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| Photo: Frost & Sullivan |
[Avionics Today 08-18-2016] Escalating time and costs involved in aircraft manufacturing have brought Additive Manufacturing (AM) into the spotlight in the aviation industry, according to a new Frost & Sullivan report. Aircraft manufacturers are breaking away from conventional manufacturing methods and embracing AM with the aim to achieve superior lead times, efficiency and the ability to produce complex geometries that support the fuel-efficiency and cost targets of operators and platform/system/part suppliers.
Mega factories are decentralizing as well giving AM companies a bigger customer base. These changes in methods and models in the commercial aviation industry are crucial for it to meet growing demand, especially in the civil aircraft sector, according to the report. AM companies that can match the high standards in aviation and be a one-stop solution for aircraft parts manufacturers will be best positioned to succeed.
Analysis from Frost & Sullivan’s “Global Metal Additive Manufacturing Market for Commercial Aviation” report find that the market earned revenues of $723.2 million in 2015, and estimate it to reach $2.23 billion in 2021 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 20.7 percent. The study covers AM products, services and materials. Revenues from AM services are expected to grow at a CAGR of 25.4 percent and touch $907.97 million in 2021, overtaking the growth rate of AM products.