ATI Conference 2024
Destination Zero
The Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) Conference 2024 is a two-day event focusing on the ultra-efficient and zero-carbon technologies powering the UK’s journey to Destination Zero. This includes considering the conditions required to accelerate technology adoption.
As part of the High Value Manufacturing (HVM) Catapult, the National Composites Centre (NCC) is taking visitors on a journey into the future of sustainable innovation and next generation aerostructures. Along with other HVM Catapult centres, the NCC is exhibiting a Wing Technology Demonstrator manufactured by our early careers team. Their hands-on experience included work on primary structure composite parts, such as stringers, spars, and wing skins. In addition to demonstrating our investment in workforce development, the tool showcases NCC’s range of in-house capabilities in design, stress testing, tooling, composites moulding, and manufacture.
Our experts
The ATI Conference hosts experts from industry, government, research and academia to address urgent issues affecting the sector – from the global market outlook to how the sector can increase the pace of technology development to meet sustainability targets and shape the future of flight.
Catch Kevin Mee, Director of Sector Delivery in a breakout session discussing “Aerospace manufacturing: Tackling common challenges through collaboration”, on Tuesday, October 8 at 13:30. The panel will outline the key challenges for the UK aerospace manufacturing industry in composites and metallic structures, and explore how collaboration and technology innovation can support in addressing those challenges. The panel will also consider a long-term vision while ensuring the competitiveness of the sector today.
At the ATI Awards, the ASCEND (Aerospace and Automotive Supply Chain Enabled Development) programme has also been shortlisted for an award. NCC is a part of a consortium of partners to develop and accelerate composite material and process technologies for the next generation of energy efficient aircraft and future mobility.
Kevin, and other NCC experts, will be available throughout the event to share more about our wing technology demonstrator, engineering capabilities and innovative solutions to meet your business needs:
- Adrian Tayler, Head of Aerospace
- Andrew Bruton, Advanced Technology Programme Manager, managing Civil Aerospace
- Toby Fry, Principal Research Engineer for Large Structures
Schedule time with our experts by emailing [email protected]
Alternatively, click “Talk to the team” below, and complete the form.
Our work
We are accelerating innovation for zero-emission aircraft using pioneering technologies developed at the National Composites Centre. Our work with primes explores radical new approaches to the design and manufacture of future wings – from significantly reducing assembled parts to collaborating on adaptable wing technology to improve aircraft performance. Trialed as part of the ATI FlyZero programme, our expertise in composite cryogenic hydrogen storage tanks is also enabling net zero aviation.
NCC supports Airbus’ innovative project to optimise wing aerodynamics and aircraft performance through hinged wingtips inspired by the biomimicry of seabirds.
NCC’s expertise significantly contributed to the development of critical components for the VX4 electric aircraft prototype, and de-risking their path to certification.
NCC has tested a range of composite cryogenic storage tanks with liquid hydrogen that it has designed and manufactured to support the UK’s transition to the hydrogen economy.
NCC achieves the world’s first full scale 17-metre integrated wing skin infused in one step.
This GKN Aerospace-led consortium is accelerating composite material and process technologies for the next generation of energy efficient aircraft and future mobility.
NCC helps UK SME extend medical imaging expertise into non-destructive testing (NDT) for the aviation industry, with the potential to break into a market estimated at £1.5 billion annually.
Our capabilities
Our Ultra High Rate Deposition cell contains two huge industrial robots that automate the production process for future large scale, high rate composite products such as wings and turbine blades.
Our tape winder and filament winder machines can create anything from high-strength pipes to high pressure type 4 hydrogen tanks. Our twin-ring braider can create components that are hollow and straight or complex cross sections with curved profiles.
Our bespoke ceramic matrix composite (CMC) development facility includes material storage and processing equipment specifically for CMC applications, including aircraft propulsion.
We are the best equipped research centre for automated fibre placement (AFP), tensioned fibre placement (TFP) and automated tape laying (ATL) in the world.
We have a suite of verification capabilities across non-destructive testing (NDT), metrology, and a materials testing laboratory to assess the quality and performance of a material or product.
In addition to a range of specific automated manufacturing technologies, the NCC has a dedicated automation cell predominantly used to create fast, repeatable, complex parts. Our fixturing capabilities allow us to bond high precision parts into a safety critical assembly.
Our dedicated high volume manufacturing workshop is equipped with a range of presses, including our 3600T Schuler, and a state-of-the-art injection overmoulder capable of producing complex and repeatable parts in sub 5 minute cycle times.
We have an array of resin infusion and resin transfer moulding capabilities that allow us to manufacture parts from 10s of millimetre up to 20 metre scale, and process materials at a range of temperatures and pressures.
We have a wide variety of composite curing and assembly capabilities ranging from an oven or autoclave big enough to handle an aircraft wing to the fixturing and skills required to bond high-precision parts into a safety critical assembly.
Our dedicated SME support team ensures your business can swiftly access our resources. We work with you to deliver solutions that meet your time and cost requirements.
Can't make the ATI Conference? You can still catch our experts at the following upcoming events: