Manufacturing advanced materials

A look at some of the challenges of additive layer manufacturing, as well as the advantages it brings to the aerospace industry.

The debate continues: Are composites the inevitable way forward in aerospace design and manufacturing, or are advanced aluminum technologies just as capable of delivering what the primes really want-a blend of performance and sustainability?

Both camps are confident there is a place for their technologies to remain fully competitive. But the way in which future aerospace products are made could be in for a big change. There is currently much advanced R&D work being undertaken around the world to make the next step-change in commercial aviation a reality sooner rather than later.