Switzerland-based technology and engineering group Oerlikon has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Lufthansa Technik to accelerate the development of replicable additive manufacturing (AM) processes and standards for maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) applications.

Under the collaboration, Oerlikon AM and Lufthansa Technik will develop representative component geometrics.

The components will be printed across three global sites, including Oerlikon’s facilities in North Carolina, US, in Barleben, Germany, and Lufthansa Technik’s facility in Hamburg, Germany.

The partnership intends to employ the same process parameters and powder specifications to understand process repeatability.

Oerlikon Group CEO Dr Roland Fischer said: “We are confident that Oerlikon’s extensive expertise in additive manufacturing and the aerospace industry, combined with our proven ability to integrate solutions throughout the manufacturing value chain on a global scale will bring great benefits to Lufthansa Technik.”

The year long collaboration could be extended to other models of printers as additional data on manufacturing processes is collected.

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“We see the partnership with Oerlikon’s AM team as an exciting opportunity to accelerate Lufthansa Technik’s plan of having local AM repair capabilities on a global scale.”

The collaboration is expected to help industrialise AM in the aircraft MRO industry once the results of the studies are provided to relevant industry bodies to support framing standards for qualification and approval of aircraft components.

It will also benefit from the possible flexibility and cost savings in manufacturing, procurement, warehousing and supply chain management.

Lufthansa Technik Engine Services vice-president Bernhard Krueger-Sprengel said: “Lufthansa Technik is active in areas such as the cabin of the future, 3D printing, and Industry 4.0.

“We see the partnership with Oerlikon’s AM team as an exciting opportunity to accelerate Lufthansa Technik’s plan of having local AM repair capabilities on a global scale.”

In a separate development, Lufthansa Technik and the Norwegian Air Shuttle Group signed a MoU to extend an existing Total Engine Support (TES) contract.

As part of the deal, Lufthansa Technik will provide all the necessary services required for the CFM56-7B engines powering Norwegian Air Shuttle’s existing fleet of 115 Boeing 737-800 aircraft.