3D-printed TP400 tail structure engine blades from ITP Aero certified by EASA

ITP Aero is the first aircraft engine design and manufacturing company to receive Design Organization Approval (DOA) from EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) and Production Organization Approval (POA) from AESA (Spanish Aviation Safety Agency) for structural components manufactured using additive layer technology. The certified structural components are the TP400 blades of the rear engine structure.

Using its own technological expertise, ITP Aero has successfully developed and certified its own standards and specifications for the additive manufacturing of high-temperature resistant aerospace components. At its headquarters in Zamudio, Spain, ITP Aero operates a specialized manufacturing cell for 3D printing and has a multidisciplinary team focused on this production method.

The additive manufacturing used for the certified components is based on selective laser melting technology, an industrial 3D printing process. In this process, the 3D model of the component is digitally divided into individual layers, which are then built up layer by layer by melting nickel superalloy powder using a laser. This method enables the production of complex geometries while minimizing material and energy consumption.

ITP Aero is also planning to open a new research and development center called “ADMIRE” in Zamudio. With an investment of 24 million euros, this center will focus on digital and advanced manufacturing technologies, including additive manufacturing. These investments underline ITP Aero’s commitment to a more sustainable aviation industry.

Erlantz Cristóbal, CTO of ITP Aero, stated: “We are extremely proud to be the first aeroengine company to obtain EASA certification for an additive manufactured structural component. Advanced manufacturing technologies play a key role in our commitment to a more sustainable aviation sector and these milestones bring us one step closer to achieving net zero by 2050”.

The successful certification marks an important step in the development of additively manufactured engine components and underlines the importance of advanced manufacturing technologies for the future of aviation.