BAE Systems delivers some of the most technologically advanced products in the world. They are required to perform in the most demanding of environments and therefore require leading edge manufacturing techniques to ensure they are built to exacting standards. We work in collaboration with manufacturing partners, BAE Systems business units and external industries to develop, refine and validate advanced manufacturing capabilities to support current and future products.
In the field of welding of metallic structures, we lead the development of Friction Stir Welding within the company, a technique seeing increasing adoption across the aerospace industry. We also offer expertise in the reduction of distortion through the application of mechanical and thermal stress when welding thin sections. If failure occurs, our experience in failure analysis such as surface chemistry and fractography and our advanced modelling capability will provide mitigation solutions to minimise future reoccurrence.
Direct Write is an emerging manufacturing technology enabling components and tracks to be deposited onto structures, delivering gains in weight saving, functionality and reliability. Our on-going research activity is demonstrating the value of this manufacturing technique, with concept demonstrators proving its benefits across of range of operational environments.
With the use of composite structures now commonplace across many industries and applications, we offer key experts in the area of composite fabrication and are exploring major programmes to develop design tools for the manufacture of 3D reinforced materials designed to operate in extreme environments.
With a proven track record of advanced manufacturing development within the defence and aerospace industry, our skills, knowledge and techniques are readily transferable across manufacturing industries to realise benefits of improved product capability, manufacturing cost reduction and production timescales.
- 3D reinforcement of composites
- Advanced non destructive examination techniques
- Direct write processes
- Failure analysis
- Friction stir welding
- Mechanical and thermal stress management
- Modelling of fluid filling processes
- Rapid prototyping
- Surface treatment
