SAE launches AM standards committee for vehicles
SAE International, the global standards organisation based in Warrendale, Pennsylvania, USA, has expanded its focus on Additive Manufacturing in the mobility sector with the formation of the SAE Ground Vehicle Additive Manufacturing Standards Committee. The initiative reflects increasing adoption of AM across ground vehicle applications and places this segment at the centre of SAE’s latest standardisation efforts.
SAE’s experience in AM standardisation originates in the aerospace sector, where multiple committees are already active in developing technical guidance and standards. The new ground vehicle committee builds on this foundation, extending activities into automotive and related applications.
“Additive Manufacturing is transforming how ground vehicles are designed, built, and supported,” stated Allen LeRoux, Automotive Application Engineer at Stratasys Inc and chair of the SAE Ground Vehicle Additive Manufacturing Standards Committee. “By bringing together experts across OEMs, suppliers, and the AM ecosystem, the SAE Ground Vehicle Additive Manufacturing Committee will develop the standards and technical guidance needed to accelerate responsible adoption, ensure repeatable quality, and enable scalable AM applications from tooling and fixtures to production of relevant parts.”
The committee will focus on developing and maintaining technical reports covering AM materials, processes, and applications specific to ground vehicles. This includes design considerations, system requirements, process control, and pre- and post-processing evaluation, as well as quality assurance.
Use of Additive Manufacturing in ground vehicle manufacturing continues to grow, driven by its ability to support rapid prototyping, low-volume production, and complex geometries. Additional benefits include part weight reduction, simplified customisation, reduced inventory, shorter production lead times, and potential reductions in material waste and energy consumption. While initially focused on prototyping, AM is increasingly being applied to functional components, tooling, fixtures, and low-volume production parts.
SAE reports that the committee is open to participation from stakeholders across the AM value chain, including OEMs, suppliers, technology providers, and consultancy organisations.
