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

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