Performance

Our paper machine clothing products enable our paper-making customers to reduce their own environmental footprint by reducing their energy consumption, and improving both resource and operating efficiency.

Energy is one of the top three cost components in the paper making process. Our machine clothing solutions use innovative technologies to reduce the amount of heat energy required for paper production. We continue to innovate and remain focused on developing and bringing to market proprietary products aimed at improving the energy and resource efficiency needed for our customers’ products and their production processes.

Highlights include:

• Our products are able to reduce energy consumption of paper
  making machines by allowing the machines to operate at the same speed and performance while consuming less energy.
• Our products support our customers in the shift to less resource
  intensive packaging and lighter weight paper grades while
  maintaining all of the necessary physical properties for packaging
  transport and use. This results in a more efficient utilization of wood fiber, and also less energy needed to transport products throughout the supply chain.
• The continued increase in the use of recycled paper furnish can limit paper machine clothing life as a result of contamination and clogging of the clothing. This is greatly mitigated by our use of anti-contaminant formulations which prevent build-up, extend usable belt life, and result in higher machine efficiencies, fewer required cleanings and therefore lower water consumption, and often less use of cleaning agents.
• Significant R&D efforts including those targeting thermoplastic structures, which can be recycled.

In aerospace, weight savings that drive fuel efficiency are essential for
aircraft producers, if the industry is to achieve its goals for sustainable
aviation. This fundamental design goal has driven the increased use of
lightweight composite structures in an ever-broadening sphere of aerospace applications.

We have applied learnings from our 130 years of experience manufacturing machine clothing to pioneer 3D weaving technologies to manufacture our composite material. The process involves layering and interweaving fibers in a precise, computer-controlled process to create complex, lightweight, high-strength parts with high-performance properties, and complex geometries.

The high strength, stiffness and resistance to impact and fatigue make these products well-suited for use in aerospace, defense and industrial
applications. These structurally demanding applications have historically been served by heavier, metallic structures, and traditional laminated composites do not possess the required structural characteristics that 3D woven can offer.

As such, our proprietary 3D woven technology expands the role that lightweight composites can serve as the next generation of aircraft is designed and built:

• AEC's advanced 3D woven rib is being used on the Airbus Wing of
  Tomorrow Program, which is focused on reducing aviation emissions and demonstrating the importance of large-scale industry collaboration to achieve that goal.
• Albany’s proprietary 3D woven composite technology helps make the CFM International LEAP turbofan engine significantly lighter and more durable resulting in ~15% better fuel efficiency.
• The use of composite parts in the Sikorsky CH-53K heavy-lift helicopter for the US Marine Corps improves fuel efficiency and extends the aircraft range.
• Our AEC business develops solutions that champion sustainable
  energy. Through innovative composite technologies and advanced
  manufacturing processes, we contribute to the creation of energy-efficient components, reducing the environmental footprint and supporting the renewable energy sector

AEC is also at the forefront of the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) revolution, playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of urban transportation. AAM is a cutting-edge transportation ecosystem that includes electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, urban air mobility (UAM) platforms, and more. In this dynamic landscape, AEC's expertise in advanced composite solutions is enabling AAM to reach new heights. Our expertise in lightweight yet robust advanced materials are a natural fit for the demands of AAM, enabling these
aircraft to achieve optimal performance, efficiency, and sustainability.

AEC's involvement in AAM goes beyond materials; it is about engineering the future of flight. Our team of experts collaborates with AAM innovators to design and manufacture components that redefine urban mobility. From airframes to propulsion systems, AEC's contributions are integral to the success of AAM platforms. As the world seeks more sustainable transportation solutions, AAM's electric and hybrid-electric aircraft promise to reduce congestion, emissions, and travel times. AEC's commitment to innovation aligns perfectly with the eco-friendly goals of AAM, making these futuristic modes of transportation a reality.