HAL, Wipro partner for metal 3D-printed aircraft parts

State-owned aerospace and defence company Hindustan Aeronautics and Wipro 3D, the metal additive manufacturing (AM) business arm of Wipro Infrastructure Engineering (WIN), have signed an MoU  (Memorandum of Understanding) to design, develop, manufacture and repair aerospace components using metal additive technology.

The initiative will focus on development, prove out and production of aerospace applications including MRO (maintenance, repair, overhaul) using metal additive manufacturing. Prove-outs and certification of components developed using metal 3D printing are also a key element of this cooperation, according to a statement released by HAL. 

"This initiative between HAL and Wipro 3D will create a unique synergy of capabilities that can accelerate the adoption of metal additive manufacturing in Aerospace in India. Qualification of parts for Aerospace is challenging as it would require prove out and extensive testing followed by certification by regulatory authorities which may also include flight testing,” Shekhar Shrivastava, CEO, Bengaluru Complex, HAL said.

Globally, the aerospace industry has been one of the foremost adopters of Metal 3D printing due to the benefits of faster design iterations, weight and geometry optimization, performance improvement and flexible manufacturing, the statement said.

"This MoU will bring Metal 3D printing into the mainstream of India's Aerospace. Wipro 3D and HAL have worked together in the past. This further strengthens our collaborative efforts to create additive technology leadership in Aerospace," Pratik Kumar, CEO, Wipro Infrastructure Engineering, said.

Last year, US-based HP signed an MoU with Andhra Pradesh Innovation Society (APIS) and Andhra Pradesh Economic Development  Board (APEDB) to accelerate the adoption of 3D printing in sectors such as aerospace, defence, automotive and consumer goods.