Avio is prioritising its R&D projects based on developing new products to deliver high performance and lower fuel consumption. We invested €123 million in 2010 alone, 7% of our consolidated revenues. New research is applied to the products themselves - turbines, transmission systems, combustors and injection systems. Avio participates in a number of European research programmes (6th and 7th Framework programmes) aimed at developing an advanced number of technologies to advance tech demos (for example, Clean Sky) and developing new application programmes.
Together with Turin Polytechnic, Avio finances and works on the GREAT LAB (the laboratory for research on the Green Engine for Air Transport). This supports GREAT 2020, the project set up as a result of the Aerospace District Promoting Committee, working with 24 regional SMEs. The programme is aimed at supporting the participation of the region of Piedmont in European projects, researching new environmental aeronautical engines entering service in 2020.
With regards to the manufacturing processes of aerospace components, Avio has committed itself to the research, development and production of new products to deliver high performance, reduced fuel consumption and lower emissions.
In the space arena, Avio is active in the R&D of solid-propellant motors which can reduce the environmental impact of satellite launchers and, in collaboration with ASI (Italian Space Agency) and ESA (European Space Agency), Avio takes part in research looking at the use of liquid-propellant propulsion as a clean fuel, particularly in the evolution of the Vega launcher.
Sustainability is very important to Avio's overall business strategy. Avio requested and obtained the voluntary environmental certification UNI EN ISO14001, which certifies that all of our machinery and equipment in Italy has an adequate management system to keep its environmental impact under control. We strive for continuous improvement in a sustainable way.
