Oerlikon and Boeing to Create Standard Processes for 3D-Printed Aerospace Parts

Boeing, the Chicago-based aerospace company, and Oerlikon, a technology and engineering group with headquarters in Pfäffikon, Schwyz, Switzerland, announced the signing of a five-year collaboration agreement to develop standard materials and processes for 3D metal printing.

“This agreement is an important step toward fully unlocking the value of powder-bed-titanium additive manufacturing for the aerospace industry,” says Leo Christodoulou, Boeing’s chief technologist. “Boeing and Oerlikon will work together to standardize AM 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.” Boeing currently has more than 50,000 3D-printed parts on commercial, space and defense products.

“This program will drive the faster adoption of additive manufacturing in the rapidly growing aerospace, space and defense markets,” says Dr. Roland Fischer, CEO of the 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 will use the data from this collaboration to support the qualification of AM suppliers to produce metallic components using a variety of machines and materials. The research will initially focus on industrializing titanium powder-bed-fusion AM and ensuring parts made with this process meet the flight requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Defense.

See also: Oerlikon Balzers Coating USA Inc.

Technologies: Additive Manufacturing

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Start receiving newsletters.