AM: making aerospace more sustainable

Laser technology and 3D printing are key technologies for manufacturing sustainably operable aircraft. Trumpf explains how it supports the aviation industry with its manufacturing know-how.

High-tech company, Trumpf says it is helping the aviation industry to reduce greenhouse gases. With its 3D printers and lasers, aviation companies can save a lot of weight in aircraft manufacturing and produce more efficient engines.

“Laser technology and 3D printing are key technologies for manufacturing sustainable aircraft,” says Richard Bannmüller, CEO and president of Trumpf Laser and System Technology. “With technology and know-how from Trumpf, the aviation industry will be able to put electric-powered airplanes and air cabs in the air in the near future. We can support the aviation industry with our years of automotive expertise in battery and e-mobility.”

At this year’s Advanced Engineering show, held at the NEC Birmingham, Trumpf emphasised its expertise in e-mobility and aerospace with special focus on applications in satellite, rocket and engine production.

Emission-free flying

Almost all aircraft manufacturers and suppliers are working on climate-friendly aircraft. Many are already pursuing concrete concepts for the electrification of aircraft engines. For aviation, manufacturers need to develop particularly lightweight, safe and reliable batteries and electric motors.

“Our experience in manufacturing electric drives and batteries in the automotive industry can be transferred to many areas of aviation,” states Bannmüller. “With our manufacturing technology, we can make an important contribution to the decarbonisation of aviation.”

Trumpf works with many OEMs and suppliers in the aerospace industry. To manufacture particularly efficient rockets and thrusters, the companies use lasers from the high-tech company to cut and weld metal alloys. To make engines lighter and more efficient, the aerospace industry uses 3D printers from Trumpf. As a result, manufacturers are producing lightweight thrusters that are also particularly optimised for efficiency.

“Trumpf stands by the aerospace industry as a reliable partner with its manufacturing know-how,” says Bannmüller. “The product life cycles in the aerospace industry are lengthy. Here, we support our customers for many years with service and spare parts for our machines.”

The aviation industry also benefits from Trumpf technology when it comes to maintenance. For example, instead of purchasing new engine blades, aviation companies repair them using laser cladding (LMD). In this process, the laser creates a molten pool on the surface of the engine blade and precisely melts the simultaneously fed metal powder according to the desired shape. By repairing cost-intensive components, the aerospace industry can save up to 80% in costs compared to purchasing new ones.

www.trumpf.com