French high-technology group Safran (Paris; www.safran-group.com) in mid-May inaugurated its new composite materials research centre in Itteville, near Paris. The facility, which came at a price tag of EUR 50m, spans 10,000², and will be tasked mostly with developing the new LEAP engine, which will be used to power commercial Airbus and Boeing jets from 2016 onwards. The engine includes fan blades and cases made by means of a 3D woven composite process.

Aside from continuing work already underway on composites technologies, the centre will also explore new research – including on high temperature-resistant resins – and is supposed to facilitate the circulation of these technologies among all Safran companies. With respect to the latter, it should be noted that group members Herakles and Structil are also located in Itteville, and Safran said it expects the co-location to yield both cross-disciplinary exchanges and synergies.