Increasingly, manufacturers are favoring composite materials over traditional aluminum alloys for major structural elements of their aircraft. Advanced composites, such as carbon laminate and carbon sandwich, are lightweight, stronger than traditional metals, corrosion resistant, highly durable and easy to mold into desired shapes. Using composites also allows manufacturers to consolidate many parts down to a single structure, reducing build and maintenance costs.
A leading proponent of composite materials, Boeing recently unveiled its $1 billion 777x Composite Wing Center in Everett, WA. The wing factory, which opened in May 2016, uses automated machines to construct the wings—layer by layer—out of carbon fiber infused with epoxy resin.