The final meeting of the Sino-European cooperation project Casting of Large Titanium Structures (COLTS), hosted by IMR, was held in Shenyang 16-17 September 2013. Representatives of sponsoring agencies, project coordinators and researchers from 14 institutions of both sides attended the meeting.

At the opening ceremony chaired by SHI Jingmin, department head from the Industrial Equipment Bureau, Ministry of Industry and Information (MIIT), Dr YANG Rui, director of IMR, warmly welcomed all participants to Shenyang. LI Benjian, deputy head of the Industrial Equipment Bureau, MIIT, and Eric Lacomte, official from EC-DG RTD, reviewed the genesis and goal of COLTS in their speeches, and they both emphasized the significance of this project in promoting further Sino-European cooperation in the area of aerospace. Project coordinators from both sides then each gave a 15 minutes overview of the deliverables and achievements of COLTS. SUN Jian, department head from Chinese Aeronautical Establishment (CAE), remarked on the management aspect of the project, summarizing experiences and lessons learned.

COLTS consists of 10 work packages undertaken by EADS, Airbus, ESA, University of Birmingham, Calcom ESI, Universidad Politécnica de Cataluña, BIAM, BAMTRI, IMR, Tsinghua University and Huazhong University of Science and Technology. At the final meeting the work package leaders reviewed the technical progress made during the past three years.

The representatives of government sponsors on both sides spoke highly of the accomplishment of COLTS and praised the team spirit of the partners and the efficient management and coordination.

In COLTS, IMR undertook the experimental research of centrifugal investment casting, and the two demonstration components resulting from this research will be on display in the exhibition hall of ESA.

Participants of the COLTS final meeting visited the Hunnan campus of IMR and the laboratories of Titanium Alloys Division during their stay in Shenyang.

Mr Li Benjian from MIIT (centre) and Mr Eric Lacomte from EC-DG RTD (second from left) at the meeting. (Image by IMR)

Dr Yang Rui making a summary presentation of the work package undertaken by IMR. (Image by IMR)

Group photo of participants. (Image by IMR)