“The growing role of composite structures in modern aircraft requires adapted fasteners and in certain cases fasteners that have different functions,” explains Massimo Cella, Director Development Programs at AFS, a business unit of Alcoa Inc, headquartered in Torrance, California.
“AFS believes in R&D to evolve products in harmony with new requirements. In this perspective AFS has joined TPRC and is looking forward to projects and activities to support concepts and design of future solutions.”
“The unique properties of thermoplastics open a whole new array of fastening solutions for product designers to take into account," adds Winand Kok, Manager Engineering of TenCate Advanced Composites, a founding member of the TPRC along with Boeing, Fokker Aerostructures and the University of Twente.
"With its broad know-how of fasteners and fastener installation in metals and traditional thermoset composites, AFS is a key enabler in developing new cost effective and weight efficient fastening solutions for automotive, aerospace and industrial applications.”
TPRC is a not-for-profit organisation that performs research under the guidance of its industrial members. Since its opening in 2012, TPRC has steadily grown its activities in aerospace and, more recently, automotive.
