EOS
EOS Etihad
Markus Glasser of EOS, left, shakes hands with Bernhard Randerath of Etihad Airways.
Etihad Airways Engineering has announced new and extended partnerships with two additive manufacturing (AM) vendors as it looks to enhance its Maintenance, Overhaul and Repair (MRO) services.
The company has formed a strategic partnership with EOS, while also installing a BigRep One machine. Both developments will help to enable the aerospace company to additively manufacture aircraft parts and tooling at its Abu Dhabi facility.
The EOS alliance was finalised at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which is sponsored by Etihad Airways, this past weekend. It will initially see the qualification of machine, process and materials in accordance with aviation regulatory requirements, and after a structured selection process, EOS' polymer 3D printing technology and systems will be harnessed to produce suitable cabin interior components. The partnership may extend to include EOS' metal technology further down the road.
“Etihad constantly invests in new technology and has identified additive manufacturing as a key technology for aviation interior parts, as well as applications beyond aerospace in the future,” commented Bernhard Randerath, Vice President Design, Engineering and Innovation at Etihad Airways Engineering. “The technology is a key enabler when it comes to design and innovation in our industry. Etihad is proud to work towards a vision of a 3D printed cabin interior.”
“Etihad is providing industry-leading aircraft maintenance and engineering solutions. As such, we share the same mindset as both of our companies are committed to high quality solutions and constant technology innovation,” added Markus Glasser, Senior Vice President Export Region at EOS. “We are honoured to support our partner on this innovation journey, as such bringing the production of aircraft interior parts to the next level.”
Etihad Airways, the largest aircraft MRO services provider in the Middle East, is hoping to take advantage of the value-add potential of 3D printing, through optimised repairs, lightweight design, shorter lead times and customisation. In time, Etihad will work towards certifying EOS' AM process; develop, test and qualify new polymer materials; and then roll-out AM among its customers throughout its broader ecosystem.
Etihad Airways has installed a BigRep One machine.
The deal with EOS marks Etihad's second AM-related MRO alliance this year, after a collaboration with BigRep was announced in the Spring. The installation of the BigRep One is the first phase of that agreement, and will be followed next year by the delivery of a BigRep Edge system, launched recently at Formnext alongside the BigRep Pro.
Etihad plans to use the One for the manufacture of jigs and fixtures, as well as non-flying parts, while the Edge will be harnessed to develop, test, and certify materials for aircraft parts.
"Thanks to our 3D printers, we will accelerate the use of additive manufacturing in the aviation industry," commented Stephan Beyer, CEO of BigRep GmbH. "With the BigRep Pro and Edge, we will be able to unfold the full potential of our technology, together with Etihad Airways Engineering. These machines offer an unprecedented level of precision, quality and speed, and enable us to use the high-performance, innovative printing materials the aviation industry requires."
