--- title: "Top AM stories from the Paris Air Show 2025" url: https://www.voxelmatters.com/top-am-stories-paris-air-show-2025/ date: 2025-06-20 modified: 2025-06-26 lang: en author: "Tess Boissonneault" description: "This past week, leaders of the aerospace industry congregated in France's capital city for the biannual Paris Air Show. This year's event—the 55th edition of the expo—saw a particular focus..." categories: - "3D Printing Events" - "Aerospace AM" - "Paris Air Show" tags: - "top news" image: https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Paris_Air_Show_2025_5cf9dc4c7721700d851c4548c8fed671aab52750-SIAE_Alex_Marc_ALX_0576-640x427.jpg word_count: 1263 --- # Top AM stories from the Paris Air Show 2025 This past week, leaders of the aerospace industry congregated in France's capital city for the biannual [Paris Air Show](https://www.voxelmatters.com/category/events/paris-air-show/). This year's event—the 55th edition of the expo—saw a particular focus on the topics of sustainability, defense and inclusive industry growth. Unsurprisingly, there was also a significant focus on additive manufacturing at the Air Show, with many AM players present and aerospace OEMs showcasing their latest innovations related to the technology. If you missed the big event or are looking for a roundup of AM highlights, you've come to the right place. This year, space innovation took the spotlight with the introduction of the Paris Space Hub. This brand-new venue attracted significant attention, including a visit from the President of the French Republic on June 20. The event served as a powerful platform to highlight the excellence of the French aerospace sector, both to national audiences and the wider international community. The French Prime Minister officially inaugurated the Show on June 16. Its impressive scale—spanning exhibition halls, luxury chalets, expansive static aircraft displays, and dynamic flight demonstrations—led to its recognition as a major national event, standing alongside the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in importance. The Show drew a record-breaking 305,000 unique visitors, with the general public accounting for 53%. A total of 2,400 exhibitors participated, representing 48 countries, and 46% of them hailed from France. Furthermore, the event welcomed approximately 400 official delegations, including civilian and military representatives from around the world, along with 15 French ministers and secretaries of state. See the complete photo gallery from the show at this [link](https://www.voxelmatters.com/photogallery-from-the-international-paris-air-show/). ## Use cases and key components One of the best aspects of any event that touches the AM industry is that it provides the perfect opportunity to showcase some truly impressive 3D-printed components. This was very much the case at the Paris Air Show, where exhibitors put their AM aircraft and engine structures in the spotlight. For starters, the Airbus Air Lab showed off innovative ways of using aerospace materials. An A350 titanium latch shaft, made using powder bed fusion, demonstrated how it's possible to reduce part count and weight through innovation. [Resulting from a program that ](https://www.voxelmatters.com/airbus-helicopters-a350/)began in 2018, it replaces the former assembly of 10 individual parts and is 45% lighter than its predecessor. Each aircraft door on the latest generation A350 contains two of these shafts. [![Safran 3D printed turbine rear frame](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Safran_-2025-06-16-alle-22.18.55-copia.jpg)](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Safran_-2025-06-16-alle-22.18.55-copia.jpg)Safran's three-foot-diameter 3D printed turbine rear frame (not visible in the image) is part of the RISE (Revolutionary Innovation for Sustainable Engines) program. French engine manufacturer [Safran](https://www.voxelmatters.directory/company/safran/) brought its [largest 3D printed component](https://www.voxelmatters.com/safran-shows-off-large-additive-manufactured-engine-part-at-paris-air-show/) to date to the Paris Air Show: a three-foot-diameter turbine rear frame that—through AM redesign—is one-third lighter than its traditionally manufactured counterpart. Additionally, the 3D printed turbine rear frame was manufactured within just three weeks, marking a significant reduction in lead times compared to the 18 months required using conventional manufacturing methods. Safran is reportedly aiming to get the AM lead time down to under a week. The part was made using SLM technology and a nickel superalloy. Swiss company [Oerlikon](https://www.voxelmatters.directory/company/oerlikon-am/) was also showcasing a number of its aerospace solutions, including coatings to protect critical components from corrosion and wear, as well as [3D printed cooling plates](https://www.voxelmatters.com/discover-oerlikons-innovations-at-the-paris-air-show/) to be deployed in fighter jets to help manage thermal loads. The company also recently announced the delivery of its 25,000th 3D printed suppressor (made from its[ MetcoAdd nickel powder)](https://www.voxelmatters.directory/company/metco/) at its facility in [Huntersville](https://www.voxelmatters.com/oerlikon-to-consolidate-am-production-in-the-us/), North Carolina. [![Paris Air Show](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Paris_Air_Show_2025_slack-imgs-191x340.jpg)](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Paris_Air_Show_2025_slack-imgs.jpg)One-meter-tall 3D printed launcher (Photo: LISI Aerospace Additive Manufacturing) GKN Aerospace also took the opportunity at the Paris Air Show to announce the [successful industrialization](https://www.voxelmatters.com/gkn-aerospace-accelerates-additive-fabrication-industrialization-for-fan-case-mount-ring/) of its Fan Case Mount Ring (FCMR) program, which will reach full-rate production by the end of the year. The FCMR part, made using AM, is a critical component in the [Pratt & Whitney](https://www.voxelmatters.directory/company/pratt-whitney/) GTF engine, which powers Airbus’ A220 and Embraer E195-E2. Speaking of Pratt & Whitney, the aerospace company recently [completed tests on its TJ150 turbine wheel](https://www.voxelmatters.com/pratt-whitney-tests-3d-printed-rotating-part-for-tj150-engine/), one of the first rotating parts to be directly 3D printed. The TJ150 is a turbojet engine with 150 pounds of thrust, ideal for powering autonomous systems and weapons. One of the larger 3D printed aerospace parts to be showcased at the Paris Air Show was made using Nikon SLM Solutions' large-format multi-laser LPBF technology. The part in question, which measures one-meter in height, was made in partnership with France-based LISI AEROSPACE Additive Manufacturing for the Centre National d' Études Spatiales' (CNES) launcher application. [![Paris Air Show](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Paris_Air_Show_2025_1750145992663-340x191.jpg)](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Paris_Air_Show_2025_1750145992663.jpg)Integrated heater component (Photo: LISI Aerospace Additive Manufacturing) LISI AEROSPACE showcased a 3D printed metal component with an integrated heater, made in partnership with Thales Alenia Space and CSEM in the context of the AHEAD project. The 3D printed component is designed to both heat and monitor a mechanically pumped fluid loop for a novel satellite thermal control system developed by Thales Alenia Space. France-based AM specialist VOLUM-e brought a range of impressive 3D printed components to the aerospace industry event, including a critical component for cryogenic engines for CNES*. *"CNES has entrusted VOLUM-e with the production of critical components for an innovative propulsion system with electric pumps, using oxygen and liquid methane," the company says. VOLUM-e also showcased other components to demonstrate its broad AM expertise, including an impressive wall of material samples. [![Paris Air Show 2025 VOLUM-e](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Paris_Air_Show_2025_1750318216547.jpg)](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Paris_Air_Show_2025_1750318216547.jpg)The VOLUM-e exhibition at the 2025 Paris Air Show (Photo: VOLUM-e) [![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Paris_Air_Show_2025_1750318216880.jpg)](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Paris_Air_Show_2025_1750318216880.jpg) [![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Paris_Air_Show_2025_1750318216386.jpg)](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Paris_Air_Show_2025_1750318216386.jpg) ## New or renewed partnerships Industry events are always the prime time to announce or ink new collaborations between companies. The Paris Air Show 2025 was no exception, with several additive manufacturing companies signing agreements with new partners or reinforcing existing cooperations. [![Rocket Lab Paris Air Show](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/rocket_lab_bacae449-ad2d-ea34-e493-59819c1b6ed2-255x340.jpg)](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/rocket_lab_bacae449-ad2d-ea34-e493-59819c1b6ed2.jpg)Rocket Lab and Nikon SLM Solutions sign MoU Among the earliest stories from the event was from [Nikon SLM Solutions](https://www.voxelmatters.directory/company/slm-solutions/) which [signed an MoU](https://www.voxelmatters.com/rocket-lab-signs-mou-with-nikon-slm-solutions-for-ultra-large-metal-am-platform/) with [Rocket Lab](https://www.voxelmatters.directory/company/rocket-lab/) to reserve two of its upcoming "ultra-large-format" NXG metal 3D printers. Rocket Lab, which manufactures space systems and offers launch services, has been leveraging AM for roughly a decade, including for the development of "the world's first 3D printed and electric pump-fed orbital rocket engine." Nikon SLM Solutions also announced a [strategic partnership](https://www.voxelmatters.com/nikon-slm-solutions-and-arianegroup-join-forces-on-large-metal-parts/) with [ArianeGroup](https://www.voxelmatters.directory/company/arianespace/), which will see it support the production of components larger than one cubic meter through its metal powder bed fusion solutions. Owned by Airbus and Safran, ArianeGroup is prolific in the European aerospace industry, acting as lead contractor for ESA's Ariane 6 launcher, as well as for France's M51 strategic missile. In other partnership news from the Paris Air Show, [GKN Aerospace](https://www.voxelmatters.directory/company/gkn-aerospace/) has expanded its [collaboration with UK-based Archer Aviation](https://www.voxelmatters.com/gkn-aerospace-and-archer-expand-collaboration-on-manufacture-of-key-airframe-components-in-the-uk/) to manufacture and supply key airframe components for Archer's Midnight eVTOL. The Midnight aircraft is a piloted electric air taxi that can carry up to four passengers. One of its key selling points is that it is quiet and generates fewer emissions that a conventional helicopter. The two companies have been working together since 2023. [![Archer Aviation GKN Aerospace](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/archer-aviation-midnight.jpg)](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/archer-aviation-midnight.jpg)GKN Aerospace will continue to 3D print key airframe components for Archer Aviation Metal AM company [Velo3D](https://www.voxelmatters.directory/company/velo3d/) also signed a Master Services Agreement (MSA) with [Vaya Space](https://www.voxelmatters.directory/company/vaya-space/), which specializes in hybrid rockets and space propulsion systems. The agreement, [worth $4 million](https://www.voxelmatters.com/velo3d-and-vaya-space-sign-4-million-deal-for-metal-am-parts/) will see Vaya Space use Velo3D's Rapid Production Solution (RPS) to accelerate the manufacture of critical components for its hybrid propulsion systems. Vaya Space will be using Velo3D's Sapphire XC and XC1MZ printers and GRCop42 and Inconel 718 materials to this end. Overall, additive manufacturing continues to gain ground within the aerospace industry, as is clear from its growing representation at leading events like the Paris Air Show.