EADS ETL
9 June 2010
Seven companies signed contracts and agreements today for the use of EADS technologies that are commercially available to develop new products, improve production and expand market opportunities.
These technologies cover a wide range of capabilities, including processes for the production of composite and metallic parts, the application of an advanced avionics data network, the application of new technologies in aircraft cabin interiors and in-flight entertainment systems, as well as the development of inertial sensors and navigation systems.
The VAP contract was signed by EADS CTO Jean Botti; Christian Dries, CEO of Diamond Aircraft; and Dr. Rolf Wirtz, the CTO of EADS Defence & Security
The contracts and agreements were signed at the 2010 Berlin Air Show by EADS Chief Technical Officer Jean Botti with executives of Diamond Aircraft Industries, Embvue, Lufthansa Technik, MT Aerospace, RAFI, TTTech and ThyssenKrupp Systems Engineering. Also participating in the signing event were Dr. Rolf Wirtz, the Chief Technical Officer of EADS Defence & Systems, and Airbus Senior Vice President Research & Technology Axel Krein.
“As a global leader in aerospace and defence, EADS has technologies that can help our licensing partners maintain their competitive edge in today’s challenging business world,” Botti said. “Today’s agreements underscore the broad range of licensing opportunities available from EADS, which are backed by the extensive resources throughout our company’s engineering, development, production and operational activities.”
The technology licensing contract with Diamond Aircraft Industries enables this manufacturer to utilise EADS’ patented Vacuum Assisted Process (VAP®) in the production of its full range of general aviation and personal jet aircraft. VAP® allows composite structures to be manufactured without the use of traditional autoclaves, and provides high quality parts that are more cost effective to produce while also improving production flexibility and reducing throughput times.
Diamond Aircraft Industries already has successfully demonstrated the advantages of VAP in proof-of-concept development work for its D-JET private jet, and is expected to apply this process across its product line of general aviation aircraft, which are produced at the company’s facilities in Austria and Canada.
Two other technology licensing contracts were signed today for the Avionics Full-Duplex Switched Ethernet (AFDX®), which is a standardized high-quality data network that provides guaranteed bandwidth and secure communications. These agreements were concluded with Canada’s Embvue Inc., a developer and provider of embedded software and systems, engineering services and certifiable network products for mission and safety-critical systems; and TTTech Computertechnik, an Austrian-based supplier of solutions in the field of time-triggered computer systems.
AFDX was developed by the EADS Group’s Airbus company, and utilises a special protocol to provide deterministic timing and redundancy management in the inter-system network environment. This standard first flew on Airbus’ A380 jetliner, and has since been applied to a variety of aircraft.
Completing the signings today at the Berlin Air Show were agreements to explore technology licensing opportunities with four German companies: Lufthansa Technik, a major provider of maintenance, repair, overhaul and modification services for the civil aviation industry; MT Aerospace of Germany, which manufacturers components and subsystems for space, defence, aeronautical and mechanical applications; RAFI, a producer of electromechanical components for data entry and display; and ThyssenKrupp Systems Engineering, an engineering services supplier in the aerospace, automotive, manufacturing and transportation industries.
Lufthansa Technik is seeking opportunities to apply EADS’ capabilities in the cabin outfitting of civil aircraft and for their in-flight entertainment systems, while MT Aerospace is evaluating the application of EADS’ expertise in friction stir welding – a solid-state joining process used in the production of metal parts, structures and components. RAFI’s interest in EADS technologies includes inertial sensor technology, navigation and the manufacturing of circuit boards. ThyssenKrupp Systems Engineering will be evaluating a broad range of opportunities with EADS in areas, including sealing technologies.
