Yesterday, Oerlikon — the technology and engineering group — together with Lufthansa Technik — one of the leading providers of technical aircraft services in the world — signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for a partnership which will last one year.
The aim of the pairing is to accelerate robust and repeatable additive manufacturing processes in the aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul industry (MRO). The companies view this MOU as an important step toward the industrialization of 3D printing in the industry.
The main reason for industrializing 3D printing, of course, is to take advantage of the cost savings which the technology can provide in manufacturing, procurement, warehousing and supply chain management.
However, the technology can also be used to create robust parts which support “defining standards for the qualification and approval of aircraft components.”
Dr. Roland Fischer, CEO, Oerlikon Group, said: “We are confident that Oerlikon’s extensive expertise in additive manufacturing and the aerospace industry, combined with our proven ability to integrate solutions throughout the manufacturing value chain on a global scale will bring great benefits to Lufthansa Technik… We look forward to strengthening our partnership with Lufthansa Technik and join forces to develop reliable, repeatable and quality-assured additive manufacturing processes, standards and products for the MRO industry.”
Industrialization of 3D Printing in the MRO Industry
Together, the companies will create “representative component geometrics”. These components will then be printed on identical printers, using the same process parameters and powder specifications in three global locations.
These locations are Oerlikon AM in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, Oerlikon AM Barleben in Germany and Lufthansa Technik in Hamburg, Germany. As data on manufacturing processes is collected, the partnership may be extended to other printer models.
The collaboration will help drive the industrialization of 3D printing for both Oerlikon AM and Lufthansa Technik, but also others as study results from the year will be shared with relevant industry bodies.
Bernhard Krueger-Sprengel, vice president, Engine Services, at Lufthansa Technik, said: “Lufthansa Technik is active in areas such as the cabin of the future, 3D printing, and Industry 4.0… We see the partnership with Oerlikon’s AM team as an exciting opportunity to accelerate Lufthansa Technik’s plan of having local AM repair capabilities on a global scale.”
Source: Lufthansa Technik Press Release
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