Industry New investment for Boeing HorizonX Ventures

The patented multi-metal additive manufacturing system enables rapid, low-cost production of aerospace-quality 3D-printed parts. With their new approach, Digital Alloys found a way to avoid the cost and complexity of powder-based systems making the technique very attractive for manufacturing. The delivered resolution is higher than that of other wire-based 3D-printing techniques which is essential for high precision parts needed in aircraft manufacturing. Today, Boeing has more than 60,000 3D-printed parts which are installed in space, commercial and defense products. Additive manufacturing generates great value for Boeing by reducing costs and time for design, manufacturing and delivery.

Through the combination of multiple metals into each part thermal, electrical, magnetic and mechanical properties can be enhanced. Metals like titanium and high-temperature alloys could be 3D-printed for parts and used on Boeing products.

"Our investment in Digital Alloys will help Boeing produce metal structural aerospace parts faster and at higher volume than ever before," said Brian Schettler, managing director of Boeing HorizonX Ventures. "By investing in companies with emerging additive manufacturing technologies, we aim to strengthen Boeing's expertise and help accelerate the design and manufacture of 3D-printed parts to transform production systems and products."

The Boeing HorizonX Ventures investment portfolio is made up of companies specializing in autonomous systems, energy and data storage, advanced materials, augmented reality systems and software, machine learning, hybrid-electric and hypersonic propulsion, and Internet of Things connectivity.

Digital Alloys was founded in January 2017 and is based in Burlington, Massachusetts.