ACITURRI AEROSTRUCTURES S.L.U.

Their core work

Aciturri Aerostructures is a Spanish aerospace manufacturer specializing in the design and production of structural airframe components for commercial aircraft. Their core business is manufacturing aerostructures — the fuselage sections, wing components, and empennage parts that make up an aircraft's skeleton. In EU-funded research, they contribute as an industrial end-user and manufacturing partner, validating new composite materials and production processes against real aircraft program requirements. Their R&D involvement spans both aircraft-level performance objectives (regional aircraft comfort and reliability) and factory-level manufacturing innovation (thermoplastic composites, automated tape laying, structural health monitoring).

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their first H2020 project (2020), Aciturri's focus was squarely on the aircraft as a product — regional flight performance, passenger comfort, noise and vibration reduction, and the environmental and socio-economic case for improved short-haul aircraft. By their second project (2021), the lens had shifted from the aircraft itself to the factory floor: thermoplastic composites, automated tape laying, additive manufacturing, and digital quality pipelines for producing next-generation airframe parts. This is a meaningful transition from end-product performance goals toward advanced manufacturing process innovation — reflecting an industrial manufacturer investing in how parts are made, not just what they do once installed.

Aciturri is moving from being a consumer of aircraft performance requirements toward being an innovator in next-generation composite manufacturing processes, suggesting growing interest in digital and materials-driven production consortia.

How they like to work

Aciturri has not led any H2020 project, taking participant and third-party roles — consistent with a large industrial manufacturer joining research consortia to validate technologies against real production needs rather than to drive research agendas. Despite only two projects, they have engaged with 46 distinct partners across 11 countries, suggesting they participate in large, multi-actor consortia typical of Clean Sky and Horizon transport programs. This profile makes them a credible industrial validator and end-user partner, not a research driver.

Aciturri has connected with 46 unique consortium partners spread across 11 countries through just two projects, indicating participation in large pan-European aerospace consortia. Their geographic reach covers major aerospace R&D nations in Europe, consistent with Clean Sky Joint Undertaking-style programs.

What sets them apart

Aciturri Aerostructures occupies a specific niche in European aerospace R&D as an industrial aerostructures manufacturer that bridges design engineering and series production — a role that is difficult to fill with universities or pure research institutes. For consortium builders, they bring manufacturing readiness validation: the ability to assess whether a new composite process or digital tool is compatible with real production-line constraints. Their Spanish base and Tier-1 supplier position in the European aerospace supply chain make them a strong partner for any project that needs to demonstrate industrial applicability of new airframe technologies.

Highlights from their portfolio

• GAM-2020-REG
  This is Aciturri's primary funded project (€556,208), targeting regional aircraft performance improvements across comfort, noise reduction, and environmental benefits — a broad, aircraft-level R&D mandate typical of Clean Sky 2 programs.
• DOMMINIO
  Although Aciturri participated as a third party without direct EC funding, DOMMINIO is technically significant for its integration of thermoplastic composites, additive manufacturing, structural health monitoring, and a digital manufacturing pipeline into a single next-generation airframe production workflow.