Inauguration of the joint Solvay/National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) Manufacturing Innovation Center in Wichita, Kansas
The partnership helps increase efficiency and performance, charting a new course for the future of aviation.
Today, Solvay, the Belgian world leader in advanced materials for aerospace, and the National Institute of Aeronautical Research (NIAR) at Wichita State University celebrated the grand opening of their joint Manufacturing Innovation Center dedicated to enabling the future of flight through advances in composite technologies . The center is located in the NIAR Laboratory of advanced technologies for aerospace systems (ATLAS).
At the Manufacturing Innovation Center, the nation’s major aerospace companies will have access to 150,000 square feet of ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) compliant development, test and prototyping facilities, as well as the latest advanced research on aeronautical materials.
Companies will be able to manufacture entire aircraft structures such as wings and fuselages at a fraction of the manufacturing cost themselves. Using automated, high-throughput processing with smart, agile manufacturing technologies, Solvay and NIAR engineers will work hand-in-hand with customers to test innovative ideas and structures in real time. These capabilities are helping to increase the adoption of composites and enable airlines to achieve increased performance and efficiency goals.
“Our partnership with NIAR through this joint Manufacturing Innovation Center is an important step in Solvay’s ambition to help key customers across the United States advance the future of aerospace and defense.said Carmelo Lo Faro, President of Solvay’s Materials segment. “Here we can explore the benefits of new forms of composite materials with the latest manufacturing technologies to create a lighter, safer and more durable aircraft of the future..”
“ATLAS is the future of aerospace manufacturing, and we’re proud to provide a proving ground for some of the world’s most advanced aerospace technologies and companies,said John Tomblin, WSU senior vice president for industry and defense programs and executive director of NIAR. “Having Solvay’s material expertise on-site in this one-of-a-kind facility is a major asset for companies looking to explore what is possible for future aircraft.”
Solvay’s strategic involvement with NIAR demonstrates how its advanced materials innovation can help customers in the United States reduce excessive time and cost to test new applications. Solvay engineers will work with customers in the aerospace, defense, space and advanced air mobility markets.
