GKN Aerospace, a prominent leader in aerospace technology, and Materialise, a global pioneer in 3-D printing solutions, have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to advance the research, design, and production of polymer additively manufactured (AM) parts for the aviation industry. This LOI, signed at the Paris Air Show, extends their successful collaboration. Materialise has been supplying polymer AM to GKN Aerospace since 2015 and played a vital role in delivering the additively manufactured wingtip for Eviation's Alice, the all-electric aircraft, which had its inaugural flight in 2022.
The joint effort between GKN Aerospace and Materialise aims to expedite the certification of the AM process and explore the possibilities of additive production for functional and flight-critical aerostructures, capitalising on the unique manufacturing advantages it offers.
The collaboration covers a wide range of activities, from prototyping to producing functional and flight-critical parts, aligning with the emerging sustainability trends and opportunities in the industry. The partnership will particularly focus on electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.
The collaboration between GKN Aerospace and Materialise has already achieved significant milestones in AM, including the successful delivery and certification of multiple AM parts that are currently in use.
Jurgen Laudus, Vice President of Materialise Manufacturing, states, “This powerful alliance aims to harness our collective expertise and the remarkable benefits of 3-D printing to drive innovation in the aeronautics industry. Together, we aspire to advance technology, better meet customer needs, and shape the future of aerospace manufacturing.”
