Page 36

EN feb16-HR-nocrops

Macplas, New Zealand's newest importer of Plastic materials. 36 March 2016 3 D P R I N T I N G Plastics for all applications, Engineering, fabrication, etc. Acetal, Nylon, HDPE, UHMWPE, PTFE, PETP. Machined & fabricated items supplied to drawing, sample or assistance with design given as part of the service. Extensive experience in a wide variety of industries and applications where plastics are widely and successfully used. Web www.macplas.co.nz Email sales@macplas.co.nz Phone 0800-506407 Fax 09-2806463 HM038 Though several industrial giants are beginning to make a name for themselves in the 3D printing community, it’s clear that airplane manufacturer Airbus is pushing to the forefront. Though several of their latest engine and plane designs already rely on top of the range 3D printed parts – such as A350 XWB which features over a 1000 3D printed components – Airbus also clearly has its eye on the industry as a whole. Recently setting up a separate corporate venture capital fund worth US$150 million intended for innovative technology investments, Airbus has singled out 3D printed car pioneers Local Motors as the first beneficiary of their millions. Investment experts were doubtlessly looking at several possibilities when Airbus announced they were setting up Airbus Ventures, a $150 million corporate venture capital fund in the spring of 2015. Headed by Tim Dombrowski – known for previously being a partner at Andreessen Horowitz and a director of global business development at Hewlett- Packard —this venture was looking at several promising businesses, but the 3D printing pioneers of Local Motors were apparently the most appealing. Local Motors was founded in 2007 in Phoenix, Arizona, in the US. Back in September 2014, the took the world’s first 3D printed car for a test drive, and their road-worthy LM3D Swim 3D printed car is expected to be released some time in 2016. There is much to expect from Local Motors over the coming years, and Airbus is determined to be a part of it. Industry experts have already suggested that they are especially interested in learning more about 3D printing production, as metal 3D printing has already been making inroads into the aviation industry. 3D printing is thus just one of those key technologies. “As we’ve looked into that, Local Motors just kept popping up. 3D printing isn’t the core of what they do, but it’s a big part of their manufacturing process and lets them build products rapidly. So we think the company is a great financial investment, but we also like that what they are doing could be accretive for our LP. Local Motors has already begun talking with Airbus about advancing its product development and how to speed product introductions,” Dombrowski says. “Literally, they could be producing aircraft.” Unfortunately, it’s unclear what amount of the US$150 million fund will be invested into Local Motors. Several similar investments, all focusing on aerospace, data analytics, production and other technologies, are expected in the near future – all with an eye on benefitting the European aerospace giant itself. Businesses focusing on (in-flight) entertainment devices and communication are thus also on the venture radar. However, this announcement suggests that 3D printing is heading towards a prominent role in the aircraft manufacturing industry. Many experts have predicted a significant expansion and overhaul of that industry, with Airbus and Boeing being at the forefront of those trends. And with metal 3D printing proving itself as a cost-effective technology, this interest in Local Motors is everything but a coincidence. Airline giant invests in 3D TECHNOLOGY


EN feb16-HR-nocrops
To see the actual publication please follow the link above