Dufour Aerospace and 9T Labs collaborate on structural composite connectors for Aero2

^{Left to right: Jasmine Kent (CTO Dufour Aerospace), Andy Lee (Lead Engineer Stress Dufour Aerospace), Giovanni Cavolina (CCO 9T Labs), Simon Bendrey (Head of Design Dufour Aerospace), Hannes Schütte (Sales Manager 9T Labs), Matteo Arnoldi (Technical Program Manager 9T Labs)}‍

Zurich, September 4, 2023: Dufour Aerospace is pleased to announce that 9T Labs has been selected as a supplier for structural composite connectors such as brackets and hinges of the uncrewed tilt-wing aircraft Aero2. Using parts manufactured with innovative additive manufacturing equipment and advanced post processing technology helps Dufour Aerospace further reduce the weight of the Aero2.

Says Simon Bendrey, Head of Design of Dufour Aerospace: “The importance of the smaller parts of an aircraft is often underestimated when it comes to contributing to weight. With 9T Labs, we have found a partner who is supporting us in exactly this critical area with surprisingly lightweight composite structural parts, without us having to make compromises in terms of durability and strength.”

Giovanni Cavolina, co-founder and CCO of 9T Labs, says: “We are thrilled to join forces with Dufour Aerospace to advance sustainable aerial mobility by lightweighting critical brackets using unique, cutting edge technologies. Replacing a number of structural metal parts with highest performing thermoplastic composites will help Dufour Aerospace  achieve the ambitious weight targets for the Aero2 programme.”
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‍About 9t Labs
‍9T Labs, a leading composites manufacturing technology company headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, was founded in 2018 by a team of pioneers, passionate about bringing the next generation of high-performance manufacturing. 9T Labs helps mobility OEMs reach climate neutral products by introducing the new design & manufacturing standard for strong parts at lowest weight, lower cost and zero waste. This standard, named Red Series® Additive Fusion Technology (AFT)™, is an all-in-one solution which is particularly attractive to help customers reduce their carbon footprint with environmentally friendly materials & processes that eliminate waste and minimize use of resources. 9T Labs’ software as a service suite, powered by integrated FEA simulation tools, allows quick turnaround of highly optimized designs. In combination with innovative additive manufacturing equipment and advanced post processing technology, it gives producing companies the needed tools to start their production in small batches and scale it up in no time. With this end-to-end process, industrial users will be able to massively reduce their time-to-market, while limiting the financial risk they take.
‍9tlabs.com
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‍About Dufour Aerospace 
‍‍Dufour Aerospace develops efficient and ecological aircraft for patient and passenger transport, logistics and public safety. Dufour Aerospace’s designs currently under development rely on the tilt-wing principle. They take-off and land vertically in the smallest space like a helicopter but fly as fast and economically as an airplane. While the propellers are electric-driven, hybrid elements (conventional combustion engines or fuel cells) ensure a sufficiently long range. The first product Dufour Aerospace will launch is the Aero2, an uncrewed aerial vehicle specifically designed for the transportation of critical cargo such as medical supplies of up to 40 kilograms/88 pounds in medium to long range distances. The manned Aero3, featuring a spacious cabin with eight seats and large doors, is the next aircraft in development by Dufour Aerospace.
‍dufour.aero

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