Jamco America, an interior products supplier and turnkey aircraft interiors integrator in the aerospace industry, announced its partnership with Airtech Advanced Materials Group, a composite manufacturer of consumables and supporting materials, to revolutionize aerospace manufacturing through 3D printing (3DP) tool recycling. The two companies say the partnership enables faster production of finished goods with reduced risk, cost and a lower total carbon footprint. By embracing sustainable products and practices, Jamco and Airtech says they are entering “a new era of environmentally conscious aerospace manufacturing.”
The partnership between Jamco and Airtech began in 2006, with Airtech supplying composite manufacturing consumables and supporting materials to Jamco. In 2021, the collaboration expanded into large-format additive manufacturing (LFAM) tooling. Jamco’s goal is to explore LFAM technology for high-temperature applications, aiming to overcome the limitations of traditional composite layup tooling. This promises to significantly reduce lead times and supply chain delays while enhancing performance and reducing the risk of defects in finished parts.
The LFAM molds produced by Airtech utilize Airtech’s Dahltram I350CF thermoplastic resin, a fully recyclable polymer. Depending on the application’s requirements, Airtech can grind up and compound this resin into a blended or 100% recycled formulation. Ongoing testing at Airtech aims to validate the best blended formulations for high-performance applications such as aerospace tooling and molds.
Through this innovative partnership, Jamco and Airtech aim to revolutionize aerospace manufacturing and enhance product quality, reduce lead times, lower production costs, and minimize environmental impact, thus ensuring greater sustainability, cost-effectiveness and safety across the industry.