Public Funding for Mep Ltd

Safran Power UK will work with its supply chain partners on all aspects of electrical power systems and energy useage on future technology aircraft. Scope will cover Generation, Control, Starter-Generator function and electrical actuation for More Electric Aircraft, and variants in Regional Jets, Biz Jets and advanced Rotorcraft. As the technology developed for electrical machinery and associated control electronics is intrinsically modular, scaleable and flexible, the partnership's work programme will also address aspects of Electrical Hybrid Propulsion for Vertical and Conventional take-off-and landing vehicles. The partnership will develop and invest in the UK industrial capability for these future market segments.

MEGCAP will re-invent the thermal management of the interior of aircraft starter-generator electrical machines. Project outputs will be equipment and products with higher efficiency, lower self-heating – leading to cooler and smaller equipment. The project will also advance the control electronics. Safran will conduct the R&T work jointly with UK based supply chain partners. Ferranti already undertake build to print work for Safran on flight standard electrical controls. Barden manufacture many of Safran’s specialised rolling element bearing for electrical machines. TE Connectivity supply electrical interconnects for data and power. All of these areas – and some that are technologically adjacent – will be addressed by the MEGCAP partnership. Two suppliers new to aerospace will use the advanced technologies they work on develop their future business. Both specialists in Additive Manufacturing (AM), 3T and CRDM – will undertake work on new materials and on the manufacture of conventional materials in novel new shapes. MEGCAP will deliver a strong and distinct cluster of technological capability in the supply chain for both electrical machines and their electrical controls.

AEMTA (Advanced Electrical Machines Technologies for Aircraft) is a large R&T project, led by Safran Power UK and working with an extensive supply base of companies and academic researchers addressing high performance and environmentally robust electrical products. If successful, the results will establish the UK for future supply of advanced high added-value products for the More Electric Aircraft concept. Manufacturing specialsist are: FGP Precision Engineering Ltd of Dorset, MEP Ltd from Kent, Midland Tool Design Ltd from the West Midlands and Arnold Magnetic Technologies Ltd from Sheffield. Academic researchers University of Newcastle and University of Tees-side will contribute in technical areas where they already have solid expertise – novel electrical machine tolpologies and environmentally robust electrical conductors respectively.

To develop and integrate a scheduling system into the management information system in order to streamline the business processes, reduce inventory levels, lead times to customers and improve productivity.