Rolls-Royce opens 25th technology centre

Rolls-Royce yesterday formally opened its latest University Technology Centre (UTC) in Darmstadt, Germany, the 25th UTC the company has established in Europe.

The UTC was launched at the Technical University in Darmstadt by Rolls-Royce Director of Engineering and Technology, Colin Smith, and the President of the Darmstadt Technical University, Professor Johann-Dietrich Wörner. It is the third Rolls-Royce UTC established in Germany, where the company already has a strong research pedigree with a number of institutions and universities established over many years.

This new UTC will specialise in the aerothermal interaction between the combustor and turbine. This discipline shapes the engine’s environmental performance, which is an increasingly vital driver for the aerospace industry.

According to Rolls-Royce, effective work in this area will allow it to maintain its competitive position by improving efficiency at the same time as reducing engine emissions. This is an essential component in meeting the environmental goals set by ACARE (Advisory Council for Aerospace Research in Europe) in its 2020 Vision.

Initially, research by the Darmstadt UTC will be aimed predominantly at the aerospace sector. The TU Darmstadt also has the capabilities to support research activities for the other Rolls-Royce business sectors, marine and energy.