Velo3D and Aurelia Technologies have partnered to advance the use of additive manufacturing in next-generation gas turbine systems.
A developer of highly efficient and fuel-flexible small-scale gas turbines, Aurelia is embarking on a continuous-improvement strategy that is centred on design consolidation, faster iteration, supply chain resilience, and long-term cost reduction.
Additive manufacturing has emerged as a practical tool for Aurelia to support many of these aims, with the company keen on its capacity for design simplification, part count reduction, and the manufacture of parts with enhanced robustness in high-temperature and high-stress environments. The company has already deployed AM internally to reduce dependence on long-lead forgings, tooling-intensive processes, and large inventory commitments.
A phased additive manufacturing program will be conducted to evaluate feasibility, develop materials and processes, and progress towards qualification and low-rate initial production. Velo3D’s Sapphire XC platform will be deployed to support these efforts, with the program focusing on select turbine components and high-performance alloys.
Aurelia is said to have selected Velo3D as its technology partner for this effort because of its ability to support both development and scalable production, as well as a ‘disciplined qualification approach.’ The company hopes to be able to tap into Velo3D’s expertise in process parameter development, material behaviour, and repeatable manufacturing workflows.
“Additive manufacturing allows us to simplify designs, reduce failure points, and move faster while staying grounded in proven turbomachinery fundamentals and materials science,” said Karol Hricisak, PE, Director of Technology at Aurelia Technologies.
“Advanced energy systems are pushing the limits of traditional manufacturing,” added Michelle Sidwell, Chief Revenue Officer of Velo3D. “Aurelia is taking a thoughtful, engineering-driven approach by designing with additive manufacturing in mind from the beginning, which is where the greatest impact can be realised.”
The partnership has been structured to support future expansion, which could cover additional applications, qualification programs, and production scale-up as Aurelia’s platforms evolve. Both parties will evaluate opportunities for deeper collaboration as the initial phases progress.
