Materialise launches Aerospace Competence Center in the Netherlands  

Materialise, a global leader in additive manufacturing (AM) software and service solutions, opened an Aerospace Competence Center in the Aerospace Innovation Hub in Delft. The city is a known aerospace powerhouse in Europe, and Materialise is the first AM company to establish its footprint in the hub.

“The opening of our new Aerospace Competence Center aligns with our commitment to support the aerospace industry through more than three decades of experience in additive manufacturing and software solutions, as well as our pioneering role in producing certified parts,” said Brigitte de Vet-Veithen, CEO of Materialise. “By joining this selective aerospace network, we can strengthen our capabilities, expand partnerships, and enable other aerospace leaders in this hub to accelerate innovation and explore new possibilities with AM.”

Materialise is a pioneer and market leader in developing and producing 3D printed parts used in the aerospace sector. The company has delivered more than 500,000 3D printed aerospace parts, with about 4,000 different types of parts printed annually. For a detailed assessment, quantification and forecast of the size of the aerospace AM market, consult the recently published VoxelMatters Aerospace AM Market Report.

“We are proud to welcome Materialise to Delft, a city where innovation and collaboration thrive,” said Vice Mayor Maaike Zwart of the City of Delft. “By joining the Aerospace Innovation Hub, Materialise strengthens our dynamic Aerospace Delta ecosystem and the Innovation District Delft, paving the way for groundbreaking advancements in 3D printing and sustainable aviation. I’m truly excited to see the partnerships, ideas, and innovations growing from your presence here. Together, we are shaping the future of technology.”

The Aerospace Innovation Hub @TU Delft fosters innovation by connecting startups, students, academics, government and industry professionals in the heart of TU Delft’s Aerospace Engineering Faculty. Materialise and TU Delft will collaborate on projects where students and researchers can gain hands-on experience with AM while advancing developments in sustainable aviation. Wit this center, Materialise joins industry giants Airbus and Collins Aerospace, among others, at the Hub.

“At TU Delft, our mission is to create impact for a better society through education, research, life-long learning, and innovation. With the Aerospace Innovation Hub we support this mission by accelerating innovations and bringing them to market. The arrival of Materialise at the Hub marks an exciting step toward deeper collaboration and new opportunities to drive additive manufacturing expertise to the growing aerospace community,” said Henri Werij, Dean of the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering TU Delft.

Additive manufacturing has proven to be an effective technology for solving long-standing industry challenges. It offers supply chain advantages, including shorter lead times and more affordable small series. AM aircraft parts can reduce stock risk, warehousing costs, and downtime related to repairs and maintenance.

The technology also enables unrivaled design freedom by offering fast-iteration design, rapid prototyping, and the ability to rethink components and assemblies without retooling manufacturing operations.
In addition to existing certified processes for aerospace, Materialise helps companies develop and qualify new AM applications and materials. The company also maintains a data lake that provides access to performance data from hundreds of aerospace builds, enabling users to make informed decisions based on real-life components.