Oerlikon and Boeing collaborate on metal Additive Manufacturing for aerospace

News
February 20, 2018

February 20, 2018

Oerlikon and Boeing collaborate on metal 3D printing for aerospace

Metal AM production at Oerlikon citim, Barleben, Germany (Courtesy Oerlikon)

 

Boeing, Chicago, USA, has signed a five-year collaboration agreement with Swiss technology group Oerlikon, Pfäffikon Schwyz, Switzerland, for the development of standard materials and processes for metal Additive Manufacturing. The research will initially focus on industrialising titanium powder bed fusion (PBF) Additive Manufacturing and ensuring parts made with this process meet the flight requirements of the US Federal Aviation Administration and US Department of Defence.

Boeing and Oerlikon will use the data collected from this collaboration to support the qualification of AM suppliers to produce metallic components using a variety of machines and materials. “This programme will drive the faster adoption of Additive Manufacturing in the rapidly growing aerospace, space and defence markets,” explained Dr Roland Fischer, CEO Oerlikon Group. “Working together with Boeing will define the path in producing airworthy AM components for serial manufacturing. We see collaboration as a key enabler to unlocking the value that AM can bring to aircraft platforms and look forward to partnering with Boeing.”

Boeing and Oerlikon stated that their collaboration will enable the companies to meet the current challenges to qualify materials and processes for aerospace and provide a route for the adoption of AM with a qualified supply chain that achieves quality and cost targets. Boeing has been researching and implementing AM in the aerospace industry since 1997 and reports that it currently has roughly 50,000 AM parts flying on commercial, space and defence programmes. Oerlikon is a key AM service provider, offering integrated AM services along the entire value chain, from metal powder production to component design, manufacturing, post-processing and quality inspection.

“This agreement is an important step toward fully unlocking the value of powder bed titanium Additive Manufacturing for the aerospace industry,” stated Leo Christodoulou, Boeing’s Chief Technologist. “Boeing and Oerlikon will work together to standardise Additive Manufacturing operations from powder management to finished product and thus enable the development of a wide range of safe, reliable and cost-effective structural titanium aerospace components.”

www.oerlikon.com/am

www.boeing.com

 

News
February 20, 2018

About Metal Additive Manufacturing magazine

Metal AM magazine, published quarterly in digital and print formats, is read by a rapidly expanding international audience.

Our audience includes component manufacturers, end-users, materials and equipment suppliers, analysts, researchers and more.

In addition to providing extensive industry news coverage, Metal AM magazine is known for exclusive, in-depth articles and technical reports.

Our focus is the entire metal AM process from design to application.

Each issue is available as an easy-to-navigate digital edition and a high-quality print publication.

In the latest issue of Metal AM magazine

Download PDF
 

Extensive AM industry news coverage, as well as the following exclusive deep-dive articles:

  • BMW Group: Laying the foundations for the application of metal Additive Manufacturing in the automotive industry
  • Predicting the metal Additive Manufacturing market – and breaking the hype cycle
  • China’s thriving metal Additive Manufacturing industry: An outsider’s perspective
  • Enhancing the productivity of Additive Manufacturing facilities through PBF-LB automation
  • Award-winning metal AM parts from the MPIF’s 2024 Design Excellence Awards
  • Performance of eddy currents for the in-situ detection of defects during PBF-LB metal AM

The world of metal AM to your inbox

Don't miss any new issue of Metal AM magazine, and get the latest industry news. Sign up to our twice weekly newsletter.

Sign up

Looking for AM machines, metal powders or part manufacturing services?

Discover suppliers of these and more in our comprehensive advertisers’ index and buyer’s guide, available in the back of Metal AM magazine.

  • AM machines
  • Process monitoring & calibration
  • Heat treatment & sintering
  • HIP systems & services
  • Pre- & post-processing technology
  • Powders, powder production and analysis
  • Part manufacturers
  • Consulting, training & market data
View online

Discover our magazine archive…

The free to access Metal Additive Manufacturing magazine archive offers unparalleled insight into the world of metal Additive Manufacturing from a commercial and technological perspective through:

  • Reports on visits to leading metal AM part manufacturers and industry suppliers
  • Articles on technology and application trends
  • Information on materials developments
  • Reviews of key technical presentations from the international conference circuit
  • International industry news

All past issues are available to download as free PDFs or view in your browser.

Browse the archive

Share via
Copy link
Powered by Social Snap