SSAU will develop international cooperation in the field of additive technologies

On October 28 in SSAU a meeting of representatives of the French Aerospace Companies Association (GIFAS) with the heads of Samara Region ministries, industrial enterprises and Samara State Aerospace University.

The French delegation included Emeric d'Arcimoles, President of the Airshow in Le Bourget, Chairman of GIFAS International Commission, Thomas Chatel, Head of GIFAS department “Europe, Russia / CIS and Turkey”, Frederic LeMullet, BeAM Vice President and Benoit Jaubert, Head of the corporation Fives in Russia.

The main purpose of the visit of the French delegation to Samara Region was a meeting of the members of GIFAS association with representatives of the regional aerospace cluster, as well as the presentation of capabilities and interests of the French companies. 

In particular, Frederic LeMullet, BeAM Vice President presented know-how in the field of additive technologies and metal 3D-printing. Mr. LeMullet expressed readiness to cooperate in this area with SSAU Laboratory of Additive Technologies, as well as the region enterprises.

Sergey Bezrukov, Minister of Industry and Technology of Samara Region and the meeting moderator expressed an interest in the implementation of additive technologies using the developments of French companies. “To gain the necessary experience and competence for the further in-depth implementation of additive technologies it’s necessary to cooperate with the science in this area - with Samara Aerospace University”, - he stressed.

Additive technologies are regarded as one of the most promising in the world, so far back as 2011, the Laboratory of Additive Technologies was established in SSAU, which experts are actively involved in the researches to create new products for industry enterprises, including for JSC “Kuznetsov”.

Talking about the possibilities of the University Laboratory of Additive Technologies, Valeriy Matveev, SSAU Vice-Rector for Academic noted: “We have got certain achievements, but it is especially important that SSAU may conduct a study of the details made by 3D-printing. In particular: strength test, heat resistance, durability and vibration strength of produced parts”. Thus, the university today has the competencies necessary for maturing technologies and bringing them to the industrial application with a subsequent transfer of the customer.

Evgeniy Shakhmatov, SSAU Rector said that the university is ready to cooperate with French companies and become a research platform for maturing and further spread of the latest 3D-printing technology in the region. “We are interested in expanding of mutually beneficial international cooperation in the field of personnel training and in research and production”, - said the Rector.

In their turn, representatives of the enterprises of the aerospace cluster: JSC “RSC “Progress”, JSC “Kuznetsov”, JSC “Aviaagregat”, JSC “Metallist-Samara” have expressed interest in the application of additive technology to meet the challenges of production.

Aleksandr Storozh, Deputy General Designer of RSC “Progress” pointed out: “A lot of technologies are used in the manufacturing process of the carrier rocket: metal working, welding and moulding. Thereby metal waste is very considerable. The modern additive technologies in the future will be able to replace some of these works, because they provide not only the necessary strength characteristics, but also virtually waste-free production. Together with SSAU we are planning to consider options for the use of these technologies in our enterprise”. 

Head of the French delegation - Emeric d'Arcimoles, President of the Airshow in Le Bourget, Chairman of GIFAS International Commission, claimed that GIFAS enterprises are very interested in cooperation with Samara enterprises. “As for additive technologies, they are more cost-effective and profitable. However, the technologies are very complex and require in-depth preparation and analysis, which, I hope, will be performed here at the premises of SSAU”, - he stressed.

Participants of the international meeting in Samara State Aerospace University also discussed preparations for the summit for space industry specialists of Russia and France, which will take place in Samara in April 2016.

 

Additive technologies (from the English additive) allow to “grow” the details of various forms and complexity using a laser. This is the most dynamic sphere of innovative production, a kind of indicator of the real industrial development of government. The interest in AM technology is not accidental: with the help of the material sintering we can produce tools, industrial equipment, parts of engines, satellites, missiles and much more. In addition, a direct “growing” of the part on metal printer is economically viable alternative to conventional production methods in aviation, space industry and power engineering.

The Laboratory of Additive Technologies was found in SSAU in 2011. In 2014-2015 with the help of the new equipment, scientists of Samara State Aerospace University were able to carry out high-impact researches on the application of additive technologies in engine-building in favour of “Kuznetsov”.

SSAU acts as co-executor in the development of the first domestic high-performance metal 3-D printer together with St. Petersburg Polytechnic University within the framework of the relevant Federal target program.