Aidro becomes qualified supplier of AM flight parts for Leonardo Helicopters
Aidro, a subsidiary of Desktop Metal, based in Taino, Italy, is now a qualified supplier of additively manufactured aluminium flight parts for leading aerospace, defence, and security company Leonardo through its Helicopters division. Aidro is reported to be one of only two suppliers to receive the Declaration for Qualification of Process for Additive Layer Manufacturing with Leonardo.
“We are proud to be selected by Leonardo Helicopters as a qualified supplier of 3D printed aluminium flight parts,” stated Tommaso Tirelli, CEO and VP of Business Development of Aidro. “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 a range of modern helicopters for the commercial, public services, security and defence industries in more than 150 countries. The company manages all stages of research, design, development, production, customer support and training for its advanced vertical flight solutions – from the 1.8-ton single-engine category to 16-ton three-engine aircraft – to enable operators to carry out their missions efficiently and safely.
Dario Bonanno, Industrial Engineering Manager for Leonardo, commented, “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. The availability of a qualified supply chain is a fundamental requirement to support the industrial sustainability of the company’s technological road map.”
Safety is paramount in the highly-regulated aerospace industry and metal Additive Manufacturing requires qualification prior to use. Aidro achieved its AS/EN9100 certification in 2018, enabling the company to gain access to the aerospace industry and allowing the business to collaborate with a range of companies in the sector.
“In addition to supporting Leonardo with design, Aidro also organises training sessions and knowledge-sharing on Additive Manufacturing with its employees,” added Valeria Tirelli, president and CEO of Aidro. “This joining of forces and continuous process of mutual learning becomes essential in such a fast-changing environment to be able to design, create and recreate products of high value. With our shared roots in Northern Italy and the combined expertise of our teams, we truly believe the sky’s the limit with Leonardo.”
Read more about Aidro in Metal AM magazine Vol. 6 No. 3, Autumn 2021:
