Materialise is partnering with aircraft part distributor Propnent to examine how additive manufacturing could help aerospace OEMs.
The companies are anticipating the creation of a digital supply chain that allows on-demand manufacturing, with additive manufacturing being ‘brought into the procurement domain’ to make the technology readily available for MROs to source 3D-printed parts.
Through conventional distribution services to MROs, airlines, OEMs, and inventory solutions.
Proponent ships fifty-four million parts to six thousand customers each year in more than a hundred countries.
Most of them serve the aftermarket, with parts going into cockpits, cabins, and engines.
By Partnering with Materialise, which itself produces 700 part series each year for a varied number of aerospace clients,
The proponent is aiming to set up a one-stop solution for aftermarket manufacturing with 3D parts and conventional technologies.
“Additive manufacturing offers us an opportunity to help our OEM and supplier partners be more effective in their supply chains and complement our stocking distribution model,” says Andrew Todhunter, Proponent CEO.
“manufacturing bespoke parts or small production runs through 3D printing allows us to source on-demand, viability, and avoid high-cost order quantities.
Our customers get what they need when they need it and OEM completely reduces the risks and costs that come with producing these parts.”
About Materialise
In its service to aircraft OEMs, MROs, and supplier tiers, Materialise has gained a deep proficiency in the aerospace market, delivering an estimated 26,000 parts for the Airbus A350 system and using two additive manufacturing technologies to serve the aviation leader, making the company the first supplier to be qualified by Airbus to manufacture laser-sintered components under its Airbus Specification AIPS 03-07-022 back in May.
“Open solutions and a collective approach have always been important to Materialize.” CTO Bart Van der Schueren added
” Today we are happy to fuse our capabilities as an EASA 2. G-certified manufacturing organization with Proponent’s network in the aerospace supply chain. this brings Additive manufacturing technology right into the comfort zone of the aerospace industry’s well-established supply chain.
Source: Materialise
