The U.K. government has backed a £14.1 million research and development initiative, Project STRATA, led by Honeywell and funded through the Aerospace Technology Institute’s (ATI) programme. Based at Honeywell’s Yeovil facility, the consortium includes 3T Additive Manufacturing, BeyondMath, Qdot Technology, and the Oxford Thermofluids Institute, says 3D Printing Industry.
Their goal: use AI-driven simulation and metal additive manufacturing to design and build aircraft components that demand less energy and burn less fuel. Project STRATA will focus on five new parts within Environmental Control Systems (ECS) and Cabin Pressure Control Systems (CPCS), critical for cabin safety and comfort .
For manufacturing, 3T Additive Manufacturing plans a smart, digital twin-based setup, blending automation, energy-efficient practices, and lifecycle carbon analysis. Qdot Technology will create 3D-printed heat exchangers that cut weight, drag, cost, and boost thermal performance. On the software side, BeyondMath will use physics-based simulations to optimize designs faster, reduce costs, and improve performance. The Oxford Thermofluids Institute brings deep academic expertise in thermal management to the table.
Honeywell and partners see this as a turning point for aerospace design, combining additive manufacturing with AI to lower manufacturing waste, reduce Scope 3 emissions, and streamline innovation cycles.
Minister of State for Industry Sarah Jones hailed it as an example of how government and business can keep the United Kingdom at the forefront of aerospace innovation. ATI’s CTO Jacqueline Castle added that 3D printing can consolidate complex assemblies into single parts, boosting efficiency and cutting costs.