The UK MOD is one of Europe’s leading enablers of Additive Manufacturing (AM). Having recognised how AM technology can revolutionise the defence supply chain, it has invested millions in maturing the technology. One of the most critical efforts is Project Tampa, which seeks to push the envelope of what is possible in AM from a safety-critical perspective. To further delve into the project, we interviewed Alexander Champion, one of the MOD’s AM project managers. It is an essential piece of reading to keep at the bleeding technological edge of AM.

In preparation for our Advanced Manufacturing for Aerospace & Materiel Conference from the 26th to the 27th of February in Bristol, we are releasing the following listicle on Seven Advanced Manufacturing Trends Growing in Europe. Productivity is a paramount pillar of any economy. Unfortunately, it is becoming clear that Europe, once the industrial centre of the world, is falling behind the US and China. If nothing is done, Europe will be permanently on the back foot in negotiations with other world powers. Simultaneously as crucial as calls to raise productivity is the ability to create resilient supply chains which will bend but not break to market and political pressures. The following listicle will explore some of the manufacturing trends in Europe that aim to deliver greater efficiency, innovation, and risk reduction to the current evolving landscape.

As the premium forum for AM users that took place in Bristol for 2024 for its biggest ever event. You can download a snapshot list of the current AM Industry leaders who have attended last year's conference to give you an idea of who you could meet for Advanced Manufacturing for Aerospace & Materiel taking place on 26 - 27 February, 2025, Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel, Bristol, UK.

View the 2024 Snapshot of Attendees >>

Melissa Orme, Vice President, Additive Manufacturing, Boeing presents on:

• Overview of Additive Manufacturing (AM) at Boeing
• Role of AI and Machine Learning
• Industry 4.0 and Smart Manufacturing
  

Read the exclusive presentation Bradley Hughes, Principal Research Engineer - Additive Manufacturing, GKN Aerospace, where he explores:

• Challenges in AM Adoption
• Certification and Standards in AM
• Advanced AM systems, including Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) and Directed Energy Deposition (DED)
  

Few technologies have shown as much potential to revolutionise the defence, aerospace, and space industries as Additive Manufacturing (AM). To this end we had the privilege to interview AMADS 2024 conference speaker, Bradley Hughes, Principal Research Engineer of AM at GKN Aerospace. This interview gives insight into how a major prime plans to leverage the technology and form AM partnerships making it a must read for anyone in the sector. This interview covers:

• How GKN is making AM technologies more accessible.
• GKN engagement with standard bodies.
• How GKN is taking AM forward.
  

This interview with Lieutenant Colonel Ramon Macias delves into the AM efforts by NATO, specifically the work on the NATO digital repository. This repository has the potential to transform how we think about logistics and, subsequently, warfighting as it would allow the printing of critical pieces on the field, potentially away from the main battlelines. It is a must-read for the most up-to-date information on AM efforts by NATO.

Melissa Orme returns to Additive Manufacturing for Aerospace and Space 2024, and we have been privileged to interview her. In this interview she analyses how AM has grown in Boeing and how they are planning to take it further. From sustainability to improvements in technology this interview highlights why AMAS 2024 will be another crucial conference for the AM ecosystem.

In this interview, Ross Herbert from Leonardo delves into the role AM plays in supply chain resiliency during disruption. The unprecedent Ukrainian war has stretched defence supply chains dangerously thin, leaving a gap that AM may be able to fill or at the very least assist with. Defence iQ interviews Leonardo’s AM chair, Ross Herbert, exploring this issue by covering:

• Current State-of-Play of AM in the defence domain
  
• Strategies on addressing challenges in AM adoption
• The future of AM in the defence domain

Defence iQ had the pleasure of interviewing Dr. Melissa Orme, Vice President of Additive Manufacturing, Boeing, and key speaker at the 9th annual AMADS conference, discussing how AM has been shaped in recent years and how Boeing took up the challenges of the domain.

Read the interview to:

• Recognise the Evolution of AM throughout the recent years
• Uncover what AM means for the Boeing business and beyond
• Understand how Boeing is leveraging education to tackle the challenges of AM
  

Steve Salt tackles the question on “Can we make this by AM?” and shows that the developments made by Rolls Royce has made the question somewhat out-dated. The question know is “Why should we make this by AM?” Using the Trent XWB-97 as a case study, the presentation explores how much of the engine can be made through AM. Rolls Royce pushes AM to the limit benefiting not only from the advantages of AM but also facing the challenges of employing it in such way.

Insightful past presentation from Frantisek Hacik, Industry Manager Additive Manufacturing Aerospace, Trumpf covering: 

• Qualification Support and Reproducibility
• Productivity while ensuring quality has a great impact on the final cost per part
• Overall Equipment Efficiency ensures higher equipment utilization and throughput
• Green laser for processing reflective materials ensures robust process and large process window for safe and productive process
  

Ross Herbert – Principal Mechanical Engineer – AM Lead presents on 'Updating workforce requirements, Quality Assurance and rolling out technology for wider use across the company'

Read the presentation >>