A consortium of Czech companies PBS, ONE3D, the HiLASE Centre of the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, and American Lockheed Martin launch a development collaboration

The consortium, composed of three Czech companies – the hi-tech aerospace manufacturer PBS Velká Bíteš, the leader in additive manufacturing ONE3D, and the leading research Centre HiLASE of the Institute of Physics of the Czech Academy of Sciences – today ceremonially signed a collaboration agreement with the leading American company in the aerospace and defense industry, Lockheed Martin.

The subject of the four-party agreement is cooperation on the development and qualification of an alternative manufacturing process for the F-35 aircraft’s integrated power package exhaust screen. The goal is to join the F-35 supply chain, which is composed of global companies supporting the program.

Only the most technologically advanced companies that must undergo a complex certification process can succeed in contributing to the program. The PBS-ONE3D-HiLASE consortium aims to achieve qualification by 2029 with the potential to become part of Lockheed Martin’s supply chain.

The project will utilize the latest technologies such as additive manufacturing, laser surface enhancement and advanced heat treatment in a vacuum furnace. The result will be an innovative production of a special component that is part of the F-35 aircraft.

The contract was signed at the residence of the American ambassador H.E. Bijan Sabet in Prague by Pavel Čechal - PBS, Tomáš Dokoupil - ONE3D, Michael Prouza - Centre HiLASE and David Baker - Lockheed Martin.

'Collaborating with a leader in the aerospace and defense industry such as Lockheed Martin represents a huge success and significant step forward for PBS Group and the entire consortium. This cooperation not only strengthens awareness of our companies, but also opens the door to participating in one of the most significant aerospace projects on a global scale,' says Milan Macholán, CEO and Chairman of the Board of PBS Velká Bíteš.