3-d printing aircraft parts may be in Israel's near future

"The topic of 3-d printing is making its first strides in the manufacturing process."

By NIV ELIS
3D printer at work (stock) (photo credit: REUTERS)
3D printer at work (stock)
(photo credit: REUTERS)
The Office of the Chief Scientist in the Economy Ministry announced on Sunday that it will invest more heavily in a 3-d printing collaboration called Atid, which prints titanium parts for aircraft.
“The topic of 3-d printing is making its first strides in the manufacturing process.
This a fascinating area and we should watch it, because it will have a significant effect on manufacturing processes in the future,” Chief Scientist Avi Hasson said.
It was important for Israel to get ahead of the technology, he added.
The investments will take place through the Magnet Committee, which provides grants for industrial players who pair up with academic partners in order to advance technology. The Hasson-headed committee covers 66-90 percent of expenses with the expectation that it will take many years to see a return on the investment, meaning fewer private-sector funders are interested.
The Atid consortium, which is expected to kick off in the second half of 2015 and lay out a three-year work plan, is led by Elbit System’s Cyclone subsidiary, and will deal with using existing printing technology for aerospace products.
Other participants in the consortium will include Israel Aerospace Industries, Israel Military Industries, Orbit, Elgat, Kas and Adama, as well as researchers from Tel Aviv University, Ben-Gurion University, the Technion’s Institute of Metals, and Afeka College.
Magnet’s 2015 activities, which include two previously approved programs, will encompass 12 active business clusters and a budget of roughly NIS 200 million.