Yebisu Garden Place Tower 22nd Floor
20-3, Ebisu 4-Chome, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-6022, Japan
Phone: +81-3-3443-3717
Fax: +81-3-3443-3263
URL: https://www.nikkiso.com

Aug. 14, 2020

Nikkiso partners with Airbus on “Propulsion of Tomorrow”
new technology for “UltraFan®” demonstrator project
Nikkiso CO., Ltd. (“NIKKISO”) was selected as a joint development partner from Airbus fortheir “Propulsion of Tomorrow” project, to provide nacelle components for the nextgeneration engine “UltraFan®” demonstrator, which enables lower fuel consumption andnoise reduction.
■Summary of “UltraFan®”
UltraFan® is Rolls-Royce’s next generation engine applicable for bothnarrow-body and wide-body aircrafts (single-aisle and twin-aisleaircrafts). Significantly reducing weight using composite fan blades
and fan cases, a large UltraFan® will be 25% more efficient comparedto Rolls-Royce's first Trent engine which came into service 25 years
ago.
Airbus will provide the nacelle with innovative architecture andassociated technology, and Nikkiso has been selected by Airbus as thejoint development partner for the Outer ring, a component of thenacelle.
Nikkiso Aerospace has recently reorganized their division to havebetter focus on the R&D activities. The Project came at the perfecttiming, which will be the best opportunity to demonstrate Nikkiso’s
R&D capability, and be led to further enhancing their futureactivities.

Carbon titanium fan blade
for UltraFan® engine
Source: Rolls-Royce■NIKKISO’s role in the “Propulsion of Tomorrow”
New Technology: Reduced manufacturing costs by a new out of autoclave curing method.
The new curing method enables efficient resin curing in a shorter period of time, reducing thecure cycle time by approximately 40% and improving operating efficiency by approximately 20%.
New Material: Fast curing resin shortens the production time.
The curing time of this new fast curing resin after pressurization is 80% faster than theconventional resin, and along with the new curing method, shortens the overall manufacturingtime. Nikkiso has been working on joint development with material suppliers.
■Future of “UltraFan®”
A prototype of the Outer ring is expected to be delivered to Airbus by 1Q of 2021 and will be
used for ground tests in 2021 and flight tests thereafter in preparation for future production
application.
■Relationship between Airbus and NIKKISONIKKISO succeeded in developing CFRP Cascades and began delivery to their direct customer
Collins (then Rohr) for the engine nacelles installed in the Airbus A300 in 1984. The composite
Cascades were then used in a series of new aircrafts that were developed and installed in otherprograms, and now chosen for all of Airbus's commercial aircraft.
In addition to the Cascades, NIKKISO also manufactures components for wing , nacelle , andengine for the A320, A330, and A350, and has history for more than 30 years.
The "Outer ring" is the company's first direct joint development and delivery to Airbus, and is
an extremely important milestone to further develop our relationship with Airbus in the future.
■NIKKISO’s dedication in Aviation Industry
NIKKISO succeeded in developing the world's first CFRP Cascades in 1983, and now we holdmore than 90% of the global market share for large and regional aircrafts. Since theestablishment of our Vietnam plant, which offers competitive costs and the same high qualityand delivery control as Japan, we have also been manufacturing wing and nacelle components inaddition to Cascades and have built relationships with Tier-1 manufacturers around the world
over the long period.
In 2018, NIKKISO established Miyazaki Nikkiso as a production base that also serves as amanufacturing technology development base, and in 2019 began shipping Cascades for A320
aircraft.
NIKKISO will continue to contribute to the development of the aviation industry as a supplier ofaircraft components and aim for further growth by promoting the development of newtechnologies and developing new markets.
About Nikkiso Co., Ltd. Aerospace Division
Nikkiso consisted with three different business divisions - Aerospace, Industrial Pumps, and MedicalEquipment. Aerospace division’s current share within Nikkiso is approx. 10%, with big expectation
for future growth. Aerospace division’s major product is composite cascades for commercial aircrafts,achieving over 90% of the global market. More information is available at www.nikkiso.com, or email
us at nikkiso-pr@nikkiso.co.jp