Technology center demonstrates comprehensive aerocomposite manufacturing initiatives

JEC World 2025 will serve as a platform highlighting how Spanish technology center Ideko (Elgoibar, Spain) continues to push the boundaries of innovation to enhance competitiveness and optimize the aerospace industry’s value chain. 

Ideko is presenting a fuselage demonstrator for a new hybrid-electric regional aircraft. This demonstrator is a tangible example of the R&D efforts undertaken as part of the European HERFUSE project within the Clean Aviation program, featuring Ideko’s dedication to developing advanced technologies that optimize manufacturing processes in the aerospace sector.

Ideko applied carbon fiber fabrics using its automated dry material placement (ADMP) technology to manufacture the aircraft’s side panels. Over the years, the research center has continuously evolved ADMP for the lamination of dry multiaxial materials, enhancing its versatility, digitalization level, quality control and robustness.

The demonstrator’s manufacturing cell, located at Ideko’s facilities, is specially designed for the production of large and complex aerospace structures, with a capability of producing components up to 10 meters in length. Equipped with state-of-the-art lamination heads, this fully automated process improves efficiency and precision in material handling, reducing production times while ensuring quality at every stage, explains Peio Olaskoaga, Ideko’s aeronautics project manager.

As a complement to this industrial lamination system, Ideko has also developed a new injectable thermoplastic resin for aerospace structures, providing a comprehensive solution that integrates automation, efficiency and sustainability to meet the industry’s evolving needs.

In addition, Ideko showcases its expertise in real-time digitalization and monitoring of key composite manufacturing processes, including lamination, preforming, infusion and curing, ensuring optimal production quality control.

As part of the European INFINITE project, Ideko is leading the development of a wireless monitoring system designed to track the structural health and manufacturing process of aerospace components throughout their entire life cycle. The INFINITE project will be prominently featured in JEC’s international projects area, with a dedicated presentation scheduled for Tuesday, March 4, at 11:15 a.m.

Ideko’s innovation proposals extend beyond materials and processes to include the assembly and machining of large aerospace components. To achieve this, Ideko has developed a collaborative robotic photogrammetry system, which optimizes speed and precision in assembly processes. Additionally, the research center is showcasing a high-precision machining cell — equipped with two synchronized robots and an advanced vision system — capable of achieving high accuracy when working with large-scale components.

In the field of aircraft interior component manufacturing, specifically those made from fiberglass, Ideko also presents a production process based on ultraviolet (UV) technology. This includes the manufacturing of pre-impregnated materials with flame-retardant, UV-curable resin, as well as their forming and curing using advanced press systems.

Ideko’s comprehensive catalog of solutions are further supported by various laboratories, equipped with both process and product monitoring technologies. Additionally, Ideko actively collaborates with aerospace companies, technological partners and universities, reinforcing its commitment to research and industrial advancement.

Visit Ideko in the Italian Pavilion, alongside 11 co-exhibitors and under the coordination of the Spanish Association of Composite Materials (AEMAC).