FACC, a leading international aerospace manufacturer, has made significant advances in recent years in researching thermoplastic composite materials. These lightweight materials not only show significant potential for next generation aerospace applications but are also recyclable. FACC now has joined 13 European partners in the COMPASS project to address the challenge of efficiently recycling these materials for use in other applications.
The COMPASS project — comprising a consortium of experts from academia, research institutions, and industry, representing Austria, Netherlands, Spain, Italy, and Germany — will jointly address this challenge by using digital technologies to research the remanufacturing and reshaping of components from these materials at the end of their lifespan. The project is funded under the European Union’s HORIZON EUROPE program and will be led by Profactor GmbH, Austria. Through COMPASS, FACC aims not only to repurpose material waste to adopt a circular economic model but to reduce need for raw material extraction and minimize environmental impact.
“Our goal is to achieve carbon-neutral manufacturing by 2040. This project is an important milestone, as it enables us together with our international partners to develop tools and methods for further establishing a circular economy in aviation,” states CEO Robert Machtlinger. “The high-tech materials originally developed for the use in aviation are of high interest for many other industries. By researching this approach together with our partners we are making a significant contribution to more sustainability.”
Digital Toolset for Enhanced Remanufacturing
The research project focusses on a novel data-driven approach to remanufacturing, including a comprehensive digital component passport and a digital platform for secure information exchange. The passport will capture real-time information about component quality, performance and history to represent a digital twin of the part. The platform on the other hand, will enable secure access to this data to pre-approved remanufacturers and also use intelligent tools to help digitally assess remanufacturing from a technical as well as an economic standpoint. This further provides FACC a business model for future end-of-life parts.
High-tech materials for the future of aviation
The research of thermoplastic fiber composites is particularly interesting for the aviation industry as they have a significantly short manufacturing time. This saves costs and reduces the energy consumption of processes, which is a decisive competitive advantage – not only in commercial aviation, but as well in the dynamic sector advanced air mobility. The projected high build rates in this business field require new production methods, that at same time enable carbon neutral manufacturing.
Strong focus on Research & Technology
As part of its strategy to establish a robust and high-rate production process in the aviation industry, FACC has already joined the international consortium TPRC in 2021. In the ThermoPlastic composites Research Center (TPRC), FACC is joining forces with major international aerospace companies.
About FACC
FACC is a worldwide leading aerospace company in design, development and production of aerospace technologies and advanced aircraft lightweight systems. Being the technology partner of all major manufacturers, FACC works together with its customers on developing solutions for the mobility of the future. Every second, there is an aircraft taking off with FACC technology on board. In the fiscal year 2023, FACC achieved 736 million Euro in revenues. More than 3,700 people from +50 nations are employed at 15 international locations worldwide. In 2024, FACC celebrates its 35th anniversary. The company is listed on the Vienna Stock Exchange. For more information please visit facc.com.
Featured image credited to FACC
