Impression Technologies Ltd ("ITL") is pleased to announce its collaboration in the Future Advance Nacelle Technologies And Structural Integration Concepts (FANTASTIC) project, led by Bombardier, and supported by the UK Aerospace R&T Programme; a partnership between Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI), Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), and Innovate UK, the UK's innovation agency.

ITL was formed in January 2013 to globally commercialise the Hot Form Quench (HFQ) technology originally developed at Imperial College London. HFQ is where a stamping press forms hot aluminium blanks at high speed, which are quenched in the press tool. HFQ technology enables light-weight, complex aluminium parts to be formed rapidly in a single press operation, whilst achieving high levels of strength in the finished HFQ part using standard grades of aluminium. ITL is currently supplying over 25,000 HFQ parts per annum to customers including Aston Martin and Lotus on four production vehicles.

The FANTASTIC project will enable the design and delivery of high strength, high accuracy, light-weight HFQ formed components in aero approved aluminium at lower cost than existing processes. ITL will work with Bombardier on developing HFQ nacelle components. This will allow the company to demonstrate HFQ for aero-grade materials and larger-form structures. The project - which will run for over two years - includes further development of HFQ Technology simulation and modelling for aero-grade materials and the creation of an associated commercial supply chain for aerospace applications.

Commenting on the announcement, ITL's CEO Jonathan Watkins, said: "This project is ideal for demonstrating in the aerospace industry what we have already shown in the automotive industry - that HFQ can deliver significant manufacturing and cost benefits to complex-shaped structures while at the same time reducing the carbon footprints of these industries. We look forward to working with

Bombardier and our other partners on this exciting project in a new market area for us."