GKN Aerospace has established a joint venture company with Rolls-Royce to carry out research and development into the use of composite materials in aero engine fan blades.
Rolls-Royce will fund and own 51 per cent of the £11m venture, with GKN Aerospace responsible for 49 per cent.
The joint venture activities will build upon the development of composite blade applications undertaken during the EU-funded VITAL programme.
The aim of that programme, which wraps up in January next year, is to reduce the weight of the low-pressure section of the engine, reducing noise by six decibels and CO2 emissions by seven per cent.
Rolls-Royce director of Research and Technology Ric Parker said that the new composite joint venture is aimed at delivering light-weight and low-cost fan blades.
Massive new Coventry campus targets 60GWh battery output
Where will all the raw materials come from for the manufacturing process? How will they be transported to the factory and what is going to be done with the various scrap and residues?