Power system manufacturer Aidro will supply 3D printed aluminium flight parts for Italian aerospace, defence, and security company Leonardo through its helicopters division.
Credit: Leonardo
Credit: Leonardo
Aidro produces next-generation hydraulic and fluid power systems using metal additive manufacturing (AM). A subsidiary of Desktop Metal, it has become a qualified supplier of aluminium flight parts for aerospace, defence, and security company Leonardo through its helicopters division and is one of only two suppliers to receive the Declaration for Qualification of Process for Additive Layer Manufacturing with Leonardo.
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Tommaso Tirelli, CEO and VP of Business Development of Aidro, said: “The components we are producing for Leonardo are parts that require extensive knowledge in managing fluids and fluid power, which has always been Aidro’s main competence.
"This is a great opportunity for our company to demonstrate how end users like Leonardo can leverage additive technologies to achieve significant weight savings and reduce the number of components.”
Leonardo offers an extensive range of modern helicopters for the commercial, public services, security and defence industries deployed in more than 150 countries worldwide.
The company manages all stages of research, design, development, production, customer support and training for its advanced vertical flight solutions – from the 1.8-tonne single-engine category to 16-tonne three-engine aircraft – to enable operators to carry out their missions efficiently and safely.
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“Leonardo is committed to introducing and expanding the use of additive manufacturing on its rotorcraft products, taking advantage of the opportunities offered by its unique capabilities,” said Dario Bonanno, Industrial Engineering Manager for Leonardo.
“The availability of a qualified supply chain is a fundamental requirement to support the industrial sustainability of the Company’s technological road map.”
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