Today, at the Paris Air Show, the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the National Aerospace Laboratory of the Netherlands (NLR) will sign a Cooperation Agreement in the field of Fiber Reinforced Composites.
Goal of the cooperation is to more efficiently develop methods for the design, development and production of light-weight structures for the aerospace and transport sectors, this in order to contribute to the reduction of fuel consumption and associated CO2 emissions.
From research to prototype
Within this agreement DLR and NLR will jointly undertake precompetitive research projects, execute third party contracts and allow reciprocal use of facilities and general infrastructure around the area of manufacturing techniques for fibre reinforced composites and simulation techniques. Both partners own and operate extensive facilities for the development of composite structures by tape laying or fiber placement and resin infusion.
Focus of the cooperation will be in the areas of automated fibre placement/tape laying techniques, robot assisted manufacturing processes, heating techniques and process monitoring, resin transfer moulding and virtual manufacturing.
DLR and NLR do have a long standing partner relationship. Major cooperation activities are in the German-Dutch Wind Tunnels (DNW) and AT-One, the ATM Research Alliance.