JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #41 - June 2008 - 51

Manufacturing determine the best locations for their optimum use. We know how to create composite parts that draw on every single advantage offered by these materials. Our R&D programmes will therefore help us broaden our technological range by integrating the resin infusion process and by developing new testing technologies. JCM: What kind of business activities are you looking to develop today? L.S-M.: We hope to develop our partnerships with aircraft manufacturers to take part in designing their new aircraft. We are also providing them with our technological and production capacities either to optimise existing products, e.g. redesigning to save weight, or to create new production sources to meet increased production rates. Lastly, both our current and future customers have access to our design expertise via our engineering services. Our strength lies in our capacity to provide solutions that we know are industrially feasible as we are more than willing to take on the manufacturing aspects ourselves. We are currently working for Airbus on a project targeting a 12% weight reduction in one of the A400M packages in support of their current partner. LAURENT SCHNEIDER-MAUNOURY CEO SLCA JEC Composites Magazine: Could you tell us about the various projects you’re working on at the moment? MR. LAURENT SCHNEIDER-MAUNOURY: SLCA has been chosen by the government to lead two technological development projects. The first project, CAPSAIRTM, aims at developing the use of the resin infusion process in aerostructures, applying it to large sandwich and integrally-stiffed parts. This project should reach material qualification stage and validate an innovative industrial process. A number of patents are expected to be registered. We are banking on improved industrial efficiency to enhance the competitiveness of our products, together with optimised concepts, so as to save weight, and better environmental efficiency. SLCA is backed by specialist partners from the Lorraine region, such as PPE, the French engineering school ENSAM in Metz and CINI (Lorraine-based tool-maker). The second project, COMAC, aims at developing new portable means for inspecting and analysing composite materials. At a time where an increasing number of aircraft are starting to heavily rely on composites, it is essential to be able to provide end users with simple yet reliable analysis tools to check the good condition of aircraft that may have suffered damage during operation. Using composites to replace metallic materials – whose damage analysis is wellunderstood – means that such analysis techniques must be developed for composites. We are planning to both develop a series of new services and improve our production control systems to gain in flexibility and efficiency. SLCA has joined forces with several research organisations such as PPE, the Institut de Soudure (French welding institute), the Loria and Trefle laboratories, and the Visuol Company. Finally, we are acting as an industrial expert in the Controltherm project which was launched with the goal of improving composite machining. These projects should help SLCA remain in the forefront of composite expertise and help us anticipate customer requirements by offering solutions that always meet their expectations. JCM: Are you considering integrating new manufacturing processes? L.S-M.: For almost thirty years now, SLCA has been developing the necessary skills to make the right choices in materials for the aerostructural requirements of its customers. As composite experts, we know how to A340 500/600 belly fairing assembly line JCM: What kind of trends can be seen in the aeronautics sector on an international level? L.S-M.: The aeronautics sector is in full expansion and is boosted by the global growth in air transport. Many new aircraft construction programmes involving strong customersupplier ties have been launched. Composite materials are radically changing the aeronautics sector. Players like SLCA, who are capable of assuming the full responsibility of a photo credit : Eric Bienvenu No41 June 2008 / JEC Composites Magazine

JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #41 - June 2008

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of JEC COMPOSITES MAGAZINE - Issue #41 - June 2008