Airframe Designs completes groundbreaking R&D project

By Rob Kelly

03 Mar 2025

Breakthrough at Airframe Designs

Aerospace specialist Airframe Designs has completed a groundbreaking R&D project co-funded by Innovate UK to advance ultra-polymer additive manufacturing of aircraft cabin interior parts.

The 18-month government part-funded project was led by Blackpool-based Airframe Designs alongside the flammability test house MIX14 and structural test house AMS.

The project focused on the use of soluble supports in combination with a new ultra-polymer material called AM200.

The material is produced locally in the North-West by Victrex, in Thornton-Cleveleys, and is unique with the ability to be 3D printed with soluble support.

The material was benchmarked against the popular aerospace polymer ULTEM 9085 and the project enabled Airframe Designs to develop robust processes for both material systems as the company heads towards being a UK CAA Part21G production organisation, approved to print commercial aviation flying parts.

The project came under the National Aerospace Technology Exploitation Programme (NATEP), a £20million programme funded by the Department for Business and Trade through the Aerospace Technology Institute and managed by Innovate UK that has developed more than 80 different aerospace technologies across the UK supply chain.

For Airframe Designs, the project helps to underpin future high-growth and enhanced capability as part of its strategic ambition to be the number one polymer additive SME in the local aerospace and defence supply chain.

Jerrod Hartley, CEO of Airframe Designs, said “We’re proud to be at the cutting edge of a project such as this, using our engineering and advance manufacturing excellence to be a leader in this kind of air worthy part production.

“We are using water-soluble support in the 3D printing process with faster manufacture and less potential for damage than current manual methods, and building a database of materials which can be used in the parts being developed for the future.”

Steven Stanley, representing NATEP, said: “This is just the kind of project we want to encourage and support, helping to demonstrate the capability of the aerospace sector in the UK when it comes to innovation for the future. The 3D printing sector is helping to create new solutions not previously possible.”

The aim of the project is to open up opportunities for flight worthy parts within the aircraft cabin environment and aircraft interiors market. The technology can also be adapted for other industries including military aerospace, space, defence, nuclear, rail and automotive.

The services offered by Airframe Designs are designed to meet the requirements applicable for the aerospace and defence sectors for lightweight ultra-polymer materials that can meet both the structural and flammability airworthiness requirements mandated by international regulators.

Airframe Designs has also recently been re-certified to AS9100D/BS EN ISO 9001:2015 for aerospace quality standards and achieved re-certification to ISO 14001 for effective environmental management systems. It also holds ISO 27001 certification for information security management and is accredited to Cyber Essentials Plus.

Recent projects undertaken by the company include the integration of new systems into heavy lift drone platforms, conceptual design at a platform level for new uncrewed air-systems, test rig and tooling for electric vehicle propulsion systems and most recently the design and analysis of operator consoles for a special mission aircraft.

For more information contact Airframe Designs, call 01253 400320 or visit the Airframe Designs website.

Enjoyed this? Read more from Rob Kelly

Latest news

1

Three weekly domestic waste collection considered in plans Waste recycling Blackpool

Three weekly domestic waste collection considered in plans

01 Jul 2025

2

Graham Engineering confirms acquisition to a2e Industries Graham Engineering

Graham Engineering confirms acquisition to a2e Industries

01 Jul 2025

3

Training 2000 celebrate 'Good' rating by Ofsted Training 2000

Training 2000 celebrate 'Good' rating by Ofsted

01 Jul 2025

4

Fox Group acquires J Fisher and Sons Colin Fisher, Paul Fox CEO and Gary Fisher.

Fox Group acquires J Fisher and Sons

01 Jul 2025

5

Beever and Struthers strengthen leadership team with new partners Dean Curtis and Joe Diston

Beever and Struthers strengthen leadership team with new partners

01 Jul 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
LBV123 July/August Launch Event
Lancashire Business View magazine launch
Networking
16 Jul 2025

LBV123 July/August Launch Event

Burnley

08:30 - 10:30

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Business Bike Club – July
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
01 Jul 2025 - 01 Jul 2025

Business Bike Club – July

Various, Lancaster, LA

08:00 - 09:30

Chamber Breakfast Networking – July
Chamber Logo1.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
02 Jul 2025 - 02 Jul 2025

Chamber Breakfast Networking – July

St John's Hospice, Slyne Road, Lancaster, LA2 6ST

08:00 - 10:00

The Marketing Metrics that Matter – July 4
LBV Hub Seminars
04 Jul 2025 - 04 Jul 2025

The Marketing Metrics that Matter – July 4

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

08:30 - 11:00

Tri-Site Survey Equipment Showcase
unnamed (2).jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
09 Jul 2025 - 09 Jul 2025

Tri-Site Survey Equipment Showcase

Crow Wood Hotel, Burnley, BB12 0RT

09:30 - 16:00

Chamber Summer BBQ
LBV Hub Social
17 Jul 2025 - 17 Jul 2025

Chamber Summer BBQ

The Borough, Dalton Square, Lancaster, LA1 1PP

17:30 - 20:00

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?
July Longer Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
29 Jul 2025 - 29 Jul 2025

Preston Tech Connection: Web3 is Dead. Or is It?

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July
Longer July Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
31 Jul 2025 - 31 Jul 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV122 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin