GKN
• Aerospace Technology Institute programme will move STeM successes nearer to market readiness
GKN Aerospace is to lead a challenging 13-partner, 27 month, GBP30m future wing research programme, backed by the UK's Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI). The VIEWS (Validation and Integration of Manufacturing Enablers for Future Wing Structures) programme will bring promising wing design, manufacture and assembly technologies near to market readiness, whilst selecting some novel technologies for further development.
VIEWS will progress technologies that have emerged from the recently completed STeM (Structures Technology Maturity) research programme. Also led by GKN Aerospace, STeM has identified processes that could reduce by 20% the cost of manufacture and assembly of a typical composite box structure.*
Simon Weeks, Chief Technology Officer of the Institute says: "The STeM collaborative R&T programme, managed by GKN Aerospace, demonstrated the very best in terms of innovation and promise for the future."
The work of the new VIEWS programme will span manufacturing and assembly processes including: identifying and defining future manufacturing requirements to produce novel wing architectures; assessing tools that will improve product and process design and enhance the flow of production; progressing a variety of emerging composite and metallic manufacturing and assembly technologies and processes; and studying innovative inspection and repair tools. In the final stages, the partner companies will produce test demonstrators to validate the maturity of key technologies.
The VIEWS team includes four industrial partners: GKN Aerospace, Bombardier Aerospace, Spirit AeroSystems, and GE Aviation; five of the UK's high value manufacturing catapult centres: the National Composites Centre, the Manufacturing Technology Centre, the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (the University of Sheffield),the Warwick Manufacturing Group (the University of Warwick) and the Advanced Forming Research Centre (the University of Strathclyde); and the Universities of Nottingham, Bath, Bristol and Sheffield Hallam.
Rich Oldfield, Technical Director, GKN Aerospace explains: "Through the Institute the UK aerospace sector is able to work together effectively to develop promising technologies and processes that will help us maintain our position as the strongest national aerospace industry outside the USA. STeM saw us make valuable progress and VIEWS will work from that base, taking us nearer to market readiness with a new generation of automated processes and technologies that will extend what we in the UK are able to manufacture, at the same time as increasing the quality, consistency and speed of production."
VIEWS will progress technologies that have emerged from the recently completed STeM (Structures Technology Maturity) research programme. Also led by GKN Aerospace, STeM has identified processes that could reduce by 20% the cost of manufacture and assembly of a typical composite box structure.*
Simon Weeks, Chief Technology Officer of the Institute says: "The STeM collaborative R&T programme, managed by GKN Aerospace, demonstrated the very best in terms of innovation and promise for the future."
The work of the new VIEWS programme will span manufacturing and assembly processes including: identifying and defining future manufacturing requirements to produce novel wing architectures; assessing tools that will improve product and process design and enhance the flow of production; progressing a variety of emerging composite and metallic manufacturing and assembly technologies and processes; and studying innovative inspection and repair tools. In the final stages, the partner companies will produce test demonstrators to validate the maturity of key technologies.
The VIEWS team includes four industrial partners: GKN Aerospace, Bombardier Aerospace, Spirit AeroSystems, and GE Aviation; five of the UK's high value manufacturing catapult centres: the National Composites Centre, the Manufacturing Technology Centre, the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (the University of Sheffield),the Warwick Manufacturing Group (the University of Warwick) and the Advanced Forming Research Centre (the University of Strathclyde); and the Universities of Nottingham, Bath, Bristol and Sheffield Hallam.
Rich Oldfield, Technical Director, GKN Aerospace explains: "Through the Institute the UK aerospace sector is able to work together effectively to develop promising technologies and processes that will help us maintain our position as the strongest national aerospace industry outside the USA. STeM saw us make valuable progress and VIEWS will work from that base, taking us nearer to market readiness with a new generation of automated processes and technologies that will extend what we in the UK are able to manufacture, at the same time as increasing the quality, consistency and speed of production."
Photo caption: STeM winglet lower skin manufacture, using robotic fibre placement. Photo courtesy of the National Composites Centre (NCC).
Editor's Notes:
*see STeM release issued 17/6/14 at www.gknaerospace.com/news
Editor's Notes:
*see STeM release issued 17/6/14 at www.gknaerospace.com/news
The Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI)
The ATI is an independent institute established as a collaboration between Government and Industry to lead and challenge the UK's Aerospace technology strategy and through £2 billion of secured R&T investment maintain and grow the UK's competitive position in world-leading capabilities, preserving high-value design and manufacturing jobs in the UK.
Within the ATI world-class industry experts and academics drive the UK's intellectual leadership in whole aircraft, aerodynamics, propulsion, aerostructures and advanced systems. The ATI will strive to sustain and grow an internationally competitive Aerospace sector through investment in technologies consistent with commercial aircraft updates, new aircraft, the sector's strengths and the added economic value to the UK.
The ATI is an independent institute established as a collaboration between Government and Industry to lead and challenge the UK's Aerospace technology strategy and through £2 billion of secured R&T investment maintain and grow the UK's competitive position in world-leading capabilities, preserving high-value design and manufacturing jobs in the UK.
Within the ATI world-class industry experts and academics drive the UK's intellectual leadership in whole aircraft, aerodynamics, propulsion, aerostructures and advanced systems. The ATI will strive to sustain and grow an internationally competitive Aerospace sector through investment in technologies consistent with commercial aircraft updates, new aircraft, the sector's strengths and the added economic value to the UK.
Innovate UK is the new name for the Technology Strategy Board - the UK's innovation agency, accelerating economic growth. Innovate UK know that taking a new idea to market is a challenge. Innovate UK fund, support and connect innovative businesses through a unique mix of people and programmes to accelerate sustainable economic growth.
VIEWS Partners:
Lead: GKN Aerospace, Ferry Road, East Cowes, Isle of Wight PO32 6RA
Bombardier Aerospace, Airport Road, Belfast, Co Antrim, BT3 9DZ
GE Aviation Systems, Cheltenham Road, Bishops Cleeve, Gloucestershire GL52 8SF
Spirit AeroSystems (Europe), Tower Bridge House, St Katharine's Way, London, E1W 1AA
Lead: GKN Aerospace, Ferry Road, East Cowes, Isle of Wight PO32 6RA
Bombardier Aerospace, Airport Road, Belfast, Co Antrim, BT3 9DZ
GE Aviation Systems, Cheltenham Road, Bishops Cleeve, Gloucestershire GL52 8SF
Spirit AeroSystems (Europe), Tower Bridge House, St Katharine's Way, London, E1W 1AA
The National Composites Centre, Bristol & Bath Science Park, Emersons Green, Bristol, South Gloucestershire BS16 7FS
The Manufacturing Technology Centre, Ansty Business Park, Pilot Way, Coventry, Warwickshire CV7 9JU
The University of Sheffield (Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre), Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN
The University of Strathclyde (Advanced Forming Research Centre), 16 Richmond Street, Glasgow G1 1XQ
The University of Warwick (Warwick Manufacturing Group), University House, Kirby Corner Road, Coventry, CV4 7AL , UK
The Manufacturing Technology Centre, Ansty Business Park, Pilot Way, Coventry, Warwickshire CV7 9JU
The University of Sheffield (Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre), Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN
The University of Strathclyde (Advanced Forming Research Centre), 16 Richmond Street, Glasgow G1 1XQ
The University of Warwick (Warwick Manufacturing Group), University House, Kirby Corner Road, Coventry, CV4 7AL , UK
The University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD
Sheffield Hallam University, Howard Street, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S1 1WB
The University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, North East Somerset BA2 7AY
The University of Bristol, Senate House, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TH
Sheffield Hallam University, Howard Street, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S1 1WB
The University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath, North East Somerset BA2 7AY
The University of Bristol, Senate House, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol, BS8 1TH
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