Hardide Coatings (www.hardide.com) has been awarded funding for two projects from the National Aerospace Technology Exploitation Programme (NATEP) — a £14.4 million initiative to mature 40 aerospace technologies.

Hardide Coatings is the lead partner on both of the projects; the funding will further the application of its innovative coating technology to aircraft components.

The first project (supported by Airbus, Perfect Bore Manufacturing Ltd and Engis (UK) Ltd) is the development of a grinding and super-finishing technology for the Hardide-A coating — a proven direct replacement for hard chrome plating.

The second project is to develop the processing of an ultra-low-temperature coating that will increase the range of aerospace substrate materials suitable for the Hardide coating process.

Airbus and Leonardo Helicopters are end users, while Perfect Bore Manufacturing Ltd and Westmoreland Laboratories are support partners. Both projects commenced on 1 September and will take up to 18 months to complete.

Philip Kirkham, CEO of Hardide Coatings, said: “These grant awards were made after a rigorous application process.

“Both projects have the potential to significantly expand Hardide Coatings’ aerospace business, widening the range of aircraft components and substrate materials suitable for our coating technology.”