First load-bearing, metallic spare part from the 3D printer approved for aerospace use.

In their joint effort to use additive manufacturing methods for a more cost-efficient aircraft spare parts production, Lufthansa Technik and Premium AEROTEC recently reached an important milestone: A metal component developed at Lufthansa Technik's Additive Manufacturing (AM) Center for the IAE-V2500 engine's anti-icing system has now received its official aviation certification from EASA. On this basis, Premium AEROTEC will produce the so-called "A-Link" for Lufthansa Technik at its Varel (Germany) site using a 3D printer.

Varel, 11 May 2022 – Premium AEROTEC is an international pioneer in the field of metallic 3D printing in aircraft construction. Now the aerospace supplier has been able to celebrate another success in this field. At the Varel site, series-produced components for the Airbus A320 Family with additively manufactured structural components made of titanium were handed over to the customer for the first time. This means that Premium AEROTEC is already supplying additively manufactured components in series for three Airbus aircraft programmes – after the A400M and the A350XWB.

Today Premium AEROTEC delivered the first rear center tank - the heart of the A321XLR - to Airbus. Premium AEROTEC is significantly involved in the development and production of various components for this new long-haul aircraft - a further development of the A321neo. With the delivery of the rear center tank, Premium AEROTEC has successfully completed the first delivery package to Airbus.

With the successful certification of the process using corresponding lasers to additively manufacture titanium components Premium Aerotec and GE Additive have recently achieved another milestone in the serial production of metal 3D printed components for the aerospace industry.

With the successful completion of the project TOAST (ThermOplast Additive Manufacturing STrukturen), Premium AEROTEC GmbH present the impressive potential which a modern hybrid design of carbon fibre reinforced plastic and metal offers for future lightweight structures.