Delivered jointly by the ATI and High Value Manufacturing Catapult (HVMC), the Innovation in Aerospace Manufacturing event brought organisations together to share outputs from recent Sprint projects. 

More than 250 innovators from across aerospace manufacturing joined a knowledge sharing and networking event at the MTC in Coventry earlier this month. Almost 100 organisations were represented including SMEs, start-ups, established industrials, research organisations and consultancies. 

The event shared the learnings from a series of Sprints, a set of projects recently delivered in collaboration with the High Value Manufacturing Catapult Centres and partners, supported and monitored by the Aerospace Technology Institute and Innovate UK. 

After opening remarks from the Aerospace Technology Institute, HVMC and Innovate UK, keynote speakers included Neil Mantle, Director of Manufacturing for Rolls-Royce, John Kells, Head of Operations – Europe for ZeroAvia and Colin Mitchell, Head of Wing Industrialisation for Airbus. These keynotes underlined the importance of manufacturing innovation and ongoing collaboration in meeting the technology challenges the transition to ultra-efficient and zero-carbon aircraft brings. 

Find out more about each of the Sprints below. 

Sprint 1: Sustainable Aviation Fuels: FASTACEJET 

Innovation on processes to formulate and manufacture aviation fuels in a sustainable way and aerospace challenges with fuel requalification. 

Partners: Centre for Process Innovation (CPI), University of Nottingham, Drochaid Research Services, University of Sheffield 

Sprint 2: Assembly: One-Way Assembly Sensor-Based Digital Verification, Technology Accelerator (OWAST) 

The one-way assembly grand challenge – the development of innovative novel digital tools to aid automated assembly of aerospace components with a focus on process optimisation and online process verification. 

Partners: Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), National Composites Centre (NCC) 

Sprint 3: Casting: Foundry 2030 

Innovation on the production of predictable and repeatable near net shape castings, incorporating optimised design and Industry 4.0 technologies, for primary critical structural applications. 

Partners: Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), Brunel University 

Sprint 4: Net Shape & Additive Manufacturing: Hybrid DED (Directed Energy Deposition) 

Innovation related to novel Hybrid Directed Energy Deposition (DED), combining forming/forging and additive manufacturing (AM) techniques, especially focussing on large scale components. 

Partners: Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC), Northern Ireland Technology Centre (NITC), Cranfield University 

Sprint 5: Composites: Ceramic Matrix Composite (CMC) Development, Manufacturability and Repairability 

Innovation on the design, manufacture, validation, repairability and recycling of composite components, especially focussing on composites for high temperature aerospace applications. 

Partners: National Composites Centre (NCC), Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) 

During the event, selected SMEs and start-ups presented their innovations with potential applications in aerospace including processes, technologies and materials as part of our initiative, the ATI Hub. Discover more about the ATI Hub Showcase and the organisations invited to participate here.