GKN Aerospace to lead 3D printing research programmes

GKN Aerospace is to lead two ground-breaking collaborative additive manufacturing (AM) research programmes, AIRLIFT and DAM and will inject its Laser Metal Deposition by wire (LMD-w) AM technology in the programmes.

AIRLIFT and DAM are focused on making AM serial production ready at high rates and exploring how AM can revolutionise product design for high value, high complexity product manufacture. The aim is to accelerate industrialisation and increase GKN Aerospace’s market share in the growing global AM market.

Being a global leader in AM with AM components on seven flying platforms, DAM and AIRLIFT build on GKN Aerospace’s global AM expertise and infrastructure as well as on previous successful ATI programmes. Innovative simulation solutions, Industry 4.0 processes and new design tools and methods add real value to aerospace customers by speeding up and customising product design and development, while maintaining the best possible quality.

AIRLIFT (Additive Industrialisation for Future Technology) is a £19 million technology industrialisation programme that uses Industry 4.0 and simulation competencies to enhance both laser metal deposition with wire (LMD-w) and powder bed AM technologies.

DAM (Developing Design for Additive Manufacturing) is a £14 million programme aimed at developing the next generation of design tools and methods for additive manufacturing using a data driven, material centric approach.

AIRLIFT and DAM are jointly supported by GKN Aerospace, ATI Programme, Autodesk and Siemens Digital Industries Software and will bring together the expertise of universities, research institutes and industry. 40 highly specialised engineers and operators will work together on the programmes, which will be based out of GKN Aerospace’s recently announced £32 million Global Technology Centre in Bristol.