China3D printingNet, June 3, private aviation maintenance company Air Works and 3D printingBureau Objectify Technologies cooperated to provide joint maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services based on additive manufacturing.
Through cooperation, the two companies aim to seek business opportunities within the scope of MRO for commercial and private jets and explore related 3D printingThe potential of materials and technology. According to Air Works, the transaction marks a “strategic shift” in its approach and will expand its product portfolio to better meet the needs of aviation, aerospace and defense customers.
Anand Bhaskar, MD and CEO of Air Works said: “3D printingThe technology is maturing rapidly and is widely adopted throughout the manufacturing industry. Even the global aviation, aerospace and defense industries are increasingly benefiting from this emerging technology.
We are very happy to work hand in hand with OBJECTIFY TECHNOLOGIES-a domain expert and the country’s leading provider of additive manufacturing engineering services. “
Air Works cooperated with Objectify to establish an aviation MRO product based on 3D printing. Photo from Air Works.
Air Works’ 3D printing transformation
Air Works basically partnered with Objectify as a means to expand its service portfolio and use 3D printing to optimize the performance of its core MRO business. In particular, the company believes that the technology’s “next generation” material compatibility can enable it to achieve greater customization in the production of future aerospace parts, sub-parts and assemblies.
Compared with traditionally produced parts, the company also regards 3D printing as “suitable for on-demand manufacturing”, an effective means to increase production while reducing related costs. In practice, the partnership between the two companies will allow them to establish a joint service through which they aim to identify and meet the needs of domestic and foreign aircraft owners and operators.
The role of Air Works in the new enterprise will ensure that the service meets civil and defense aviation requirements, while Objectify will contribute its design and manufacturing capabilities. In the long run, the transaction between the two companies also provides space for exploring further R&D opportunities, including the development of new basic materials and technologies, and entry into other industries.
Bhaskar added: “Our cooperation with Objectify Technologies reflects our commitment to always provide customers in the aviation industry with the latest and best-in-class solutions. I believe that this cooperation will enable us to work in commercial and business aviation, commercial airlines, and defense sectors. All of our customers have benefited.”
Prototype car engine.
Objectify’s technology has previously found a wide range of prototyping applications. Photo from Objectify.
India’s lucrative aviation industry
Recent Statista data shows that India is now the world’s fourth largest commercial air travel market, and as it continues to grow, the task of maintaining the country’s fleet also represents an increasingly profitable business prospect. Given that each aircraft contains thousands of parts, many of which are essential for flight, MRO is essential for passenger safety, so this creates a window of opportunity for the country’s technology companies.
Air Works has 27 stations throughout India and provides a series of route maintenance services that are certified to repair more than 50 different aircraft. Therefore, Air Works is in a unique position to profit from this trend. Currently, the company’s customers include civil (fixed wing + rotor) and military customers, as well as global original equipment manufacturers and commercial airlines.
Conveniently, Objectify is also located in India and operates outside of the industrial zone in New Delhi, serving similar well-known aerospace customers such as Collins Aerospace and the Indian Air Force (IAF). As a result, the two companies believe that their partnership can now enable them to use their “collective synergies” to optimize costs and streamline their businesses when the industry is hit by COVID-19.“As a pioneer, Air Works occupies an important position in the Indian aviation ecosystem, and we are honored to work with the country’s leading aviation service providers,” said Ankit Sahu, Director of Objectify Technologies. “Our alliance with Air Works will put us in an enviable position not only to meet the challenges of the aviation sector, but also to meet the challenges of the rapidly growing aerospace and defense sectors.”
3D printing in aviation MRO
Additive manufacturing can quickly produce durable, lightweight spare parts, so this technology is increasingly deployed to help reduce downtime for commercial aircraft. For example, in Abu Dhabi, Etihad Aviation Group has partnered with 3D printer manufacturers EOS and BigRep to open a dedicated MRO 3D printing facility.
As early as July 2019, Collins Aerospace announced a similar plan to open the MRO Aerospace Innovation Center in Singapore. Located in the Collins Changi MRO Park, the facility is the company’s first 3D printing laboratory outside the United States, and aims to conduct extensive research and development using alloys such as aluminum, titanium, and nickel.
In a more direct military application, the Swedish defense company Saab successfully used 3D printing to repair its Gripen aircraft damaged in combat. The company installed a fast additive-manufactured external hatch for one of its fighter jets, a process that will enable its defense-related customers to improve their combat readiness in the future.
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