Collins Aerospace has officially opened its expanded additive manufacturing center in West Des Moines, Iowa. The RTX business spent $14 million on the 9,000-square-foot addition, which features new 3D metal printers. According to the company, one of the new printers has eight times the build volume of the facility's existing printers. The facility currently produces engine components for commercial and military aircraft and has received the National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program (NADCAP) certification for Additive Manufacturing.
In a recent quote, Renee Begley, West Des Moines site lead for Collins Aerospace, said, "From supporting the backlog in commercial aircraft to enabling future platforms, and reducing carbon emissions to providing supply chain relief, additive manufacturing is poised to play an integral role in the future of the aerospace and defense industry. Additive manufacturing has the potential to help us reduce weight, complexity, lead time and cost in the parts we supply, and this expansion represents an investment in our business to help deliver those benefits to our customers."
Investing in American Manufacturing - 2023
This map shows where manufacturers are choosing to invest their resources, whether they are building new production facilities or expanding existing plants.