en.Wedoany.com Reported - GKN Aerospace has announced the launch of the TITAN-AM project (Industrialization and Technology Advancement of Titanium Near-Net Shape Additive Manufacturing), an $8.4 million initiative in collaboration with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) aimed at advancing the industrialization and application of Laser Metal Deposition with Wire (LMD-w) technology for manufacturing next-generation aerospace structural components.
The TITAN-AM project focuses on five key areas for applying LMD-w technology in aerospace structures: industrialization of the LMD-w process for large titanium aerospace structural components; development of a robust titanium material dataset to ensure structural performance and reliability; advanced simulation capabilities to optimize structural design and manufacturing outcomes; non-destructive inspection (NDI) techniques tailored for additive manufacturing processes; and demonstration of the technology on selected aerospace structural components.
David Bond, Chief Technology Officer of GKN Aerospace Airframes, stated that TITAN-AM represents a significant step forward in additive manufacturing for aerospace structures. By combining the company's manufacturing expertise with AFRL's vision, the project aims to accelerate the maturity of LMD-w technology and demonstrate its value on operational titanium structural components.
With over 20 years of experience in additive technologies, GKN Aerospace is recognized as a global leader in large-scale additive manufacturing for aerospace structures. This collaboration reinforces the company's commitment to advancing additive manufacturing technology, which provides lighter, stronger, and more sustainable structural solutions for defense and commercial aerospace platforms. By leveraging LMD-w, the TITAN-AM project aims to reduce material waste, shorten production lead times, and increase design freedom for complex aerospace structures.
GKN Aerospace currently produces major additive-manufactured structural components in series production that are flying, including fan case mounting rings for the Pratt & Whitney GTF™ (Geared Turbofan) engine family. These components are manufactured using additive processes in Sweden and the United States and are already in service on aircraft such as the Airbus A220 and Embraer E195-E2.
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