Aircraft
Aerospace Breaks Through Barriers to 3-D Printing Benefits
As larger parts can be made at lower cost through additive manufacturing, 3-D printing is making more sense for aerospace.
A housing for the T25 sensor in the GE90 engine.
A housing for the T25 sensor in the GE90 engine.

Aerospace and defense firms are at the forefront in the adoption of 3-D printing processes that promise significant improvements in production flexibility and reductions in overall manufacturing costs. According to John Schmidt, managing director for the North American arm of consulting group Accenture, the technology, also known as additive manufacturing, will be a major theme of this year’s Paris Air Show, with companies gaining a clearer understanding of what it will take to reap the full benefits.