Metal desk subsidiary company Aïdro has become a qualified supplier of additively manufactured aluminum flight parts for Leonardo Helicopters.

Aidro is one of only two suppliers to have received the declaration of qualification of the additive layer manufacturing process with Leonardo. It has been working with the aerospace sector since 2018 after obtaining its AS/EN9100 certification and will now use its expertise in additive manufacturing to serve parts for Leonardo, which offers a range of helicopters to the commercial, utility, security and defence.

Leonardo Helicopters has deployed its products in more than 150 countries and manages all stages of research, design, development, production, customer support and training. This extends from its class of 1.8-ton single-engine helicopters to its 16-ton tri-engine aircraft. In the field of 3D printing, Leonardo has recognized the potential for creating lightweight and complex parts and will draw on Aidro’s experience in hydraulics and hydraulics to source components requiring such knowledge.

“Leonardo is committed to introducing and expanding the use of additive manufacturing on its rotorcraft, taking advantage of the opportunities offered by its unique capabilities,” commented Dario Bonanno, Industrial Engineering Manager at Leonardo. “The availability of a qualified supply chain is a fundamental requirement to support the industrial sustainability of the company’s technology roadmap.

“In addition to supporting Leonardo in the design, Aidro also organized training and knowledge sharing sessions on additive manufacturing with its employees”, commented Valeria Tirelli, President and CEO of Aidro. “This joining of forces and this continuous process of mutual learning becomes essential in a rapidly changing environment to be able to design, create and recreate high value products. With our common roots in northern Italy and the combined expertise of our teams, we truly believe the sky is the limit with Leonardo.

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