3D-printed interiors for Etihad

The design team of Etihad Airways Engineering will work to certify the parts and Strata will manufacture the parts in its factory.

Siemens, Strata Manufacturing and Etihad Airways will work together to develop the first 3D-printed parts for aircraft interiors in the Middle East and North Africa.
The partnership aims to revolutionise the aerospace industry, leveraging 3D printing, to help airlines improve their designs, including making complex parts on demand and manufacturing discontinued parts.
Under the partnership, a pilot project will develop 3D printing solutions for aircraft cabin interior products for Etihad. These will be the first 3D-printed aviation parts designed, manufactured and certified in the UAE, Middle East and Asia.
Siemens will leverage its global expertise in digitalisation and 3D printing to consult on the selection of materials, testing and the preparation of processes. The design team of Etihad Airways Engineering will work to certify the parts and Strata will manufacture the parts in its factory.
Siemens and Strata expect to investigate the development of a three-year roadmap for the further industrialisation of 3-D printing in the UAE, the Middle East and North Africa. The roadmap will include training and development of UAE citizens with the required skills for further deployment of 3D printing technology.
Etihad sees huge potential for 3D printing technology in aviation over conventional manufacturing methods, enabling faster on-demand production of complex parts and discontinued parts, and making design improvements by airlines very feasible.
"The biggest challenge for the use of flying 3D-printed parts in aviation is certification and we are ready to tackle it and make it a reality," said Jeff Wilkinson, Etihad Airways Engineering CEO. "Etihad Airways Engineering will be using its expertise and major design certification approval to design and certify the first 3D-printed part for aircraft cabin in the UAE. We will be partnering with the certification authority and with Strata to make certified 3D printing for aviation in the UAE a reality," he said.
"We see great opportunities for 3D printing as a disruptive force in manufacturing, and expect it to play a key role in a globally competitive, increasingly digitalised industrial landscape in the Middle East," said Assem Khalaili, executive vice-president, industry customer services, at Siemens Middle East.The Siemens portfolio in 3D printing includes computer-aided design (CAD) software, control, automation and drive systems for additive manufacturing machinery. Siemens uses it to manufacture parts for industrial gas turbines and rail vehicles.
Strata will explore 3D printing technology for a range of applications to aid its manufacturing processes in aerostructures in areas such as tooling, fixtures and consumables using metallic and non-metallic materials.
Badr Al Olama, CEO of Strata, said 3D printing has the potential to revolutionise aerospace manufacturing.
"Our goal is to deploy this technology on practical applications that will allow development of local knowledge building in various aspects of this technology that will lead to future innovations that can benefit the broader aerospace industry," said Al Olama.The announcement of the partnership comes as Abu Dhabi, the UAE's capital city, prepares to host the Global Manufacturing and Industrialisation Summit from 27-30 March 2017. The international platform will bring together innovators across key sectors, including aerospace and industrial equipment, and from the public sector and civil society to adapt global manufacturing to the needs of the world's future economy, citizens and environment. The Summit, co-hosted by UNIDO and the UAE Ministry of Economy, will bring together some of the biggest names in global manufacturing and policymaking, including Siemens and Etihad.
- business@khaleejtimes.com