German aerospace companies are facing the daunting challenge of the slowly recovering world economy, dwindling German defense budget and shrinking military force level. The fate of these companies is not only important to the Germany's national security but also to the local employment and its aerospace technological leadership. As lead users of advanced composite materials, German aerospace companies should consider capitalizing its developed competences in other industries such as automotive and rail systems. Automotive companies such as BMW and Daimler are switching their attention from metallic car body to composite types at mass production level.
Composite materials offer significantly lower weight advantage (30-50%) compared to aerospace grade aluminum alloy and even more for steel alloy. Furthermore, composite materials reduce corrosion and fatigue problems. However, current composite material technologies is the relatively high production costs that make them uneconomical for mass production. However, latest advances in out-of-autoclave technologies could solve this problem soon.
As aerospace production volume is nothing close to those of automotive manufacturers, there is currently little aerospace companies could hedge against in times of economical crisis. Perhaps, it's imperative for German aerospace companies to consider exploring greater (if any) joint industrial opportunity with automotive industries to reap greater value through greater economy of scale and industrial collaboration. Diversification of product and service portfolio of German aerospace companies may well be a solution for surviving through the current dry spell and any future cyclical downturns.
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| BMW's New Megacity Full Composite Body Car (Credit: BMW Archive) For more information, visit: BMW i8 homepage |
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