Airborne has partnered with Lockheed Martin to advance composites manufacturing through enhanced automation systems. The project, titled "Enhancing the Digital Thread for Composites Manufacturing," will leverage Airborne's Kit by Light (KBL) and Automated Ply Placement (APP) technologies, while Lockheed Martin provides technical expertise to develop automated laminating and kitting systems capable of handling complex composite materials and geometries.
Recognizing the need for greater agility in complex aerospace part fabrication, Lockheed Martin and Airborne launched a strategic collaboration to advance smart material handling and intelligent automation. The collaboration aims to raise the benchmark for rapid aerospace production. The project plans to enhance Airborne's already robust automation systems, focusing on higher production output, enhanced inspection systems, broader material compatibility, and improved software integration.
For more than 30 years, Airborne has played a leading role in the Dutch composites industry, initially as a manufacturer of composite parts and now as a developer of advanced automation systems for aerospace, defence, automotive, and renewable energy markets.
"This collaboration with Lockheed Martin, one of the world's premier aerospace technology companies, is a great vote of confidence for Airborne's solutions. It will enable us to accelerate our mission of pushing the boundaries of automated composites manufacturing," said James McLachlan, Head of Sales at Airborne.
"The Lockheed Martin Airborne collaboration will integrate smart material kit creation with advanced data driven automation for a flexible production system that enables the next-generation of aerospace fabrication," said Tara Thomasson, Lockheed Martin Technical Fellow.
"Lockheed Martin is excited to begin a new relationship with Airborne. This Industrial Participation project will be another successful win/win opportunity, giving Airborne the enhanced capabilities for their new kitting and laminating systems and Lockheed Martin will be able to procure these enhanced systems for our production lines," said Joe Krapf, Lockheed Martin Industrial Participation Country Manager.
"The fact that a Dutch high tech SME such as Airborne can team up with the international renowned partner Lockheed Martin... is an important step towards international partnerships," said Jan Cristiaan Dicke, Commissioner for Military Production of The Netherlands.
Source - www.airborne.com
