Airbus Standardises on Stratasys Additive Manufacturing Solution for A350 XWB Aircraft Supply Chain

Aircraft manufacturer Airbus has standardized on its ULTEM™ 9085 3D printing material for the production of flight parts for its A350 XWB aircraft.

Stratasys’ ULTEM™ 9085 resin is certified to an Airbus material specification and is used in Stratasys’ FDM (Fused Deposition Modelling) based additive manufacturing solutions. By combining a high strength-to-weight ratio with FST (flame, smoke, and toxicity) compliance for aircraft flight parts, ULTEM 9085 enables the production of strong, lighter weight parts while substantially lowering manufacturing costs and production time.

“In 2014 Airbus produced a significant amount of parts on its Stratasys FDM-based 3D Printers for use in new A350 XWB aircraft, enabling Airbus to meet delivery commitments on-time. We are pleased to support Airbus as they industrialize the inclusion of Stratasys 3D printed parts in the A350 XWB production supply chain, ensuring that suppliers will be able to support continued scheduled aircraft deliveries,” said Andy Middleton, President, Stratasys EMEA.

Additive manufacturing brings new levels of efficiency and flexibility to production supply chains by enabling parts to be produced on demand and at locations optimized for delivery to final assembly lines. It also significantly improves the buy-to-fly ratio as less material is wasted compared to conventional manufacturing methods.

“We see the demand for our additive manufacturing solutions coming from a variety of time-sensitive industries, including everything from aerospace and automotive to medical and consumer products,” added Andy Middleton, President, Stratasys EMEA. “By adopting Stratasys additive manufacturing strategies in supply chain management, companies can not only protect time to market commitments but also increase product innovation while decreasing inventory requirements.”