SKF has signed a supplier agreement with
Lilium Jet, a developer of the first all-electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) ‘jet’, at the core of which is DEVT (ducted electric vectored thrust), which the company has refined through successive generations of aircraft demonstrators. SKF has supported Lilium on the design of electric motor bearings for the Lilium Jet’s electric engine and has agreed to support the programme by producing electric motor bearings for the type-conforming aircraft.
Greg Zimmerman, SKF’s aerospace business unit director, said: “With electrification, the aerospace industry will experience a transformation in the coming years. We are pleased to be a part of this development by being the preferred bearing supplier of the electric motor bearings for the Lilium Jet, as doing so supports our focus on sustainability and our commitment towards the achievement of the goals set out in the
Paris Agreement on climate. We are the first bearing supplier to have a dedicated product portfolio, team, and partnership experience in this exciting electric aviation segment.
“After almost two years of collaborative work and a significant number of iterations, the SKF bearings are now undergoing final certification and qualification tests. Moreover, we have been able to help Lilium reduce system weight, fulfil aerospace certification requirements, and meet low-cost and short-lead-time targets.”
Martin Schuebel, senior vice president of procurement operations at Lilium Jet, concluded: “We have been impressed with the development progress made in cooperation with SKF on this important component of our revolutionary electric jet engine. We chose SKF based on its ability to provide quality and safe components, and the agreement conforms with a supply chain strategy founded on strong partnerships with established Tier One aerospace companies.”