AddUp and MT Aerospace Extend Partnership on DED

German company MT Aerospace, a major supplier to the space and aerospace industry, has renewed its confidence in the AddUp group by acquiring a second Modulo 400 machine. These two Directed Energy Deposition (DED) machines will enable MT Aerospace to reduce industrialization time while increasing projects, and move more quickly towards using this technology for serial production.

Based in Augsburg, Germany, MT Aerospace is the European leader in fluid storage for the aerospace industry. This subsidiary of the OHB Group designs and manufactures fuel tanks for satellites and space launchers, including the Ariane 5 program. It is also a major supplier of drinking water and wastewater storage systems for Airbus Group aircraft. Specializing in metal and composites processing, MT Aerospace also has expertise in metal 3D printing, especially his DED (Directed Energy Deposition) technology, thanks to the Modulo 400 machine supplied by AddUp in 2020.

AddUp, a France-based joint venture founded by Michelin and Fives, is a global metal additive manufacturing OEM offering a range of Powder Bed Fusion (PBF) and Directed Energy Deposition (DED) equipment. AddUp has worked closely with MT Aerospace experts for the past two years to certify applications using the DED process. The Modulo 400 machine, which sprays metal powder with a high-power laser beam, has proven its ability to produce parts with excellent surface finish and high mechanical properties. MT Aerospace has already tested with a variety of materials, even reactive materials such as titanium, due to the high mechanical safety.

In just two years, the German company is preparing to build a complete industrial platform around DED technology with design skills and manufacturing, post-processing and part inspection capabilities. Of course, all these activities are compatible with the requirements of the EN 9100 standard, which later applies to the aerospace sector.

MT Aerospace is taking another step in mastering the DED process with the integration of a second Modulo 400 3D printer. Aerospace manufacturers will be able to take advantage of this doubled production capacity to work in multiple directions simultaneously. First, we will work with the European Space Agency to accelerate the certification phase of satellite fuel tanks and develop new applications for satellites and micro-launchers. Secondly, this second machine of his will be an opportunity to expand the service and serve other sectors such as the automotive and energy industries.

MT Aerospace has already managed to convince many of the principles of interest to the DED process and is looking forward to this new AddUp machine with the expected increase in production over the next few years. AddUp proudly supports this growth by leveraging his MT Aerospace expertise to the fullest and adopting his DED process for customers in Germany and abroad.

AddUp and MT Aerospace will showcase the parts produced through their partnership at the Formnext – Where Ideas Take Shape exhibition, November 15-18 in Frankfurt, Germany. Visit the AddUp booth (Hall 12.0, Booth E01) and discover the technological possibilities of the aerospace industry.

Finally, MT Aerospace and Addup plan to further expand their collaboration in 2023.