Boeing supports advanced composites R&D consortium
Like all aerospace companies, Boeing benefits from advances in technology. So it should come as no surprise that the company has invested heavily in Canadian research and development.
On the eve of CANSEC, at a reception in Ottawa, Boeing and its Canadian industry partners announced the creation of a research and development consortium to further the manufacturing of advanced composite materials for aerospace and other industries.
The Canadian Composites Manufacturing Research and Development consortium (CCMRD) is a cooperative venture with the Composites Innovation Centre in Winnipeg, National Research Council Canada’s Institute for Aerospace Research in Ottawa, and Boeing.
Founding members include Bell Helicopter and Avior Integrated Products, Comtek Advanced Structures, Convergent Manufacturing Technologies and Profile Composites, Bristol Aerospace, a division of Magellan Aerospace, and Cormer Group Industries.
The goal is to develop and transform the latest technical and academic knowledge into practical solutions to enhance Canada's competitiveness.
Anoush Poursartip, CCMRD chairman and research director for Convergent Manufacturing Technologies, said all previous advances in composites technology were being dwarfed by what he is seeing today. “In my 30 years, I have not seen this much opportunity and risk.”
“A virtual R&D centre of this type is much needed,” he said. ”The CCMRD will help to advance the technological capabilities of Canadian industry whilst building stronger relationships between Canadian and international aerospace original equipment manufacturers, as well as Canadian material, equipment, component and software suppliers.”
“We’re strengthen relationships among companies large and small,” said Pete Petersen, country director and vice president for Boeing Integrated Defense Systems.
The Composites Innovation Centre will oversee CCMRD administration; projects will be carried out at member companies. NRC will serve as a technology advisor. And Boeing will provide financial support, technical expertise and project guidance through its central research, technology and innovation organization, Boeing Research & Technology.
Pete Hoffman, Boeing’s global research and development strategy director, said the consortium was in line with the company’s work with industry, universities and research organizations around the world. Though Boeing does plenty of its own R&D, the company is increasingly turning to other organizations to find “the best solutions for the benefit of our customers,” he said.
The CCMRD is part of Boeing Industrial & Regional Benefits commitment for the CH-147 medium-to-heavy-lift helicopters program.
