chanelink logo
CHANELINK
English

The UK government plans £ 10.5 million to support laser wire feeding

422
2025-06-23 10:46:00
See translation

On the first day of the 2025 Paris Air Show, the UK government announced a £ 250 million investment to support sustainable aerospace programs, with £ 48.5 million earmarked for funding additive manufacturing projects led by Airbus and GKN Aerospace. Among them, £ 10.5 million will be injected into the GKN Integrated System Level Aerospace Structure Assembly (ISLAA) program, with the aim of utilizing Laser Wire Feed Additive Manufacturing (WLAM) technology to advance large-scale aerospace production.

It is reported that GKN Aviation will use funds to promote the application of laser wire feeding additive manufacturing technology in aircraft structural integration, and simultaneously announce a new cooperation with electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) manufacturer Archer Aviation to provide key fuselage components and low-voltage electrical interconnection systems for its Midnight air taxi.


Parts printed using GKN's laser wire feeding additive technology


Application of GKN's WLAM technology in the manufacturing of large aerospace components
Laser wire feeding additive manufacturing technology (WLAM) is a 3D printing process that uses laser melting of metal wire materials layer by layer to form. It has advantages such as high material utilization, fast deposition rate, no dust pollution, support for multiple materials, and large-scale manufacturing. For many years, GKN Aerospace has been at the forefront of the application of laser wire feeding additive manufacturing technology, committed to applying this technology to the manufacturing of large aerospace components.

1. Announce the delivery of the 200th additive manufactured fan housing installation ring
GKN Aviation announced the delivery of the 200th additive manufactured fan housing mounting ring. GKN began using laser wire feeding additive technology to produce large fan casing installation rings in 2024, and completed the production of its 100th piece in November of the same year. The acceleration of production speed reflects the operational efficiency of laser wire feeding additive manufacturing, which can meet the demanding requirements of modern aviation and produce lightweight, sturdy, and highly optimized components.

 



2. GKN uses laser wire feeding additive technology to assist aerospace manufacturing
GKN Airlines uses laser wire feeding additive technology to manufacture cutting-edge components, which have been applied to the world's leading aviation engines and have begun mass production, achieving a 40% reduction in component manufacturing emissions, a 40% reduction in raw material losses, an 80% reduction in delivery cycles, and promoting global capacity upgrades.

3. GKN collaborates with renowned aircraft manufacturers to produce large titanium alloy aviation structural components
GKN Airlines has partnered with aircraft manufacturer Northrop Grumman to use laser wire feeding additive manufacturing technology to manufacture a titanium metal aerospace structural component with a size of approximately 2.5 meters using about 45 kilograms of titanium. It is said to be the largest additive manufacturing aerospace structural component produced by GKN Aerospace.

Source: Yangtze River Delta G60 Laser Alliance

Related Recommendations

  • The world's most powerful laser attempts to unravel the secrets of the universe

    They are the strongest lasers in history, and their beams are helping scientists explore the structure of the universe.In a research laboratory at the University of Michigan, bright green light fills the vacuum chamber of a technology giant. It is the size of two tennis courts. The walls are shielded with 60 centimeters of concrete to prevent radiation leakage, and workers wear masks and hairnets ...

    2023-11-28
    See translation

  • Xi'an Institute of Optics and Fine Mechanics has made progress in the field of integrated microcavity optical frequency comb

    Recently, researcher Zhang Wenfu from the National Key Laboratory of Ultrafast Optical Science and Technology of Xi'an Institute of Optics and Mechanics, researcher Chen Wei from the academician team of Guo Guangcan from the Key Laboratory of Quantum Information of the Chinese Academy of Sciences of the University of Science and Technology of China, and professor Yang Jun from the School of Intell...

    02-19
    See translation

  • $75 million, this laser equipment manufacturer will be acquired

    Rocket Lab USA continues its path of vertical integration and has signed an exclusive but non binding agreement with MynaricAG, a German laser communication terminal (LCT) supplier and Rocket Lab supplier, to acquire the company for $75 million in cash or stock.If Mynaric achieves its revenue target, it will pay an additional revenue of up to $75 million. This acquisition depends on whether Myna...

    03-25
    See translation

  • China University of Science and Technology has made progress in in-situ monitoring of thermal runaway in lithium-ion batteries with optical fibers

    Recently, the team of Professor Sun Jinhua and researcher Wang Qingsong of the University of Science and Technology of China and the team of Professor Guo Tuan of Jinan University have made important achievements in the field of early warning of thermal runaway optical fiber detection of lithium-ion batteries.A high-precision, multi-mode integrated fiber optic device that can be implanted in...

    2023-09-04
    See translation

  • First 6-inch thin film lithium niobate photonic chip wafer pilot production line

    Recently, Shanghai Jiao Tong University Wuxi Photon Chip Research Institute (CHIPX) located in Binhu District, Wuxi City, has achieved a breakthrough - the first 6-inch thin film lithium niobate photon chip wafer has been produced on China's first photon chip pilot line, and high-performance thin film lithium niobate modulator chips with ultra-low loss and ultra-high bandwidth have been mass-produ...

    06-11
    See translation