Boeing and the University of Sheffield have secured £4.5 million ($8.45 million) from the UK's Yorkshire regional development agency to set up the Composites and Advanced Materials and Technology Centre (Camtec) at the advanced manufacturing park in Rotherham. Camtec will focus on research, design and manufacturing of composite components.
Demand for composites is expected to outstrip today's global manufacturing capacity by 2008. Camtec will co-operate with the National Composites Network, a UK government-supported knowledge transfer association, on the application, repair and disposal of advanced materials and composites. "In commercial aircraft, composite fuselages reduce the weight by almost 20%, saving energy and cutting airline costs. In defence, composite rotor blades are stronger and last longer than [non-composite] blades," says Boeing UK industrial participation director Mary Goetz. Boeing is also in a partnership with the university on their advanced manufacturing research centre, which includes Camtec.
Source: Flight International
