Lufthansa Technik has established an additive manufacturing centre as it works to boost its capabilities with the technology.
The MRO provides says 3D printing offers a "huge advantages" by allowing an "unrivalled degree of freedom" in part design and fast production of prototype and one-off parts.
However, additive manufacturing's use in aircraft maintenance poses a certification challenge, LHT acknowledges. It notes that it is jointly working with "numerous" industry partners and research bodies to pave the way for the technology's introduction.
LHT earlier this year disclosed a co-operation with Swiss engineering group Oerlikon to develop additive manufacturing processes for the MRO industry.
Aenne Koster, head of LHT's additive manufacturing centre, states that the new centre will serve as a "collaborative hub... to increase the degree of maturity of the technologies and to develop products that are suitable for production".
Results of the activities will be shared with relevant industry bodies in order to help define standards for the qualification and approval of 3D-printed components, LHT says.
Source: Cirium Dashboard
