Collins Aerospace, a subsidiary of RTX (NYSE: RTX), announced yesterday a $14 million expansion at its additive manufacturing center in West Des Moines, Iowa. The newly expanded facility spans 9,000 square feet and will house cutting-edge 3D metal printers, significantly bolstering the company's additive manufacturing capabilities.
This move enables the company to explore innovative production possibilities for engine components in both commercial and military aircraft. The addition of state-of-the-art 3D metal printers, including one with eight times the build volume of existing machines, opens doors to greater advancements in the manufacturing of land-based turbine components.
Renee Begley, the West Des Moines site lead for Collins Aerospace, emphasized the transformative potential of additive manufacturing in the aerospace and defense sectors. She stated, "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."
The certification of the West Des Moines facility by the National Aerospace and Defense Contractors Accreditation Program (NADCAP) for Additive Manufacturing cements the company's reputation for excellence in the industry. Collins Aerospace is now one of only eight centers in the United States to receive this prestigious accreditation, solidifying its position as a leading force in the additive manufacturing space.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds hailed this development as a testament to Collins Aerospace's commitment to the state. She expressed her enthusiasm, stating, "Today's expansion in West Des Moines is a testament to the commitment Collins Aerospace has made to our state, and we're equally committed to providing the strong economic environment that will fuel its innovation here for decades more to come."
With additive manufacturing taking center stage in Collins Aerospace's growth strategy, the company maintains a global network of additive production centers in Iowa, Minnesota, North Carolina, and Singapore, supported by an additive research center in Conn. This expansion marks a significant leap forward for the company's additive manufacturing capabilities, promising to reshape the future of aerospace manufacturing.
The Collins Aerospace additive manufacturing center expansion signifies the company's dedication to advancing aerospace manufacturing capabilities, positioning them for greater innovations in the field. The new facility will enable the production of cutting-edge components and contribute to the growth of Iowa's manufacturing landscape.
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