Paris Air Show 2023: Supernal and GKN Aerospace announce eVTOL agreement
Supernal and GKN Aerospace announced today a partnership on the design and build of major aerostructures and Electrical Wiring Interconnection System (EWIS) for Supernal’s electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL)…
Supernal and GKN Aerospace announced today a partnership on the design and build of major aerostructures and Electrical Wiring Interconnection System (EWIS) for Supernal’s electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle.
The companies will also mature high-rate manufacturing technologies to produce these parts and assembly methods.
This marks the second established aerospace manufacturer agreement Supernal has announced at the Paris Air Show, as the company works to develop a novel high-rate manufacturing process that will enable the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) industry to meet expected demand in the coming decades.
GKN will work with Supernal to apply its broad portfolio of design capabilities and manufacturing technologies to the development of the company’s eVTOL vehicle.
GKN will supply lightweight aerostructures and high-voltage, high-power electrical wiring systems for Supernal’s full-scale technology demonstrator, which the company will begin flying in 2024.
The partnership aims to improve the business case—and process—for introducing advanced materials and rate-enabling assembly processes to the AAM industry.
In working with GKN to mature these innovative processes from the outset, Supernal will develop volume ramp-up capabilities that enable the company to rapidly scale production as aircraft order demand grows.
“Manufacturing is crucial to the success of Advanced Air Mobility and Supernal is pleased to partner with leading suppliers, such as GKN Aerospace, to industrialise existing processes,” said Jaiwon Shin, president of Hyundai Motor Group and CEO of Supernal.
Producing eVTOL vehicles at scale
“Instead of focusing on ‘time to market,’ Supernal is prioritising ‘time to scale.’ Our work with GKN Aerospace will lay the foundation for producing eVTOL vehicles at scale and will be bolstered by Hyundai Motor Group’s high-tech manufacturing processes.”
As part of Hyundai Motor Group (HMG), Supernal is working to integrate the automotive leader’s expertise—including supply chain management, logistics and distribution, and manufacturing—throughout the AAM ecosystem.
In the manufacturing realm, HMG is helping Supernal to develop a scalable digital factory model that will industrialise aerospace material and assembly advancements. Supernal’s work with leading aerospace manufacturers, such as GKN Aerospace, is an important first step toward the company’s ability to reduce the cost and time of aircraft production.
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