Close Menu
AM ChronicleAM Chronicle
  • Content
    • News
    • Insights
    • Case Studies
    • AM Infocast
  • Focus Regions
    • India
    • Asia Pacific
    • Middle East
    • North America
    • Europe
  • Industries
    • Automotive
    • Aerospace
    • Defence
    • Energy
    • Construction
    • Healthcare
    • Tooling
    • Engineering
  • Training
  • Magazine
    • Digital Issues
    • Print Subscription
  • Events
Facebook Instagram YouTube LinkedIn
  • About us
  • Media Kit
  • Contact us
Facebook Instagram YouTube LinkedIn
AM ChronicleAM Chronicle
  • Content
    1. News
    2. Insights
    3. Case Studies
    4. AM Infocast
    5. View All
    Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine The tiny Suspended Tissue Open Microfluidic Patterning, or STOMP device, for tissue engineering studies.

    3D-Printed Device Advances Human Tissue Modeling

    May 27, 2025
    Palantir and Divergent

    Palantir and Divergent Form Partnership to Revolutionize On-Demand Advanced Manufacturing

    May 27, 2025
    World's tallest 3D-printed tower unveiled in Switzerland, Photo by Birdviewpicture

    World’s Tallest 3D-Printed Tower Constructed at Swiss Alps

    May 22, 2025
    Altair Supports MAM4HP Project to Advance Additive Manufacturing in Italy

    Altair Supports MAM4HP Project to Advance Additive Manufacturing in Italy

    May 20, 2025
    Revopoint Trackit Now on Kickstarter: Marker-free 3D Scans Within Everyone's Reach!

    Revopoint Trackit Now on Kickstarter: Marker-free 3D Scans Within Everyone’s Reach!

    May 28, 2025
    Credits: Outokumpu

    Outokumpu launches stainless steel metal powder in additive manufacturing for aerospace and aviation industry applications

    May 22, 2025
    Why Bioprinting Innovations can elevate healthcare and industrial AM

    Why Bioprinting Innovations can elevate healthcare and industrial AM

    May 21, 2025
    Why Additive Manufacturing Excels in Some Applications but Fails in Others?

    Why Additive Manufacturing Excels in Some Applications but Fails in Others?

    May 21, 2025
    Formlabs fuse 1+

    How Imaginarium Helped Kaash Studio Scale with the Right 3D Printing Technology

    April 12, 2025
    The Formlabs Fuse 1+ 30W

    Kaash Studio Optimized Service Bureau Operations with Formlabs 3D Printers- Case Study

    January 30, 2025
    Namthaja Unveils Worlds First 3D Printed Marine Gangway

    Worlds First 3D Printed Marine Gangway unveiled by Namthaja

    August 8, 2024
    RusselSmith Material Performance Improvement Whitepaper

    RusselSmith Whitepaper : Improving Material Performance with Microstructural Refinement

    May 9, 2024
    Sustainable Production of Metal Powder for Additive Manufacturing

    Sustainable Production of Metal Powder for Additive Manufacturing with Bruce Bradshaw

    February 15, 2024
    Meeting Evolving Customer Demands in the Additive Manufacturing Industry with Tyler Reid

    Meeting Evolving Customer Demands in the Additive Manufacturing Industry with Tyler Reid

    February 9, 2024
    Innovation is at the heart of AMUG with Diana Kalisz

    Innovation is at the heart of AMUG with Diana Kalisz

    March 7, 2023
    3D Printing Workshops at AMUG with Edward Graham

    3D Printing Workshops at AMUG with Edward Graham

    March 7, 2023
    Revopoint Trackit Now on Kickstarter: Marker-free 3D Scans Within Everyone's Reach!

    Revopoint Trackit Now on Kickstarter: Marker-free 3D Scans Within Everyone’s Reach!

    May 28, 2025
    Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine The tiny Suspended Tissue Open Microfluidic Patterning, or STOMP device, for tissue engineering studies.

    3D-Printed Device Advances Human Tissue Modeling

    May 27, 2025
    Palantir and Divergent

    Palantir and Divergent Form Partnership to Revolutionize On-Demand Advanced Manufacturing

    May 27, 2025
    Credits: Outokumpu

    Outokumpu launches stainless steel metal powder in additive manufacturing for aerospace and aviation industry applications

    May 22, 2025
  • Focus Regions
    • India
    • Asia Pacific
    • Middle East
    • North America
    • Europe
  • Industries
    • Automotive
    • Aerospace
    • Defence
    • Energy
    • Construction
    • Healthcare
    • Tooling
    • Engineering
  • Training
  • Magazine
    • Digital Issues
    • Print Subscription
  • Events
Subscribe
AM ChronicleAM Chronicle
Home » Insights

Transforming the Future of Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO)

Insights By Chinmay SarafSeptember 4, 20244 Mins Read
AM in Aviation MRO - EOS interview
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Pinterest Email Copy Link

Aircraft maintenance plays a critical role in today’s aviation industry, especially given the current challenges in global supply chains. As the demand for new aircraft increases, it is essential to keep existing aircraft in service as efficiently as possible. This is where 3D printing is making a significant impact by revolutionizing the production of spare parts. Companies like THE AVIATION AM CENTRE GmbH (AAMC) and EOS are using additive manufacturing technologies to improve the availability and cost-effectiveness of spare parts.

In this interview, Stephan Keil, Managing Director of AAMC, and Thomas Friedberger, Key Account Manager Aerospace & Defense at EOS, discuss the benefits and business case for 3D printing in the aviation industry. They explore how this technology not only drastically reduces production and logistics lead times, but also lowers costs and reduces physical inventory. They also explain which product categories are best suited for 3D printing and how it could become the primary approach for manufacturing spare parts.

What is the business case for this method to become the main method for spares manufacturing, and in what timeframe do you believe it will become prevalent?

The business case is driven by three core factors: producing spares at a lower cost than conventional, significantly reducing lead times for production and logistics, and a reduction of physical inventory in the long run.
Locally printed aircraft (cabin interior) spare parts can be produced 30-50 % cheaper than the cost of the OEM spare parts, with the added benefit that lead-times for production and logistics of usually 12 weeks (or significantly more) can be shortened to two weeks or even just a few days.

Another added value of industrial 3D printing technology is that the design of the parts can be improved to address known weaknesses or to enable part customization. As one of few OEMs, EOS provides high quality technology and materials to deliver parts into regulated industries such as aviation.

An incremental benefit of additive manufacturing is that it enables on-demand manufacturing of required parts in a mixed parts batch, which significantly reduces stock-keeping. Again, this will lead to cost reductions. Companies have two options – a) source parts from certified service providers (like AAMC) or b) build up their own MRO production hub. We see that the capability to offer in-house manufactured spare parts is a strong USP and customer retention tool for Aircraft Maintenance Service Providers. In this case EOS can offer a whole end-to-end solution to operate a production hub. And with the partnership with AAMC, we can offer the enablement to customers to comply with regulatory norms.

Industrial 3D printed spare parts are certified and “in-flight” as we speak, so the question is more when AM will fully scale to series production. Geopolitical crisis and supply chain resilience already drive this adoption faster than we anticipated.

What products do you foresee as leading candidates to be manufactured by 3D printing for spares?

Cabin interior parts are the primary candidates for on-site printing, as they are exposed to the highest wear and tear. Certification of this parts category mainly revolves around flammability testing, which our EOS material PA 22241 FR fulfills for the targeted part sizes that are suitable for printing on EOS systems such as the EOS P 396 or EOS P 770. We also see those parts from the flight deck and cargo areas, as well as electronic equipment bay are a perfect fit for our customer. Recently, we also saw that previous aluminium parts can now be additively manufactured using our EOS HT-23 material for applications in the fuel pump systems, etc., adding again to the weight reduction target of airlines.

About EOS

EOS
EOS

EOS provides responsible manufacturing solutions via industrial 3D printing technologies to organizations around the world. Since 1989, EOS has shaped the future of manufacturing by enabling its customers to innovate and differentiate through expert guidance, technology and services, leveraging its end-to-end additive manufacturing (AM) industry partnerships. From strategy to education to production, EOS is the leading global partner for both metal and polymer AM solutions, accelerating time-to-market for its customers through high-quality production efficiencies and sustainable solutions.

3d printing 3D Printing for Aerospace EOS
Chinmay Saraf
  • Website

Technical Writer, AM Chronicle Chinmay Saraf is a scientific writer living in Indore, India. His academic background is in mechanical engineering, and he has substantial experience in fused deposition-based additive manufacturing. Chinmay possesses an M.Tech. in computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing and is enthusiastic about 3D printing, product development, material science, and sustainability. He also has a deep interest in "Frugal Designs" to improve the present technical systems.

LATEST FROM AM
Revopoint Trackit Now on Kickstarter: Marker-free 3D Scans Within Everyone's Reach! Insights

Revopoint Trackit Now on Kickstarter: Marker-free 3D Scans Within Everyone’s Reach!

May 28, 20254 Mins Read
Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine The tiny Suspended Tissue Open Microfluidic Patterning, or STOMP device, for tissue engineering studies. News

3D-Printed Device Advances Human Tissue Modeling

May 27, 20254 Mins Read
Palantir and Divergent News

Palantir and Divergent Form Partnership to Revolutionize On-Demand Advanced Manufacturing

May 27, 20252 Mins Read

CONNECT WITH US

  • 126 A, Dhuruwadi, A. V. Nagvekar Marg, Prabhadevi, Mumbai 400025
  • [email protected]
  • +91 022 24306319
Facebook Instagram YouTube LinkedIn

Newsletter

Subscribe to the AM Chronicle mailer to receive latest tech updates and insights from global industry experts.

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Quick Links

  • News
  • Insights
  • Case Studies
  • AM Training
  • AM Infocast
  • AM Magazine
  • Events

Media

  • Advertise with us
  • Sponsored Articles
  • Media Kit

Events

  • AM Conclave 2025
    24-25 September 2025 | ADNEC, Abu Dhabi
  • AMTECH 2025
    3-4 December 2025 | KTPO, Whitefield, Bengaluru
CNT Expositions & Services LLP
© 2025 CNT Expositions & Services LLP.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.



0 / 75