The consortium, comprising 28 partners across 10 European countries, is coordinated from Honeywell’s international development centre in Brno, Czech Republic.
Driving Innovation with Additive Manufacturing and Heat Exchangers
Conflux will apply its thermal management expertise to accelerate the development of innovative, lightweight additive-manufactured heat exchangers for next-generation aircraft. This includes contributions to multiple projects focused on both Air Cycle Systems (ACS) and Vapour Cycle Systems (VCS) – specifically an air-to-air heat exchanger for ACS as well as air-to-liquid heat exchangers for VCS evaporator and condenser.
Commitment to Energy-Efficient, Low-Emission Aviation
“Joining TheMa4HERA aligns with Conflux Technology’s commitment to delivering high-performance thermal solutions that enable energy-efficient, low-emission aviation,” said Michael Fuller, CEO of Conflux Technology. “Our additive manufacturing capabilities will help the consortium push the boundaries of thermal management design to meet the demands of hybrid-electric propulsion systems.”
Addressing Complexity in Hybrid-Electric Aircraft
The TheMa4HERA project addresses the growing complexity of thermal management in hybrid-electric aircraft, driven by the increasing integration of heat-generating components such as batteries, fuel cells, and power electronics. The initiative will explore and validate advanced thermal architectures and systems to improve energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions, and meet evolving sustainability regulations. The program targets the advancement of heat exchanger technologies up to Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 through component-level development and system testing.
Collaborative Efforts to Develop Next-Gen Thermal Solutions
“Conflux brings valuable technological capabilities to TheMa4HERA’s collaborative effort to develop the next generation of thermal management solutions,” said Jan Ludvik, Senior Director of Advanced Technology Europe, Honeywell Aerospace. “Each partner’s expertise strengthens our mission to deliver sustainable solutions that transform aviation.”
Path to Scalable Thermal Technologies by 2026
By 2026, the TheMa4HERA project will advance heat exchanger technologies to TRL 5 using digital twins, virtual demos, and ground testing. Clean Aviation Phase 2, scheduled to begin in 2027, will focus on flight testing and further integration of the most promising solutions. TheMa4HERA aims to deliver scalable thermal technologies for hybrid-electric aircraft, supporting climate-neutral aviation by 2035.
