AZL Aachen GmbH is pleased to announce the launch of a new joint partner project focusing on further growth potentials and technology developments for composite propellers in the field of air mobility and for composite rotors for small to medium-sized wind turbines.
The nine-month industry consortium project will investigate current and future composite applications for propellers and rotors and their requirements, provide technological insights and develop new product concepts and evaluate them in terms of economic efficiency.
Interested companies can join the consortium until the kick-off on September 18, 2024.
Addressing future high-volume applications
The project aims to address the growing demand for efficient, powerful and compact composite propellers and rotors for the growth markets in air mobility and decentralized power generation.
Although the application, manufacturing and material technologies for propellers and rotors made of composite materials have proven to be technically mature, they have so far mainly been used in the high-performance sector for large propeller aircraft and large wind turbines.
Due to the increasing interest in efficient electric drives in the field of air mobility, e.g. air cabs or parcel delivery drones, as well as for decentralized energy generation with the help of small/medium-sized wind turbines, a significant increase in demand for these components is expected compared to previous production volumes.
“With new technologies for cost-efficient propulsion of aircraft and new possibilities for local energy generation, innovative materials have the potential to play a central role. Propellers and rotors are key components in these areas and can significantly increase their efficiency. As a supplier of composite materials, we already have experience in the field of drones and propellers and believe that we can make an effective contribution to these technologies and future production concepts. However, it is important to develop a deeper understanding of the market and technology potential, design principles and associated challenges. As with previous AZL Joint Partner projects, we want to gain valuable insights into the market and the technology. We are looking forward to this exciting collaboration to expand our knowledge and strengthen our network,” says Inoue Hiroki, Senior Technical Expert Liaison Group at Mitsui Chemicals Inc.
AZL will bring together experts along the entire value chain in the project to analyze current and future product concepts.
During the project, the participating companies will gain a comprehensive understanding of composite propeller and rotor technology.
The project team will conduct a comprehensive screening of current and future technologies, investigate different materials and processes for the production of propellers and rotors, and develop design options and analyze and evaluate them with regard to technological and economic criteria.
The requirements and expertise of the developers and manufacturers of aircraft and wind turbines will be combined with the manufacturing and materials knowledge of the AZL network for high-performance materials.
In addition, the project will evaluate the costs and carbon footprint of alternative designs and production concepts to ensure a holistic approach to support the business and technology development of project participants along the entire value chain of composite propellers and rotors.
How interested parties can participate
AZL Aachen GmbH invites interested companies to join the consortium and contribute to this innovative project.
By participating, companies gain direct access to all project results, benefit from joint technology development through cost sharing and can efficiently advance their development strategies in this rapidly evolving field.
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