Developping  new products and processes

Innovation

At Sonaca, we focus on developing a range of innovative solutions tailored to our customers' technological requirements. Collaboration with our customers is key in defining our research and technology strategy, ensuring that we meet and exceed their needs. We use a versatile collaborative platform, along with external expertise, to achieve our development in short time-to-market.

Innovation revolves around breakthrough manufacturing processes and innovative products.

Leading edge of the future

As a global leader in wing leading edges and slats, Sonaca is committed to developing cutting-edge solutions for future aircraft wings.

With the demand for longer, thinner, and quieter aircraft wings on the rise, we are dedicated to creating slats that accommodate these requirements, such as higher wing deflections and noise reduction. These innovations will play a crucial role in reducing emissions in future aircrafts.

Integrated composite parts

Sonaca has an extensive knowledge in SQRTM processes combined with ATL to get integrated composite parts. Sonaca has developed a one shot out of autoclave SQRTM processes from design to certification. While significantly reducing recurrent costs thanks to combination of both lay-up automation and assembly time decrease, this mature technology provides prominent weight savings and outstanding quality.

This technology is now ready for many opportunities: advanced air mobility, business jets but also commercial and regional aircraft. The development continues with more automation, application of the integration strategy to new components and materials.

Improved ice protection system

The focus on ice protection systems is a key aspect of our research and technology strategy. As a global leader, we are primarily focused on two main areas:

  1. Electrothermal ice protection systems (ETIPS). With a strong commitment to the future of more electric aircraft, we have been developing our own ETIPS for over a decade. We are now achieving a high level of maturity at TRL5. This technology is on track for commercialization in the near future.
  2. Low power electric IPS. Minimizing power consumption is crucial, and our teams are working on innovative ice protection systems that utilize electro-mechanical properties. Early results show promising potential for this emerging technology.

New markets

The advanced air mobility industry is rapidly changing. We are actively working on developing technologies to meet these new challenges. In order to advance the Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing Vehicles of tomorrow, we are exploring methods to efficiently produce components at a low cost and in large quantities using optimization tools and semi-automated design and production processes.

Sonaca receives the supports of