MT Aerospace AG expands AM Capacities with FormUp 350

MT Aerospace, a key player in the aerospace industry, has recently expanded its manufacturing capabilities by integrating two new FormUp 350 PBF (powder bed fusion) machines.

These machines, loaded with titanium and aluminum powders, are a key step in strengthening its service offering to industrial customers, particularly in the aerospace, defense, automotive and energy sectors. The two PBF systems complement the two Modulo 400 DED (Directed Energy Deposition) machines already operated by MT Aerospace, which are used in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA) for the development and qualification of satellite fuel tanks.

“MT Aerospace’s FormUp 350 machines have proved their ability to produce highly complex parts, for example heat exchangers, with an unrivalled surface finish. This ismade possible not only by using a roller coating system, but also by the precise positioning of every laser on the entire FormUp 350 platform” explains Markus Axtner, SVP AdditiveManufacturing Program Management.

The machines are characterized by a minimal substrate requirement, reduced post-processing effort and a 15% higher build rate than other systems. This results in improved lead times and reduced overall costs for MT Aerospace customers’ parts.

Frédéric Le Moullec, AddUp Sales Director, explains: “Having our machines installed in the industrial setting of MT Aerospace in Augsburg (Bavaria) makes our technologies accessible to European manufacturers in a lot of different industries. MT Aerospace’s cutting-edge expertise in the design, manufacturing and certification of high-tech components is highly complementary to that of AddUp, and enables us to develop optimized additivemanufacturing solutions for our customers together.”

The partnership between MT Aerospace and AddUp is not limited to machine procurement, but also includes close collaboration to support industrial customers on their journey into additive manufacturing. This includes AddUp’s heritage, founded by Michelin and Fives, in the production of industrial AM machines as well as experience in the development of parts such as implants and components for Formula 1, satellite antennas and aircraft equipment. MT Aerospace brings its expertise in the production of parts for the Ariane rocket.

“As an End-to-End AM Contract Manufacturer for high-quality products, we rely on a high performance machine park. The two FormUp 350 systems are well suited to further strengthen this machine park. This gives us the possibility to grow further with our customers in various industries – from space and aerospace, to defence, automotive and energy – and offer them final, high-quality products in serial production” explains Thomas Weitlaner, SVP Additive Manufacturing Sales.

The new systems and the partnership with AddUp are seen as key elements in MT Aerospace’s growth plan. The advanced technologies will be on display at the Formnext trade fair in Frankfurt, where visitors will have the opportunity to see some of MT Aerospace’s key applications.