Construction and Manufacturing

3D metal print - noise-reduction liner
Sustainability and Environment

20 January 2023

R&D case: Aircraft Noise Reduction Technologies and Related Environmental Impact (ARTEM)

In recent years, improving energy efficiency (i.e. fuel consumption) and emission reduction have led to increased engine sizes and bypass ratios. These modifications create a crucial noise issue due to the emission of low-frequency noise and the size and effectiveness limitations of the current noise-absorbing structures (liners).

Construction and Manufacturing

15 November 2022

How additive manufacturing is building the wings of tomorrow

Morphing structures that let components change from one shape to another and additive manufacturing for producing lightweight and complex structures are regularly highlighted as innovative technologies for the aviation sector; both of them will help achieve aviation’s goal of being climate-neutral by 2050. In the Clean Sky 2 project MANTA, these various innovations are being brought together to make the aircraft of tomorrow a reality.

3D scanner KUKA robot at NLR Marknesse
Construction and Manufacturing

26 October 2022

R&D case: Sustainable Cost Efficient High Performance Composite Structures

The SuCoHS project focusses on new structural concepts with novel multi-material composites to provide high resistivity against thermal, mechanical and fire loading. In order to achieve the project objectives for sustainable and cost-efficient high performance composite structures, the SuCoHS concept focusses on the three main topics: design, manufacturing and operation.ot grown.

Digital twin proces monitoring
Construction and Manufacturing

26 October 2022

R&D case: Digital Twins for automated composite manufacturing

The aerospace manufacturing and production industries are increasingly challenged to be more competitive, and do more with less. To be able to comply with higher production rates, affordability and constant quality, high levels of automation are required for current-day manufacturing processes. This results in more parts meaning more process data to control and keep track of while the number of operators at the production floor has not grown.

Additive Manufacturing (AM) for metal manufacturing
Construction and Manufacturing

25 August 2022

Collaboration is the key ingredient in additive manufacturing

A broad and effective implementation of additive manufacturing technologies requires collaboration. This is essential to enable multidisciplinary projects typical of additive manufacturing, where different phases need to be covered  from conceptual design to certification of a 3D printed part. But next to a technical collaboration, the co-operation and interaction between end-users, manufacturers and researchers is necessary to achieve the best solution possible.

ESA Galileo constellation
Construction and Manufacturing

03 May 2022

NSO awards €500k for research into manufacturing of satellite propellant tanks

In close collaboration with the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC), the Netherlands Space Office (NSO) challenges entrepreneurs to develop space applications. Their products must contribute to the ESA programs. Dawn Aerospace has been awarded €500k for this through the phased innovation competition 'Small Business Innovation Research' (SBIR).

Environmental structure testing
Construction and Manufacturing

21 March 2022

'Sharp' designing with a world first

NLR was the first to purchase a testing machine that helps to map the behaviour of material under specific loads much faster than was possible up to now. This enables NLR to draw up stricter design rules. Not only does this save on costs, but it also reduces resource consumption and thus waste while maintaining the desired quality.