July 17, 2014
The UK Government is to invest £154 million in aerospace research projects, including the 3D printing of plane parts.
The investment is being announced today by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg at the Farnborough air show.
The money will be used in 4 areas of aerospace engineering – wings, engines, aircraft structures and radio communications.
Funding includes:
- Wings – £42 million for new Airbus-led research into designing, manufacturing and assembling wings;
- Engines – £20 million for a project led by Rolls-Royce to explore new ways of creating lighter, greener and more fuel-efficient aircraft: this will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 75% by 2050;
- Aircraft structures – £49 million will go to a GKN-led project to look at how 3D printing can help the UK produce the first ever lightweight aircraft metallic parts;
- Radio – £13 million will go to research led by Thales to help air passengers use the internet and make phone calls more easily.
The funding is part of a £2 billion pound government and industry investment to help secure more than 100,000 skilled jobs in the long term.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: "The UK's aerospace industry is going from strength to strength and helping our economic recovery. We are the number one aerospace industry in Europe and second only to the United States globally.
"I want to ensure the UK remains at the cutting edge of aerospace innovation, which is why I am pleased to announce that we are investing £154 million for research to explore new technologies like the 3D printing of plane parts and creating lighter, greener aircraft.
"By working in partnership with business, we are building a stronger, more balanced economy, creating more jobs and sharing the wealth equally."
Posted in 3D Printing Applications
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