What role does Element play in the aerospace test and development sector?

“Element is a global expert in testing, inspection and certification, operating 275 laboratories worldwide, including an aerospace centre of excellence in Toulouse, France. Element delivers independent verification and validation across the lifecycle of aerospace and defence programmes, from early R&D through qualification to in-service assurance, generating trusted evidence that systems will perform in the harshest operating environments and meet the demands of certification.

“Element’s capabilities span materials, environmental, mechanical, and EMC testing; digital modelling and simulation; advanced NDT; failure analysis; product qualification; metrology and calibration; and asset integrity support. Element helps its customers to accelerate qualification, reduce programme risk and make evidence-led decisions through integrated physical and digital validation, underpinned by UK sovereign capability, global delivery scale, and accreditations including ISO/IEC 17025, AS9100 and NADCAP.”

What will the company be showcasing on its stand at this year’s show?

“Element will be focusing on the breadth of capabilities that we can deliver to our partners across Europe. In particular we will explain how we use our 40+ years of testing and calibration insights to influence our product development offering in digital engineering and engineering design, with a focus on how that delivers value for new technologies in propulsion and more.”

What key trends or challenges are currently shaping demand for your products/services in aerospace testing?

“Sustainability sits at the heart of nearly all the trends and challenges we are seeing in the industry. We are experiencing an increasing need for testing of novel materials and coatings being developed and deployed in aerospace. The rapidly advancing use of additive manufacturing is changing the landscape, and Element continues to invest in capabilities and capacities that ensure we remain the materials testing experts. In addition, the development of new, more efficient propulsion technology is critical to the future of aerospace – which is where our product development teams deliver expert skills and knowledge across the hydrogen, electrification, batteries and fuel cells landscape.”

What can visitors expect to see or experience at your stand this year?

“This year it’s all about our team – we will be bringing our expert team from our Toulouse aerospace testing laboratory, a centre of excellence for the industry, as well as subject matter experts from around the world. We are proud to sponsor the Future Propulsion Forum as well as having our director of new energy strategy, Dr Mark Eldridge present on stage and meet with attendees at our stand.”

Why is the Aerospace Test & Development Show an important event for Element to be part of?

“Aerospace testing and development sits at both the heart of what Element does, and at the heart of what multiple industries deliver for humankind, whether it’s travel, transportation, defence, energy or space exploration. Our mission is ‘Making Tomorrow Safer Than Today’, and this show is all about exactly that. We are all working to ensure that the future of flight and so much more is safe, sustainable and better than ever before; and meeting with partners and friends throughout this industry in our Toulouse home just demonstrates how critical and how exciting this industry is in 2026.”

Looking ahead, what’s next for Element – any developments or plans you can share for the coming year?

“Element is continuing to invest in the aerospace world – we are expanding our capabilities, our capacities and our credibility with investments in growing our Toulouse, Lancaster and Pilzen aerospace testing centres of excellence. We are also launching exciting new product development and testing capabilities in the batteries and fuel cells spaces across our European footprint of over 50 laboratories. Finally, we are bringing our unique mobile metrology and calibration services from the Nordics into the rest of mainland Europe and the UK. It’s an exciting time for us at Element as we continue to grow and deliver our full product lifecycle support services that we are so proud of.”

Is there anything else you would like to add?

“Just that we are excited to join everyone in Toulouse, and to have some great open and exciting conversations about the reality of aerospace test and development in 2026, as well as the critical industry developments of the future. And everyone should keep a close eye on element.com for all our latest developments and capabilities that make us such a great partner to organisations from OEMs to emerging talents, and everyone in-between!”