A consortium led by Honeywell has secured £14.1 million in UK Government funding for Project STRATA, a research and development initiative under the ATI Programme. The project aims to revolutionise aerospace component manufacturing using AI and additive manufacturing.

Project STRATA will develop five advanced components for Environmental Control Systems (ECS) and Cabin Pressure Control Systems (CPCS), which manage cabin environments and passenger safety. It will also advance thermal management technology to reduce aircraft energy use and fuel consumption, supporting the wider push towards net-zero aerospace manufacturing.

Honeywell will lead the consortium from its Yeovil site, where more than 500 engineers are based. Partners include 3T Additive Manufacturing, BeyondMath, Qdot Technology and the University of Oxford’s Oxford Thermofluids Institute.

“This is great news for Honeywell, and a good example of how government and business can work together to help keep the UK at the forefront of innovation in our world-class aerospace sector,” says Sarah Jones, Minister of State for Industry.

“Additive manufacturing has the ability to deliver both high-performance optimised components and the consolidation of complex assemblies into a single part, which can lower manufacturing costs, reduce waste and deliver new efficiencies in manufacturing,” adds Jacqueline Castle, chief technology officer at the Aerospace Technology Institute.