Victrex: Thermoplastic Composites Vital to Drive Aerospace Build Rates – Over 35,000 New Aircraft within 20 Years

The aircraft industry has forecast that over 35,000 new aircraft will be required within the next 20 years. Meeting this kind of escalating demand clearly calls for new approaches and new technologies. As a consequence, thermoplastic composites are expected to play an increasingly important role in accelerating future aircraft construction – a major theme of JEC World 2018, last week in Paris/France. Jakob Sigurdsson, Victrex CEO, considers Victrex well positioned to help accelerate the conversion from thermosets to thermoplastics. The company is partnering with aerospace OEMs and research centers, in particular around its VICTREX AE 250 composites product family and related technology, enabling aircraft manufacturers to drive high throughput, while still meeting safety, quality and environmental requirements. Last year, Victrex invested in a joint venture, TxV AeroComposites, with long-standing development partner TriMack Manufacturing, to build the necessary supply chain. The partners remain convinced that this is an essential step in accelerating the adoption of thermoplastics and innovative manufacturing techniques that aim to speed up aircraft production and promote fast time-to-market and fast time-to-revenue. Additional benefits also contribute to the cost equation: • Thermoplastic composites are fully-recyclable • Unlike thermosets, PAEK thermoplastic composites have an unlimited shelf life • PAEK thermoplastics help to reduce costly maintenance due to their damage tolerance. For identifying growth opportunities in the thermoplastic composites market, please visit http://www.lucintel.com/thermoplastic_composites_market_2016_2021.aspx