Welcome to EUCOMAS 2010!

European Conference on Materials and Structures in Aerospace

07 - 08 June 2010, Berlin, Germany

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                                             Rainer Brüderle MdB

                                          German Minister of Economics and Technology

                                                             Message of Greeting

                                              on the occasion of the EUCOMAS 2010

 _________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Professor Voggenreiter,

Dr. Barbaux,

participants of the conference,

 

this year again, the organisers of the EUCOMAS have managed to put together an interesting

and varied programme of presentations on materials and processes in aerospace. The

EUCOMAS is now entering its third year and has become an established international event

within the framework of the International Aviation Exhibition ILA. I would like to take this

opportunity to express my thanks to the organisers and their team. By your work, you have

organized a conference that brings industry and academics together and greatly enhances the ILA

2010 programme. This conference further proves that the ILA is also internationally perceived as

a leading trade show and conference event.

 

At present, the aircraft industry is undergoing a radical change shifting away from metallic

materials towards composite materials. New carbon and glass fibre materials and CFRP

structures hold enormous potential for efficiency growth and weight reduction in aircraft. Such

innovative materials and designs are vital for meeting the environmental goals that the industry

has set itself for the year 2020. The aircraft industry aims to achieve a 20 percent reduction in

weight and thus fuel consumption. This is a very substantial contribution if one considers that

lightweight construction has always been given the highest priority in aircraft manufacture.

 

In introducing CFRP structures and components, the aircraft industry is now investing in a

technology that holds great potential and opportunities. At the same time, this poses major

challenges and risks to companies. In this regard, the German government is lending support to

German companies in the aircraft industry to help them overcome entrepreneurial risks

associated with research and development in a targeted manner. In this way, the German

government intends to makes it easier for them to invest in innovation and technology. The

aviation research programme of the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology

specifically focuses on outstanding issues and questions related to carbon composite materials.

Targeted policies have been established to expand the links between industry and science in

order to ensure that the German research institutes and aircraft industry remain competitive at an

international level over the long term. This year, for example, we will provide over 120 million

euros for aviation research projects. 60 percent of the funding support will be allocated to

projects that are directly or indirectly related to environmental issues. As a rule, several partners

work jointly on the research projects which cover the entire range from basic to industrial

research. The aerospace industry is a driver of technology and key opinion leader far beyond the

boundaries of this sector.

 

Innovation and technological progress are essential to meet the very high requirements and

safety regulations in aerospace. The design and features of a product are often defined by the

properties of the materials used. The limits of what would technically be feasible are determined

by the characteristics of the used materials. Technological progress and innovation in this field

are therefore of particular value as they will produce benefits in other areas as well and thus be

multiplied.

 

As a location for conferences, Berlin has a long history in aerospace. For example,

Otto Lilienthal started his first experimental flights from the so-called “Fliegeberg” [which

literally means flying hill] in Berlin-Lichterfelde. Today, Berlin has much more to offer than

solely the ILA. With its universities and research institutes in Adlershof, Berlin has a firm

position in Germany’s aerospace research.

 

I wish you a successful conference with fruitful and productive discussions over the next two

days.

Sincerely yours,

 

 

 

 

 

Federal Minister of Economics and Technology

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Register now! And don't forget: the ILA ticket is included.

 

Looking forward to seeing you in Berlin.

 

 

 

Your conference presidents

 

Heinz Voggenreiter, Director, German Aerospace Center (DLR), Cologne, Stuttgart and Augsburg, Germany

Yann Barbaux, EADS Innovation Works, Suresnes, France