MUSIC - Manufacturing Unequalled by Sustainable Innovation & Cost

The UK aerospace sector needs to be at the forefront of cross-cutting enabling infrastructure and tools to support the delivery of the ultra-efficient and zero-carbon emission technologies, in a market where rate will need to double and compressing design cost and time is ever more important. Reducing the time and cost from design and production will secure UK competitiveness for a share of up to 18% of the £4.3 trillion market to 2050\.

MUSIC is a bold and far-reaching project aimed at leveraging the world-leading capabilities of the UK to develop a portfolio of advanced manufacturing technologies for the growing civil large Propulsion & Power system market. Rolls-Royce are the programme lead, supported by the University of Sheffield (Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre), the University of Strathclyde (Advanced Forming Research Centre), the Manufacturing Technology Centre, the University of Birmingham, the University of Nottingham and the University of Glasgow.

The project will generate new manufacturing capabilities to enable new design architecture, reduce engine set value, minimise through-life cost and improve the manufacturing sustainability for application in the current Aerospace Engine fleet and future engines including UltraFan(r), with read-across opportunities to other sectors including Defence, Electrical and Power Systems.

The seven MUSIC partners will develop a portfolio of machining, assembly, forging, casting and inspection techniques to reduce the cost and improve the productivity within the Rolls-Royce UK manufacturing facilities and its UK supply chain. Given how transformative these approaches will be, and the direct and spill-over benefits to the UK manufacturing and aerospace industry, the programme is considered to provide significant value for money to the UK.