AML3D joins A$3.89 million advanced aerospace project
The Adelaide additive manufacturer is working toward a formal aerospace tooling qualification pathway for its Wire-Arc Additive Manufacturing process
AML3D Limited is joining an aerospace prime contractor and other industry and research partners in a three-year research and development project intended to qualify its Wire-Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAM) process for aerospace tooling production. Participants in the project will contribute a combined A$3.89 million (about $2.77m) over the three-year term, the Adelaide, Australia-based company stated.
AML3D expects to contribute approximately A$530,000 ( $377,000) of that total, across cash and in-kind support, and while the company does not expect the project to generate revenue for AML3D directly, a successful outcome could position it to become an aerospace tooling production supplier.
The aerospace prime involved in the project was described only as a global aviation contractor that manages the design, development and manufacturing of large-scale aerospace systems, including aircraft.
Sean Ebert, Chief Executive Officer of AML3D, said: “This $3.89 million R&D project, with an aerospace prime, will build on AML3D’s track record demonstrating WAM technology can support the Aerospace sector. We have already achieved the AS9100D Aerospace Quality Management accreditation, the highest global quality standard for manufacturers supplying flight-ready structures. This new R&D project moves AML3D into a formal qualification pathway for WAM to be deployed for Aerospace tooling applications.
“Tooling lead times of up to 24 months present a significant challenge across aerospace manufacturing,. A successful conclusion to this R&D project has the potential to position AML3D as a solution to these Aerospace supply chain constraints. It is expected AML3D’s WAM technology will be shown to dramatically reduce Aerospace tooling component manufacturing lead times compared to traditional manufacturing techniques.”
