Boeing HorizonX invests in metal Additive Manufacturing service bureau Morf3D
April 24, 2018
Boeing has announced its investment in Morf3D, an Additive Manufacturing design and production service bureau based in El Segundo, California, USA. Established in 2015, Morf3D has produced a range of titanium and aluminium AM components for Boeing satellites and helicopters.
With this investment, Morf3D will collaborate with Boeing to further develop manufacturing processes and engineering capabilities. Terms of the investment were not specified.
“Developing standard Additive Manufacturing processes for aerospace components benefits both companies and empowers us to fully unleash the value of this transformative technology,” stated Kim Smith, Vice President and General Manager of Fabrication for Boeing Commercial Airplanes and Boeing Additive Manufacturing leader.
Morf3D’s metallurgy experts utilise state-of-the-art software combined with engineering expertise to significantly reduce mass and increase the performance and functionality of manufactured parts.
“We are excited to be a distinguished and trusted partner of Boeing’s Additive Manufacturing supplier base, as we continue to industrialise our processes for the high-rate production of flight-worthy additively manufactured components,” stated Ivan Madera, CEO of Morf3D. “This investment will enable us to increase our engineering staff and expand our technology footprint of EOS M400-4 DMLS systems to better serve the growing demands of our aerospace customers.”
“As innovative companies continue to revolutionise technologies and methods, we are proud to invest in the rapidly growing and competitive Additive Manufacturing landscape,” said Steve Nordlund, Vice President of Boeing HorizonX.
Boeing HorizonX Ventures co-led this Series A funding round. The Boeing HorizonX Ventures investment portfolio is made up of companies specialising in technologies for aerospace and manufacturing innovations, including autonomous systems, energy storage, advanced materials, augmented reality systems and software, machine learning, hybrid-electric and hypersonic propulsion, and Internet of Things connectivity.
Boeing’s investment in Morf3D is the latest example of the company’s involvement with Additive Manufacturing partners worldwide. In March 2018, Boeing and Norsk Titanium received the Aviation Week Laureate Award for Commercial Supplier Innovation for qualifying the first additively manufactured structural titanium parts on a commercial airplane. In February 2018, Boeing announced a five-year research agreement with Swiss-based supplier Oerlikon to develop standard materials and processes for titanium powder bed Additive Manufacturing.
