Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates - Etihad Engineering, the industry-leading Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) division of Etihad Aviation Group, has collaborated with EOS and BigRep, both leading 3D printing technology providers, to open the region’s first additive manufacturing facility with Design and Production Approval from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
- The first
Airline MRO to receive EASA approval to design, produce and certify 3D printed
cabin parts using powder-bed fusion technology, in partnership with EOS.
- The
facility also features the world’s largest industrial thermoplastic extrusion 3D
printer, supplied by BigRep.
The laboratory, located at the Etihad Engineering facility adjacent
to Abu Dhabi International Airport, features two approved industrial 3D
printers. The laboratory’s primary machine is the powder-bed fusion technology system
EOS P 396, for demanding high performance and high-quality aircraft applications.
In contrast to traditional manufacturing processes, it enables faster
production and reduced weight of cabin parts.
As an MRO solutions provider committed to continuously enhancing
the service value it offers to the market and its customers, this month, Etihad
Engineering, together with its partner EOS, received one of the first Airline MRO
approvals from EASA for 3D printing using powder-bed fusion technology which
will be used to design, produce and certify additively manufactured parts for the
aircraft cabin of the future.
Bernhard Randerath, VP Design, Engineering and Innovation, Etihad
Engineering, commented: “The launch of the new facility is in line with Etihad
Engineering’s position as a leading global player in aircraft engineering as
well as a pioneer in innovation and technology. We are extremely proud to
collaborate with EOS and BigRep to expand our capability and support the UAE’s
strategy to increase production technology and cement its position as a global
aerospace hub.”
Markus Glasser, Senior Vice President, Export Region, EOS, said: “Being
committed to high-quality solutions and constant technology innovation, Etihad Engineering
and EOS share the same mindset. Together, we want to bring the design and
production of aircraft interior parts to the next level.” Glasser continues:
“Producing cabin interior parts additively will offer a substantial value-add
in terms of optimised repair, lightweight design, shorter lead times and
customisation, addressing some of the key challenges of the aerospace industry.”
The newest system installed by EOS produces serial parts from
polymer materials such as PA 2241 FR, and enables the manufacture of cabin
parts for an aircraft’s heavy maintenance C-Check. Cabin defects can also be
rectified within a short turnaround time which allows for the production of the
required cabin parts during line maintenance.
The EOS machine operates with a total build volume of 340 x 340 x
600mm. The modular and highly productive system enables the tool-free
manufacture of serial components, spare parts, functional prototypes and models
directly from CAD data.
The second machine is the BigRep ONE, one of the largest,
serial-built industrial thermoplastic extrusion 3D printers. Bringing additive
manufacturing to MRO, the ONE is designed for manufacturing large parts, jigs
and fixtures as well as moulds – on site and on demand.
“Our 3D printers have established 3D printing and AM as an
innovative, added-value technology in the aviation industry. They offer an
unprecedented level of precision, quality and speed, and enable us to use the
high-performance, innovative printing materials the aviation industry requires”,
said Martin Back, BigRep Managing Director. “Together with Etihad Engineering,
we will develop the full potential of AM. In the
next phase, a BigRep PRO, the most advanced large-format FFF 3D printer will be
installed.”
The facility was officially opened in a ceremony attended by His
Excellency Ernst Peter Fischer, German Ambassador to the UAE in recognition of
the relationship between the German companies EOS and BigRep and the UAE’s
Etihad Engineering.
Etihad Engineering first received EASA approval to 3D print with
filament technology in 2017 and was the first airline MRO in the world to
certify, print and fly 3D printed cabin parts. The latest approval, received in
October 2019 covers powder bed fusion 3D printing technology.
Etihad Engineering is recognised as a global leader in aircraft
maintenance with a customer base spanning leading airlines and OEMs from South
America to Europe, the Middle East and Asia.