U.S. Air Force Contract Taps 3D Systems to Transform Manufacturing of Aerospace Components


- $1.3M contract focused on building the most advanced aircraft heat exchangers ever made
- 3DS partners with global leaders in aerospace and metal research
- Utilizing 3DS' Direct Metal Printing (DMP) to manufacture highly complex, end-use metal aircraft components

ROCK HILL, S.C., May 21, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 3D Systems (NYSE:DDD) announced today its role in a $1.3 million contract to design, build and test a cutting-edge aircraft heat exchanger to be manufactured using 3D printing. Led by Honeywell International, a world leader in heat exchanger production, this project will utilize 3DS' Direct Metal Printing (DMP) technology as well as the additive manufacturing and materials expertise of Penn State's Center for Innovative Materials Processing through Direct Digital Deposition (CIMP-3D). Such qualified use of additive manufacturing will not only revolutionize jet engine manufacturing, but it will also open the technology to a multibillion-dollar heat exchanger market.

The project, set to commence in mid-2015, builds off another contract announced in February to enable wider adoption of 3DS' metal technologies within aerospace companies.

Administered by America Makes and funded by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), this contract underscores 3DS' technological leadership and proven defense/aerospace manufacturing track record.

"Additive manufacturing offers design freedoms that are simply not possible using traditional manufacturing process," John Wilczynski, America Makes Deputy Director of Technology Development. "The teaming by America Makes with industry leaders and researchers that possess substantial experience in heat exchangers and 3D printing will allow us to explore higher-performing and lower-cost conformal parts. As a result, both the Air Force and the defense industry are poised to benefit greatly from this directed project."

In addition, this effort accelerates validation of 3DS' manufacturing capability and provides America Makes members—including every major U.S. defense and aerospace company—with the hard data necessary to evaluate the technology. Further, it is expected that this project's results could accelerate validation of 3DS' manufacturing capability as a new component of Honeywell's supply chain.

"3DS' Direct Metal Printing technology is second-to-none," said Neal Orringer, Vice President of Alliances & Partnerships, 3DS. "This contract selection will allow our team to deliver to the Air Force innovative, high-performing heat exchangers, and will provide valuable data on part strength, pressure resistance and performance."

Learn more about 3DS' commitment to manufacturing the future today at www.3dsystems.com.

About 3D Systems

3D Systems provides the most advanced and comprehensive 3D digital design and fabrication solutions available today, including 3D printers, print materials and cloud-sourced custom parts. Its powerful ecosystem transforms entire industries by empowering professionals and consumers everywhere to bring their ideas to life using its vast material selection, including plastics, metals, ceramics and edibles. 3DS' leading personalized medicine capabilities save lives and include end-to-end simulation, training and planning, and printing of surgical instruments and devices for personalized surgery and patient specific medical and dental devices. Its democratized 3D digital design, fabrication and inspection products provide seamless interoperability and incorporate the latest immersive computing technologies. 3DS' products and services disrupt traditional methods, deliver improved results and empower its customers to manufacture the future now.

Leadership through Innovation and Technology

  • 3DS invented 3D printing with its Stereolithography (SLA) printer and was the first to commercialize it in 1989.
     
  • 3DS invented Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) printing and was the first to commercialize it in 1992.
     
  • 3DS invented the ColorJet Printing (CJP) class of 3D printers and was the first to commercialize 3D powder-based systems in 1994.
     
  • 3DS invented MultiJet Printing (MJP) printers and was the first to commercialize it in 1996.
     
  • 3DS pioneered virtual surgical simulation (VSSTM) and virtual surgical planning (VSP®), and its leading 3D healthcare products and services help doctors achieve better patient outcomes.

Today its comprehensive range of 3D printers is the industry's benchmark for production-grade manufacturing in aerospace, automotive, patient specific medical device and a variety of consumer, electronic and fashion accessories.

More information on the company is available at www.3dsystems.com.



            

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