Additive Manufacturing and Supply Chain Transformation in Aerospace
Aerospace Additive Manufacturing Market Outlook
No single technology dominates every application. Instead, process‑material fit drives selection. Aerospace Additive Manufacturing Market Growth Metal powder bed fusion (PBF)—laser (LPBF) and electron‑beam (EB‑PBF)—is the workhorse for high‑resolution, complex parts in nickel superalloys, titanium (Ti‑6Al‑4V), aluminum, and cobalt‑chrome. LPBF excels at thin‑wall, intricate geometries (fuel nozzles, heat exchangers), while EB‑PBF offers faster builds and better handling of reactive powders like titanium with reduced residual stresses.
Directed energy deposition (DED), including laser metal deposition and wire‑arc AM (WAAM), enables large structures, repairs, and feature additions with high deposition rates. DED is ideal for near‑net‑shape preforms of spars, ribs, or landing‑gear components, and for MRO repairs on turbine blades and structural parts. Binder jetting is emerging for high‑volume metal parts after sintering, with promise for brackets and fittings if aerospace‑grade densities and properties are demonstrated consistently.
On the polymer side, high‑temperature thermoplastics like PEEK, PEKK, and ULTEM…

