Collins Aerospace opens Additive Manufacturing Center Expansion in Iowa

Collins Aerospace celebrated the opening of a $14 million expansion of its additive manufacturing center in West Des Moines Iowa. The 836-square-foot addition provides space for several new state-of-the-art metal 3D printers. The first printer installed has eight times the build volume of the facility’s existing printers significantly expanding the center’s additive manufacturing capabilities.

“From supporting the backlog in commercial aircraft to enabling future platforms, and reducing carbon emissions to providing supply chain relief, additive manufacturing is poised to play an integral role in the future of the aerospace and defense industry,” said Renee Begley, West Des Moines site lead for Collins Aerospace. “Additive manufacturing has the potential to help us reduce weight, complexity, lead time and cost in the parts we supply, and this expansion represents an investment in our business to help deliver those benefits to our customers.”

Collins’ West Des Moines facility is a world leader in the design and manufacture of engine components for commercial and military aircraft. The new printers will allow the site to further explore additive manufacturing of these components and expand its portfolio of land-based turbine components already in production. In addition, the facility is one of only eight in the U.S. to receive National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program (NADCAP) certification for additive manufacturing.

“Since 1933 when Collins was founded in Cedar Rapids, Iowa has been proud to be a home to this global manufacturing powerhouse,” stated Governor Kim Reynolds. “Today’s expansion in West Des Moines is a testament to the commitment Collins Aerospace has made to our state, and we’re equally committed to providing the strong economic environment that will fuel its innovation here for decades more to come.”

Additive manufacturing is a key focus area for Collins Aerospace, and the company maintains a global network of additive manufacturing centers in Iowa, Minnesota, North Carolina and Singapore, as well as an additive research center in Connecticut. The West Des Moines expansion will further strengthen Collins Aerospace’s position as a pioneer in additive manufacturing and drive innovation in the industry.