ALCOA Inc. (AA)

[Mr3Deeprint]

"This builds out our value-added business in a very attractive market - aerospace," Alcoa Chief Executive Klaus Kleinfeld said in an interview, adding that titanium is the fastest-growing metal used in aerospace production.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/business/alcoa-to-buy-titanium-sup/1704208.html

So, titanium is hot material for now.

Boeing Co. and United Technologies Corp. have been stockpiling titanium parts from a Russian producer in case economic tensions between Washington and Moscow disrupt supplies of the metal critical to building jetliners.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/boeing-united-technologies-stockpiling-titanium-parts-1407441886

US aluminum giant Alcoa plans to use 3D printing to manufacture parts for jet engines

http://www.3ders.org/articles/20141107-us-aluminum-giant-alcoa-plans-to-use-3d-printing-to-manufacture-parts-for-jet-engines.html

In 2016, GE Aviation will introduce the first 3D-printed parts in an aircraft engine platform. Each of the new CFM LEAP engines, produced jointly by GE and its long-time partner, Snecma (SAFRAN) of France, will have 19 3D-printed fuel nozzles in the combustion system that could not be made any other way. The benefits of printing these parts are numerous.
Lighter in weight – the weight of these nozzles will be 25% lighter than its predecessor part.
Simpler design – the number of parts used to make the nozzle will be reduced from 18 to 1.
New design features – more intricate cooling pathways and support ligaments will result in 5X higher durability vs. conventional manufacturing.

http://www.geglobalresearch.com/innovation/3d-printing-creates-new-parts-aircraft-engines

The Aerospace Industry Is Betting Big On 3D Printing Technology

http://uk.businessinsider.com/heres-how-the-aerospace-industry-is-making-3d-printing-a-multi-billion-dollar-business-2014-9?r=US

Read more: http://uk.businessinsider.com/heres-how-the-aerospace-industry-is-making-3d-printing-a-multi-billion-dollar-business-2014-9?r=US#ixzz3VHR6ilMX

Read this and see what the growth and the technology used .

http://sigmalabs3dam.blogspot.fi/

IPQA will Initiate High Volume Production
GE Aviation business gains interest as British Airways considers Boeing 777X to replace 747's.

Boeing 777x is powered by GE Aviation's latest engine technology that is more fuel efficient and lower in emissions, the GE9X engine.

http://www.geaviation.com/newengine/

The GE9X engine incorporates AM technology that improves on engine development:

http://www.geaviation.com/press/ge90/ge90_20131119a.html

The new engine technology was shown to be a success as GE Aviation received its record order of $40B from the Dubai Air Show:

http://www.geaviation.com/press/other/other_20131119.html

The GE9X engine continues to achieve success as British Airways becomes interested in replacing 747's with Boeing 777X's:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-02-07/boeing-777x-draws-british-airways-interest-to-replace-747.html

“We’re looking at the aircraft and we’re certainly interested,” Willie Walsh, chief executive officer of British Airways...

With a growing demand for the GE9X engine, AM processes would certain need to keep in pace with production. GE needs to build more than 85,000 fuel nozzles using AM technology and this is no easy task given the current speeds of AM and lack of efficiency:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-11-12/ge-printing-engine-fuel-nozzles-propels-6-billion-market.html

This is the reason Sigma Labs (SGLB) has been enlisted and it is their IPQA technology that will increase efficiency and production. Sigma Labs continues working with GE Aviation and their continued collaboration, supported by funding from America Makes to develop and independent IPQA platform, will allow the high-volume production that is lacking in the aerospace industry.