AP2 - Automated Production for Aerospace Pallets

FACT, a UK-based company, has pioneered the production of a new type of aerospace pallet made from composite materials. The company's pallets are 40 kg lighter than the industry-standard aluminium pallets and can save airlines substantial fuel costs and CO2 emissions. The company plans to offer both leasing and sale models, based on value-based pricing. The pallets are currently being produced with a subcontractor in Nottingham.

To fully capitalise on the opportunity presented by the global air cargo market, which relies heavily on pallets, FACT needs to rapidly scale up production to meet demand while reducing per-panel production costs. FACT has identified that automation is a critical enabling process to meet these targets.

The company is responding to this challenge by further developing the aerospace pallet production process it has already pioneered. Specifically, the company will focus on decreasing the reliance on manual handling during the mould assembly process. The innovation will focus on industrialising novel methodologies for controlled material deposition in the form of technology that FACT has progressed to late stages of development.

The expected output of this project will be a piece of industrial equipment capable of assembling a composite aerospace pallet panel stack to enable a high-volume aerospace production facility. Without enabling automation, the product would no longer be economically viable to produce in the UK at the volumes expected.

The target market for FACT's pallets is the global air cargo market, where 30-40 large airlines account for 75% of the global market.