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Rolls-Royce begins new engine research project |
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Thursday, 29 May 2008 |
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Rolls-Royce has announced the establishment of a new joint venture company to develop composite materials for use in aero engine fan blades.
Engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce has announced the creation of a new joint venture company with GKN Aerospace to carry out research and development into the use of composite materials for fan blades in aero engines.
The new startup will receive approximately £11 million in order to fund research and development schemes into one of a number of alternative materials and key technologies that Rolls-Royce is interested in using to enhance the efficiency of its products.
"The composite technology research that this organisation will undertake is aimed at delivering light-weight and low-cost fan blades for engines for the next generation of airframe applications," said Ric Parker, director of research at Rolls-Royce.
The joint venture will look to combine the expertise of Rolls-Royce advanced engine technologies with the composite materials and automated manufacturing knowledge possessed by GKN Aerospace.
Earlier this month, Rolls-Royce Trent-900 engines were utilised in an Airbus A380 as it recorded the first ever flight by a commercial aircraft to be partly powered by synthetic "gas to liquid" fuel,
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