure. We now have Material & Process (“M&P”) experts who customer’s programme at the earliest possible stage. It’s amazing the
are focussed exclusively on ways we can save our customers money. amount of time and money that can be saved by ensuring that gap
That is their clear brief. Shimtech is now far more of an engineering- management is not the last thing to be thought of.”
led business.”

Call the Concierge… To find out more, meet Shimtech


In fact such has been the demand that Shimtech has now set up a
new business unit, Concierge Engineering, to provide as-needed in Hall 1 1145 at the 2018
support for a variety of third party M&P programme or ad-hoc project
engineering tasks. Farnborough International Airshow

www.shimtechgroup.com
SUPPLY CHAIN: OBSOLESCENCE

NEVER
FORGET!
Ian Blackman, chief technical officer of the International Institute
of Obsolescence Management (IIOM) looks at the types of engineering
skills that are either being left behind or completely forgotten.

I
ABOVE: ‘Old t is heartening to products that replicate and remove Worse still is the absorbing of
school’ skills are still see the creativity in the need for human activity. The press specialist’s skills as bit parts in the
important if you want
to build successful conceptual design, and especially social media heavily engineers’ job specification. Items such
products and keep component capability, promote the recognition of such tools as: configuration management; logistics
the customers happy
manufacturing and and the recognition of engineering support; technical documentation;
personnel skills that engineers are as the core of these advances is a test engineering; project planning
bringing to all aspects of our work great thing. Perhaps worryingly, and scheduling; thermal and
and recreational pursuits. ‘engineering’ is not the term always other modelling techniques, and
Composite materials, 3D printing, used, and yet information technology, obsolescence management.
artificial intelligence, Industry 4.0, communications, gaming, autonomy,
also known as the Internet of Things and connectivity are only possible Specialist knowledge
(IoT) and virtual prototyping are huge through engineering talent. Each of these roles has historically
steps forward in bringing concepts to In recent years, the engineer has been filled by specialist teams with
market at a fast pace - with improved been overloaded with non-core knowledge of customer needs and
capabilities at lower overall costs. Many responsibilities as corporates downsize, experience in how to deliver these
successes have been published where outsource, or cease to replace needs. These skills disappear as older
these new technologies have made specialists. Services such as personnel staff retire, and they are not attractive
a positive impact on projects when management and recruitment, to younger staff joining engineering
applied correctly. personnel security, health and safety, businesses.
Expectations of the younger and training of others have become For many organisations, these skills
generations entering work and those part of the engineer’s workload and were relics of the old days where these
still in education are for ever more particularly the engineering managers apparent luxuries could be afforded
complex and highly-integrated workload. but no longer can be. In most cases the

42 October
May 2018 Aerospace
2013 www.aeromag.com
Manufacturing www.aero-mag.com
specialist department that did these gas, railways and the nuclear industry, practitioners to carry on personal
things was not well recognised, but but is becoming increasingly more development to attain Incorporated
their demise leads to serious gaps in the important as new markets, such as the Engineer (IEng) or Chartered Engineer
development of sustainable and quality IoT, industrial automation via the IoT, (CEng) status.
products. and connected and autonomous cars. The first level of training - called the
As companies move to a new It will be challenging for these IIOM certificate - has been developed
manufacturing and support industries to make the required as a training course and the first
environment where contracts for cultural change from proposing and candidates have been trained in the UK
availability and capability are common, supporting planned obsolescence and Germany. Successful candidates
the lack of these ‘forgotten skills’ can and moving to a more integrated and can use the post nominal letters ‘AIIOM’
lead to significant risk and programme public manufacturing and support after their job title.
delay, whilst skills are sought from the environment where business partners The IIOM is currently collecting
marketplace - with a cost premium and consumers will be expecting information from interested parties
ABOVE: Ian
- or engineers are redeployed from Blackman, chief excellent availability, durability about the next level being developed,
within to investigate and ‘fire-fight’ the technical officer of and availability as a service, such which will be called the Diploma in
the IIOM
overlooked skill with repercussions for as in automated cars for example. Obsolescence Management. This will
the work they were previously doing. Shareholders will also seek assurances be designed for obsolescence managers
If we look at the obsolescence skills of the good ethics of such businesses. and directors.
specifically, in the following real-world The engineering resources to Please respond to the following
instances they have caused real undertake this transition may be short questionnaire to express your
issues in the supportability of vitally in short supply and premiums to interest in finding out more:
important assets and infrastructure entice people from prestige corporate https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/
projects in recent years: analog companies may be considerable. W9VH5YM
design engineers; hydraulics and So, how do we inform and educate
fluid engineering; ‘mature’ software Personal development those coming into work from university,
languages; test engineers; logistics The IIOM is developing professional overseas or from other jobs, that these
technicians; technical publication training for obsolescence practitioners. ‘old school’ skills are vitally important if
writers. This work is being supported with you want to build successful products
Obsolescence management has long dialogue with the Engineering Council and have happy customers? This
been recognised in traditional long-term and the Institution of Engineering and requirement has never changed!
support sectors such as defence, oil and Technology (IET), which will encourage www.theiiom.org

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FINAL APPROACH

SOURCING THE
SKILLS TO HELP
COMPOSITES FLY
Aerospace sector demand for advanced manufacturing is providing
opportunities for firms like composites manufacturer, Pentaxia. Company
managing director, Stephen Ollier, looks at how talent and technology
can help companies to soar in these uncertain economic times.

A
key driver for the our plans for future growth. Last year
growth in advanced we met with Carolyn Griffiths, president
composites is the of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers
demand for high (IMechE) as part of her annual tour of
performance and business in the East Midlands. The visit
lightweight composite materials in from Carolyn Griffiths was a fantastic
aircraft programmes. An emerging opportunity to not only demonstrate
trend proving to have a direct Pentaxia’s current capabilities as a
impact on the industry is the rapidly growing advanced composite
increased use of thermoplastics manufacturer in the UK, but to discuss
prepreg which is supported by the the current state of engineering
development and production of education.
advanced aircraft models. As a sector we must ask, how
To meet this demand, composites effective are college engineering
manufactures are deploying advanced courses at preparing the next
technologies such as automation to generation of skilled engineers?
increase quality and productivity. IT How can we support and build on
and robotics are having a profound this platform to ensure the UK has
impact on the manufacturing industry, the expertise required to meet the
but if we are to optimise the benefits increasing demand of the industry?
of emerging technology we must At Pentaxia, we are addressing these
recognise our sector’s skills shortage. challenges through our commitment
For companies like Pentaxia, where to apprentices and trainees. We are in
65% of our work is a mix of on-aircraft the process of establishing an internal
components and tooling, it is vital that training centre, dedicated to training
we have a skilled workforce of IT and new starters under the Composites
engineering professionals to support Technician Trailblazer Apprenticeship,
the use of improved technologies and as well as continuing our commitment
systems. As an industry we must look to ‘on the job’ training. We also
to invest in engineering talent and provide continued development
embrace performance enhancing opportunities for our staff, many of
technologies, if the whom are typically
UK is to remain The UK mid- career and are ABOVE: Stephen
Ollier, managing
us, this type of diverse talent provides
competitive in a looking for a new a huge benefit to the growth and
global market.
composites industry and interesting
director of Pentaxia
expansion of our company, particularly
Because of this, is an exciting place to challenge. as we look to move into other markets
we have invested be right now. There is There are such as energy and defence.
£1.5 million into tremendous growth many merits to The UK composites industry is an
a larger facility and significant change diversifying a exciting place to be right now. There
that will enable workforce and to is tremendous growth and significant
us to grow our
all happening achieve this we are change all happening simultaneously.
team of specialist simultaneously. welcoming people Companies that can embrace and adapt
engineers, increase looking to transfer to the challenges will grow rapidly
our production their skills from other and those that cannot will struggle to
capabilities and install more state industries. We would encourage other survive in the longer term. The UK is in
of the art equipment. This move manufacturing firms to have an open a great position to exploit the potential,
prompted interest from colleagues and approach to recruitment and welcome as aviation industries help keep the
leaders in the engineering sector who people who can bring additional skills technology moving forwards.
have been keen to find out more about and knowledge from other sectors. For https://pentaxia.com/

130May
46 October Aerospace
20182013 www.aeromag.com
Manufacturing www.aero-mag.com
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