9T Labs selected to supply composite connectors to Dufour eVTOL

Left to right: Jasmine Kent (CTO, Dufour Aerospace), Andy Lee (lead engineer stress, Dufour Aerospace), Giovanni Cavolina (CCO, 9T Labs), Simon Bendrey (head of design, Dufour Aerospace), Hannes Schütte (sales manager, 9T Labs) and Matteo Arnoldi (technical program manager, 9T Labs). Photo Credit: 9T Labs

Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) company Dufour Aerospace (Zurich, Switzerland) has selected 9T Labs (Zurich) as a supplier for structural composite connectors such as brackets and hinges for the company’s uncrewed tilt-wing aircraft Aero2. Using parts manufactured with 9T Labs’ additive manufacturing (AM) equipment (Red Series Additive Fusion Technology) and advanced post-processing technology will help Dufour Aerospace further reduce the weight of its eVTOL aircraft.

“The importance of the smaller parts of an aircraft is often underestimated when it comes to contributing to weight,” Simon Bendrey, head of design of Dufour Aerospace, says. “With 9T Labs, we have found a partner who is supporting us in exactly this critical area with surprisingly lightweight composite structural parts, without us having to make compromises in terms of durability and strength.”

‍Dufour Aerospace develops efficient and ecological aircraft for patient and passenger transport, logistics and public safety. Dufour Aerospace’s first product launch is the Aero2, an uncrewed aerial vehicle specifically designed for the transportation of critical cargo such as medical supplies of up to 40 kilograms in medium- to long-range distances. The manned Aero3, featuring a spacious cabin with eight seats and large doors, is the next aircraft in development by the company.

This past summer, Dufour announced its selection of suppliers Connova AG (Ennetbürgen, Switzerland) for the composite airframe and Aerolite AG (Horw, Switzerland) for composite structural components in the nacelles and tail. In August, the Aero2 prototype mastered its vertical to horizontal flight transition.

“We are thrilled to join forces with Dufour Aerospace to advance sustainable aerial mobility by lightweighting critical brackets using unique, cutting-edge technologies,” Giovanni Cavolina, cofounder and CCO of 9T Labs, adds. “Replacing a number of structural metal parts with high-performing thermoplastic composites will help Dufour Aerospace achieve ambitious weight targets for the Aero2 program.”