Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre - NLR

The Royal Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR) is the independent knowledge enterprise in the aerospace sector, Netherlands. NLR’s multidisciplinary approach covers the whole RDT&E (Research Development Test & Evaluation) range. It focuses on developing new and cost-effective technologies for aviation and space, from design support to production technology and MRO (Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul).

In SUSTAINair, NLR is involved in the evolution of induction welding for thermoplastics components– both for first-life and second-life material – and will focus on online monitoring of the process. It is furthermore involved in the development of a rivet removal robot head, that automatically detects and removes rivets in aircraft structures.

Ruben Nahuis

Ruben Nahuis is a senior R&D engineer in the structures technology department of NLR. His is working on design and manufacture of composite products, in particular related to propulsion on wind tunnel scale (turboprops/fans/...). His current focus is on joining and induction welding.

The need for a greener aviation is clearly an international challenge which cannot be tackled without European collaboration.

I am proud to be part of the team in a pan-European project contributing to greener aviation, with an ultimate goal: zero emissions!

Ligeia Paletti

Ligeia Palletti is an aerospace engineer working in the NLR’s Aerospace Vehicles Division. She has a strong background in structural analysis and structural integrity. Within NLR she is responsible for the NLR Living Lab, a metaphysical and physical place to connect the aeronautical community and its users to each other and to non-aeronautical communities in new ways, in order to foster innovation, creativity and curiosity. Within the Future Sky initiative of the Association of European Research Establishments in Aeronautics (EREA), she is the theme leader for Circular Aviation.

My passion is aviation, but my passion should not be detrimental to the planet. SUSTAINair represents a step towards designing and building aircraft compatible with the UN SDGs and the Earth's sustainable future.

Team members

Patrick Jensen

Joachim de Kruijk

Senne Sterk

Kees de Waal

Rui Roosien