DAEC

The Dutch Aero Engine Cluster is a partnership between companies, in the manufacturing industry; DutchAero, the engineering firm; Atkins, the research institute; NLR and composit product developer and producer; Airborne. DAEC was founded in 2001 with the goal to significantly improve the market position of the Dutch aero engine manufacturing industry. The total turnover of the 4 companies in the aero engine sector amounts to more than 100 M Euro and the number of personnel involved is about 1000 employees. DAEC is administratively supported by the Dutch Gas Turbine Association DGTA.

Dutch Aero Engine Cluster (DAEC)

The Dutch Aero Engine Cluster is a partnership between companies, in the manufacturing industry; DutchAero, the engineering firm; Atkins, the research institute; NLR and composit product developer and producer; Airborne. DAEC  was founded in 2001 with the goal to significantly improve the market position of the Dutch aero engine manufacturing industry. The total turnover of the 4 companies in the aero engine sector amounts to more than 100 M Euro and the number of personnel involved is about 1000 employees. DAEC is administratively supported by the Dutch Gas Turbine Association DGTA.

The aero engine manufacturing industry in the Netherlands is a relatively young industry sector. In the early seventies the first companies came on the market with jobbing type of activities. In the years since then the capabilities of the Dutch companies significantly improved: nowadays the DAEC companies have design and manufacturing capability for complete subsystems and modules (load compressors, APU's, wiring harnesses, stationary and rotating components, etc). High technology capabilities are in the field of non-conventional machining processes, composites, ECM blisks manufacturing, advanced sealing concepts, coatings, etc.

DAEC has adopted a 3-level approach to realize its objectives:

1. The individual marketing efforts of the 4 companies, based on the existing products, should be combined to make them more effective
2. There is a strong need to set-up strategic alliances with the OEM's e.g. through risk and revenue sharing partnerships (RRSP's) on new engine programs
3. DAEC strives to become first tier partner in new engine programs via the development of design and manufacturing capabilities for a complete engine subassembly or module.
    

Dutch Aero Engine Cluster (DAEC) – MOU with Snecma

DAEC signed an MOU with the French aircraft engine company Snecma on 3 December 2007 in Paris. The MOU is focused on technological cooperation in the field of high pressure compressor of new energy-efficient aircraft engines. The MOU was supported by the French Minister for Transport and the Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs via an exchange of letters. It was a major step forward in strengthening the market position of the Dutch aero engine industry and gives DAEC the opportunity to participate in Snecma engine programs.

The DAEC IMPACT-project

The first phase of the IMPACT-project (Improved Performance by Advanced Compressor Technology) has been finalized in 2009. The total value of this project was €2M.  The objective was to develop the design, production and validation capabilities for individual stationary and rotating components in the high pressure compressor. Furthermore, the generation of design knowledge at the interface between these components was developed. These developments will favour the position of DAEC towards the OEMs. The IMPACT project has played an important role in the development of the MOU with Snecma.

IMPACT II commenced in 2010. Its objective is taking the next step; the development of demonstrators that will validate the DAEC’s design capabilities. In March 2010 the Netherlands government granted a financial contribution to IMPACT II for 2010. For 2011 the support stopped because of a policy change by the new Netherlands government. The aim is to have IMPACT II back on track a part of the new top area “High Tech Systems” in the beginning of 2012.
 

DAEC Member Companies

• DutchAero
• Atkins
• NLR
• Airborne

DAEC Supporting Organisations 

• DGTA