At the end of June, Latecoere delivered the innovative ELCOCOS door demonstrator to Airbus. The European aircraft manufacturer will install this demonstrator on a front test point and perform the mechanical pressurisation tests.

Supported by the European Clean Sky research program, the project aims to develop a composite door using liquid resin infusion (LRI) technologies. This achievement would significantly contribute to the performance of future aircraft by reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. How? 'Or' What ? By reducing by about 20% the weight of the structure, the production costs of the primary structure and the non-recurring costs.

ELCOCOS relies on the close partnership of large European industrial and research groups in the fields of aeronautics and materials development: Latecoere for project management, design and testing of the demonstrator, Corima Technologies for the design and the manufacture of composite tools, Compositadour for automatic lay-up and hot forming, and the Welding Institute Group for the injection process. Launched in 2019, the project has since successfully passed many milestones. The final test phase carried out by Airbus should make it possible to validate the performance of the demonstrator.

One of the main challenges of the project was to define the technical and financial performances of an optimised infused structure, firstly by predicting the behaviour of fibres and resin by correlation with tests on representative specimens, secondly by controlling the process of 'infusion by numerical simulation, and thirdly by optimising production costs thanks to self-heating infusion equipment (excluding Autoclave) and using a system of vacuum membrane and reusable bladders.

Latecoere brought its experience as the world's leading independent manufacturer of aircraft doors. The group is regularly involved in the development of sub-assemblies for aeronautical programs under risk-sharing agreements, and has extensive experience in door R&T programs including the innovative NexGED and ASGARD projects.