Conflux joins Honeywell-led TheMa4HERA consortium to advance thermal management for hybrid-electric aircraft

Conflux Technology has joined the Honeywell-led TheMa4HERA consortium (Thermal Management for Hybrid Electric Regional Aircraft), a Clean Aviation project aimed at developing advanced thermal management systems and architectures for next-generation hybrid-electric regional aircraft, with scaling activities for the short-medium range aircraft. The consortium, comprising 28 partners across 10 European countries, is coordinated from Honeywell’s international development centre in Brno, Czech Republic.

Conflux will apply its thermal management expertise to accelerate the development of innovative, lightweight additive-manufactured heat exchangers for next-generation aircraft. This includes contributions to multiple projects focused on both Air Cycle Systems (ACS) and Vapour Cycle Systems (VCS) – specifically an air-to-air heat exchanger for ACS as well as air-to-liquid heat exchangers for VCS evaporator and condenser.

“Joining TheMa4HERA aligns with Conflux Technology’s commitment to delivering high-performance thermal solutions that enable energy-efficient, low-emission aviation,” said Michael Fuller, CEO of Conflux Technology. “Our additive manufacturing capabilities will help the consortium push the boundaries of thermal management design to meet the demands of hybrid-electric propulsion systems.”

The TheMa4HERA project addresses the growing complexity of thermal management in hybrid-electric aircraft, driven by the increasing integration of heat-generating components such as batteries, fuel cells, and power electronics. The initiative will explore and validate advanced thermal architectures and systems to improve energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and meet evolving sustainability regulations. The program targets the advancement of heat exchanger technologies up to Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 through component-level development and system testing.

“Conflux brings valuable technological capabilities to TheMa4HERA’s collaborative effort to develop the next generation of thermal management solutions,” said Jan Ludvik, Senior Director of Advanced Technology Europe, Honeywell Aerospace. “Each partner’s expertise strengthens our mission to deliver sustainable solutions that transform aviation.”

By 2026, the TheMa4HERA project will advance heat exchanger technologies to TRL 5 using digital twins, virtual demos, and ground testing. Clean Aviation Phase 2, scheduled to begin in 2027, will focus on flight testing and further integration of the most promising solutions. TheMa4HERA aims to deliver scalable thermal technologies for hybrid-electric aircraft, supporting climate-neutral aviation by 2035.