AERO · Improving jet fuel efficiency through automated, high-precision and performance of engine manufacturing

The aviation sector is a truly global economic force in Europe, contributing with 2.1% of its GDP and 5 million jobs, and it is expected to continue to grow by a further 45% by 2035. However, it is also a great polluter, as fuel burned releases GHG emissions into the atmosphere. To limit it, global and European bodies are enforcing obligations for aircraft OEMs to meet emissions limits by 2023, expected to be achieved by reducing the fuel consumption through more efficient engines and lighter materials. To accomplish this, the aerospace industry currently uses the Investment Casting process to manufacture some complex components of jet engines components. Whilst this process represents the current industry standard, it comes with limitations that is reducing the potential for enhancing aerodynamics and using lighter materials, key to increase engine’s fuel efficiency. At TPC we are developing the new standard, the Investment Vacuum Process, that will allow to use lighter materials, simplify the manufacturing process whilst reducing costs and reduce time from development to market. This industry is highly specialised and historically 90% of the European market is dominated by 3 non-European foundries (2 Americans and 1 British). At TPC we not only aim to introduce the new industry standard to allow aircraft manufacturing companies meet the new regulations, but also to introduce competition into this highly dominated market, reducing dependency and increasing competitiveness in the EU. TPC is the leading foundry in Sweden. AERO project aims 1) to raise TPC´s capability to a comparable level with the current state of the art technology level of the “Big 3” and 2) to put TPC into a leading position as a VIC foundry in Europe. We are already supported by the industry as have been collaborating in development for over 5 years with OEMs Safran and GKN. We expect to reach €27M cumulative revenues by 2022 and grow our company to over 100 employees.