Fatronik is a private technology center, providing development and engineering services to a group of machine-tool manufacturers, that in year 2000 achieved sales for 220 millions of EUROS. During the last 11 years, Fatronik is improving existing products and devising new solutions for its shareholders, all of them SMEs, as well as creating new designs with innovative final results that comply with market demand. With 50 employees and more than 30 engineers, Fatronik is tackling the following activities:

·         New prototypes conception. Predesign and analysis.

·         Technical feasibility. Technological market surveys. Proposition evaluation.

·         Executive design of machines.

·         Development/evaluation of mechanical components.

·         Development of techniques to improve machine behaviour.

Since a few years ago, Fatronik has started working in the mechanical engineering field as automation systems developer for different sectors in addition to the machine-tool one. Fatronik will lead the expected results of the project regarding the concept designs, solutions and methodologies for automated production of large aerostructures to the industrial development of these production systems.

Fatronik takes a leading role in the project, co-ordinating the rest of partners, thus, in charge of the Management task. Fatronik also takes part in the phases of development, validation and integration of technologies of the rest of the project tasks.

Key persons: Iñaki San Sebastián (RTD Director); Agustin Saenz (Mechanical Department Chief and coordinator of several European projects); Valentín Collado (automation expert engineer).

Gamesa Aeronáutica, established in 1993, is the Aeronautical Division of the Spanish industrial group Gamesa, leader in international market of advanced technologies. Gamesa Aeronáutica activities comprise all areas from conceptual design to testing, certification, production, and product support of large aerostructures and aircraft interior components both in light alloy and composite materials.

Gamesa Aeronáutica is the company head of the Division, which comprise more than 2000 employees. The companies of the Aeronautical Division are: Gamesa Desarrollos Aeronáuticos (responsible for engineering and product developments), Gamesa Producciones Aeronáuticas (production operation and final assembly of aerostructures), Moasa (specialised in subassemblies), Fuasa (specialised in assembly of fuselage type structures) and Easa del Sur (specialised in final assembly of aerostructures). Other companies belonging to the Gamesa Group as Fibertecnic (specialised in the production of aerostructures in advanced composite materials and aircraft interiors) and Aeromac (specialised in high speed machining) operate in close co-operation with Gamesa Aeronáutica.

In addition, Gamesa Aeronáutica is a major sponsoring company of the CTA (Aeronautical Technologies Center), a foundation devoted to aerospace research, structural testing and fire technologies.

Gamesa Desarrollos Aeronáuticos is the legal entity that will be responsible for the participation of Gamesa Aeronáutica in the AHEAD Project.

Am Grauen Stein; 51105 - Cologne; Germany

TUV Rheinland is an international service group with 7.000 employees world-wide and one of major organizations dealing with Environmental. Health and Safety requirements. For this reason, our name stands for technical safety, documented quality and environmental protection. Our work is motivated by the view that the development of industry and society are not possible without technological progress. With over 125 years of tradition and experience, we can particularly focus our market activities on five Business Divisions, Industrial Engineering Services, Mobility and Transport, Product Safety and Quality, Education and Consulting, and New Venture Business. We document the quality of services, products (even international commodity trading), and systems according to relevant standards. In this way, our global network can assure the customer service from one source. With over 80 companies in our group, we are a presence in 40 countries throughout the world and the number one technical inspection association abroad.

During the AHEAD project, systems and machinery for manufacturing of large aerostructures and non-rigid monolithic parts will be developed. This systems and machines must be designed taking in account all relevant EH&S matters. Therefore the wide ranged expertise of TUV Rheinland within the industrial services will promote the aims this project

The Laboratory for Computer Science, Robotics and Microelectronics of Montpellier (L.I.R.M.M.) is a research centre jointly depending from the French National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the Montpellier University. This laboratory has been created on January 1st, 1992 in order to federate the research activities in computer science, robotics and microelectronics. The LIRMM occupies a 4500 m2 building with important facilities: an heterogeneous network of about 300 workstations ranging from micro-computers to high performance workstations linked to the INTERNET via RENATER, design tools for electronic boards, test and design equipment for integrated circuits, manipulators, mobile robots and CAD/CAM software.

The LIRMM consists of about 200 persons: 56 faculty and 14 CNRS or INRIA researchers, 20 members of staff, 85 Ph.D. students, and 20 post-doc or visiting researchers. The LIRMM is in charge of two graduate programs: Computer Science, Automatic Control and Microelectronics (about 60 master students).

The group of people involved in research on parallel kinematics has now more than a decade of experience in design, modelling, optimisation and control of high-speed robots and machine tools with parallel structure. Their expertise has been recognised internationally: Dr François Pierrot is the only non-Japanese researcher to receive the Robotics Society of Japan Award for Innovation, for his work on parallel robots.

LIRMM has been a member of the ROBOTOOL consortium, and is currently a member of MACH21 consortium. LIRMM has a long history of applying advanced research in robotics and machine-tool to Industry related problems; we can name, for example, the collaboration with Toyoda Machine Works, Ltd, Japan, (which lead to the fastest 6-dof parallel robot, Hexa) and the work done for Renault Automation-COMAU (wich lead to the fasted drilling machine-tool, URANE-Sx).

+44 (0) 1625 425421

AMTRI is based in Macclesfield, with a staff of 40 professional engineers and turnover of £2M. It was established 30 years ago as an independent, commercially funded, research and consultancy organisation, serving the UK Machine Tool sector. It has evolved so it now serves users and suppliers of manufacturing machinery world-wide, providing cost effective solutions associated with design, construction, integration, application and performance improvement of manufacturing machinery and associated systems. AMTRIs business falls into four main areas: - Machine Manufacture and Systems integration, - Technical Consultancy - Research and Development - Certification.

Special purpose Machinery Manufacture and Systems Integration account for more than 50% of turnover. Typical products include turnkey manufacturing/assembly lines machine loading systems, inspection equipment - and recently, large scale aerospace automation equipment.

Technical Consultancy includes machine and process development, calibration, performance measurement , diagnostic and trouble-shooting. Main activity is supply to the strip metals industry of turnkey monitoring and diagnostic systems (AVAS) with remote access and support.

Research focus on strategic areas of Machinery Technology (high speed production, agility, modularity, multi-functionality, monitoring, diagnostics and control, safety and reliability etc) with active participation in major National and European projects. AMTRI maintains close relationships with academic, technical and commercial organisations  world-wide, participating in research and technology transfer networks including TEAMS & MANTYS and coordinating the ARMMS thematic network..

AMTRI VERITAS Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of AMTRI is a 'Notified Body' under the EU 'Machinery Directive'. It is also an accredited certification body for quality systems to ISO 9000 and environmental systems to ISO 14000.

AMTRIs business strategy relies on maintaining commercial and research activities. Research underpins the commercial activities of the company and likewise the commercial manufacturing activities ensure that research and consultancy are practical and objective driven. AMTRI's Strategic plan includes becoming a major supplier of automation systems for manufacture of  large Aerostructures, via strategic alliances and joint ventures.

Key persons: A de Vicq (Tech Dir), R Lloyd (Automation expert & past chairman of British Automation & Robot Association), P Ball (Chief Designer)

Luleå University of Technology is located in the north of Sweden. The different units of the university cover technology, pedagogy, human and social sciences, health sciences, music and theatre studies. There are some 11.300 students and a staff of 1.400 persons.

The mission of the Department of Materials and Manufacturing Engineering, Division of Manufacturing Systems Engineering, is to perform higher education in Manufacturing Engineering and conduct research in areas of complex multiaxis machining, moulds and dies, aeronautic structures, virtual factories, manufacturing simulation and manufacturing management.

Our research platform suited for this project is built around a five-axis Liechti Turbomill ST1200 machining centre, which represents the state of the art in machine tools, equipped with the all the latest technique available. The machine is built as a one-off machine according to the requirements posed by the Division of Manufacturing Systems Engineering. Regarding the cutting speed the spindle is able to reach 24.000 [rpm] and the torque available is 61 [Nm] at 5.000 [rpm] and power is 30 [kW]. This means that high speed machining is possible in the majority of combinations of working material and used cutting tool. The control system is an Andron A 400 with capability to perform spline interpolation. This in combination with the digital Indramat drives and the SERCOS fibre optic servo coupling, renders the ability to perform motions with high speed and geometrical accuracy. The approximate price for the research installation is 1.000.000 US$, which gives an indication of the industrial relevance of the platform.

Key personnel in the project will be:

Karl Andre (PhD-student, M. Sc. in Manufacturing Engineering); Dr. Mikael Bäckström (Dr. Eng., Ass. Prof. in Manufacturing Engineering); Hans Larsson (PhD-student, M. Sc. in Manufacturing Engineering); Prof. Inge Svenningsson (Dr. Eng., Adj. Prof. in Manufacturing Engineering); Kjell Rask (Lic. Eng., M. Sc., in Manufacturing Engineering); Prof. Håkan Wiklund (Dr. Eng., Prof. in Quality Engineering).

Lulea University of Technology, Department of Human Work Sciences

+46 920 91412

Luleå University of Technology is located in the north of Sweden. The different units of the university cover technology, pedagogy, human and social sciences, health sciences, music and theatre studies. There are some 11.300 students and a staff of 1.400 persons.

The Department of Human Work Sciences, with eight full professors and a staff of over 80 is the largest university department of it’s kind in Sweden with an outstanding international reputation. The department includes subdivisions for Engineering Psychology, Environment Technology, Gender and Man/Machine Interaction, Gender and Technology, Industrial Design, Industrial Ergonomics, Industrial Work Environment and Social Psychology of Working Life. Examples of research carried out within the department are workplace design, processes of change, competence development, computerised work systems, risk analysis and physical and chemical environment technology. In its work, the department utilises general methods such as WEST (Work Environment Screening Tool) as well as more specialised research approaches such as Acoustic Head Binaural Measurement Analysis. The department dispose the most modern equipment for measuring and analysing different work conditions and environmental factors (e.g. acoustic factors, climatic factors and air pollution). The department also works with newest software and computer systems, such as Transom Jack, ERGOplan and ERGOmas, that simulate different work and production conditions.

The Swedish part of the project will be lead by Professor Jan Johansson, head of Industrial Work Environment. During the project, Professor Johansson will set up a research group with members from different subdivisions to ensure that a broad range of expertise is brought into the work.

Sandvik Tooling has a turnover invoicing of SEK 15 500 M (2000) and 13000 employees in 130 countries. Sandvik Tooling is divided into three sectors; Sandvik Coromant (Cemented carbide cutting tools and tooling systems), Sandvik CTT (High-speed steel and solid carbide tools) and Sandvik Hard Materials (Cemented carbide blanks and components). Sandvik Coromant has invoiced sales SEK 9600 M during year 2000, 7800 employees, of which 2400 in Sweden and 5400 in other countries, 73 subsidiaries/divisions covering 60 countries and 39 production units. The main production plant is situated in Gimo, Sweden, and additional local production is carried out in 20 countries throughout the world. Headquarter is situated in Sandviken, while the research and development departments are situated in Sandviken and Stockholm, Sweden.

A global computer network connects sales offices, central warehouses and production plants. Sandvik Coromant DD (Direct Delivery) System signifies deliveries to end-users from central warehouses in Sweden, Holland, Japan and the U.S. in general within 24 hours.

Sandvik supply their customers with high quality innovative products, outstanding machining expertise, which improves the customer’s performance and results. Everything contributing to give the customers better productivity, production economy and machine utilization.

The Sandvik RTD staff in Sandviken will contribute to the project with their world-class expertise. Sandvik is expected to contribute with excellent know-how regarding cutting tools and market demands. They are also expected to disseminate the results into new products, which will be supplied to aerospace manufacturing companies as SAAB, as well as manufacturers of aluminium frames, turbine manufacturing companies, and others.

Darryl Almond

Professor of Materials Science

+44 1225 826708

The objects of the University are to advance learning and knowledge by teaching and research, particularly in science and technology, and in close association with industry and commerce. The Charter also calls upon the University to make provision for research and advisory services, more particularly in relation to the applied sciences and technologies and their allied industries.

The teaching and research pursued in the Department of Engineering and Applied Science adheres closely to the above objects (mission) of the University. More specifically, staff in the Department have been active for more than ten years in developing transient thermography as a non destructive evaluation tool and much of this work has been directed at imaging hidden features/defects below the surface of aerospace materials. This work has been widely publicized at international conferences and the Department staff are recognised internationally for their expertise in this area.

Saab is one of the world’s leading high-technology companies, with its main operations focusing on aerospace and defense. The Group covers a broad spectrum of competence and capability in systems integration.

Saab develops, manufactures and delivers advanced products and services for the defense market, as well as for those commercial markets where there is a clear demand for its capability. The Group’s own strength and strategic partnerships enable it both to compete and collaborate in international markets.

Saab is active in more than 20 countries but research, development and production are carried out principally in Sweden.

The Group is active in the following business areas: Aerospace, Dynamics (missiles), Systems and electronics (control and information systems), Space, Aviation Services (commercial aircraft maintenance incl. engines) and  Technical support and services.

Saab’s major strength is systems integration - the ability to assume responsibility for and implement large-scale projects in which a number of complex systems have to work together. In addition to the many competencies that are needed to develop modern fighter aircraft, it is this systems integration capability that has made it possible to build the world’s first fourth-generation fighter - Gripen. Systems integration will further increase in importance as defense systems become more network-based. Saab has also the comprehensive knowledge and ability needed to efficiently design and manufacture aerospace products including major airframe structures and subsystems for commercial aircraft such as Airbus and Boeing.

The group has a total of  about 15 000 employees. In year 2000 sales amounted to 17 840 MSEK (1 980 MEURO). The R&D share is about 25 percent of sales.