ITP Aero launches laser welding research project thanks to Government grant

ITP Aero is celebrating after being awarded £1.5m in Government funding to support its three-year laser welding R&D project in collaboration with the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) and the University of Nottingham.

The three-year project, known as LADDER (Laser Automation and Design Development for future Engine Requirements) will see a total investment of £2.59 million, both from ITP Aero and the Government’s Innovation Funding Service.

ITP says it is delighted to be working in partnership with its research partners, the MTC in Coventry, and the Solid Mechanics team at the University of Nottingham. Both partners bring world-class expertise to bear on the project, in which the aim is to develop and implement an innovative laser beam welding (LBW) solution, as a robust joining technology for complex sheet-metal aero-engine fabrications. This is already a key area of expertise for ITP Aero, where it has world leading design, manufacture and in-service support capabilities. The project will be undertaken at ITP Aero’s biggest UK site is in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, where it employs over 720 people.

Rob Mitchell, head of engineering for ITP Aero UK said: “This is a real milestone for us in ITP Aero UK. We are a young company in the UK, but a site with a huge amount of aerospace heritage. This is our first stand-alone project where we have sought and secured Government funding and underlines our commitment to invest in the UK in line with our research priorities. I am delighted we are able to work closely with our partners in the MTC and University of Nottingham to develop this industry leading capability in the UK.”

Matthew Kite, the director of power and energy, industrial sector at the MTC, said: “After a long association with ITP Aero’s Hucknall site, it is a real pleasure to accompany them on the next stage of their new journey, whilst also having the opportunity to work closely with the University of Nottingham, one of our founding partners. With our extensive experience in laser-based collaborative projects in the aerospace sector, combined with ITP Aero’s commitment to the adoption of new technologies in this area, we have a real opportunity to boost the UK’s expertise.”

Chris Bennett, professor of solid mechanics and director of the Institute for Aerospace Technology, added: “This project builds on existing strengths and a history at Nottingham in the field of welding modelling, while being at the cutting edge of aerospace manufacture and allowing us to consider some of the challenges associated with the production of real components.”

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