Stratasys and AM Craft Forge Strategic Partnership to Revolutionize Certified 3D Printed Parts in Aerospace

Stratasys, a global leader renowned for its cutting-edge 3D printing technologies applied across a multitude of industries, has announced a significant collaboration with AM Craft, an innovative aviation manufacturing specialist based in Latvia. This pivotal strategic partnership, which synergizes the extensive expertise and technological prowess of both entities, is poised to dramatically accelerate the production and widespread adoption of flight-certified 3D printed components within the demanding aerospace sector. The alliance represents a forward-looking step towards more resilient, efficient, and sustainable supply chains for aircraft maintenance and manufacturing.

The foundation of this groundbreaking partnership involves both a definitive commercial collaboration agreement and a strategic investment made by Stratasys into AM Craft. This deliberate alignment is designed to leverage the complementary strengths of each company. Stratasys contributes its unparalleled depth of experience in industrial additive manufacturing systems, materials science, and comprehensive application development. In contrast, AM Craft brings specialized knowledge in polymer additive manufacturing, advanced design for aerospace applications, and, crucially, expertise in airworthiness certification—a critical hurdle for any technology seeking widespread adoption in aviation. Together, they aim to unlock new levels of efficiency and innovation, addressing long-standing challenges in aircraft part procurement and delivery.

Airlines can replace discontinued seat arm caps, trays, and cupholders with 3D printed versions, demonstrating the practical application of this technology in cabin interiors. (Photo Credits: Business Wire)

A cornerstone of this transformative collaboration is AM Craft’s possession of an EASA Part 21G Production Organization Approval. This certification is not merely a formality; it represents a monumental achievement that directly addresses one of the most significant obstacles to the broader adoption of 3D printed parts in the aviation industry: regulatory compliance and certification. With this approval, AM Craft is uniquely positioned to deliver fully certified additive manufactured components directly to airlines, maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) organizations, as well as original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). This capability ensures that essential parts—ranging from interior cabin components to intricate structural elements—are available precisely when and where they are needed, significantly streamlining complex supply chain logistics and reducing aircraft downtime. The EASA Part 21G approval guarantees the highest standards of quality, reliability, and safety for every 3D printed component, instilling confidence across the entire aerospace ecosystem.

Jeff Hemenway, Senior Vice President at Stratasys, eloquently articulated the profound challenges that have historically plagued the aviation aftermarket. He highlighted its inherent characteristics of low volume and high variability, which have often led to bottlenecks and inefficiencies. “The low volume, high mix nature of the aviation aftermarket has resulted in extreme challenges to supply even the most minor of parts necessary to keep global fleets flying,” he stated. These challenges often translate into prolonged lead times, exorbitant tooling costs for small batches, and the looming threat of aircraft on ground (AOG) situations due to unavailable parts. Hemenway provided reassurance that additive manufacturing offers a highly cost-effective and agile solution, capable of producing specialized parts precisely at the required rates and volumes, on-demand. Furthermore, AM Craft’s EASA-approved certification significantly reduces the regulatory and operational burden on end customers. This crucial certification acts as a guarantee of unparalleled reliability, traceability, and safety for all 3D printed components, allowing airlines and MROs to integrate them with complete confidence, knowing they meet the most stringent aerospace standards.

Expanding the Global Production Network for Aviation Additive Manufacturing

As a testament to the deepened collaboration and strategic vision, Jeff Hemenway will join the AM Craft board of directors, further solidifying the integration and shared objectives between the two leading entities. This move underscores Stratasys’s commitment to the success and strategic direction of AM Craft. Currently, AM Craft maintains robust operations for manufacturing aviation components within Europe, serving a critical market with certified parts. Demonstrating its capability for strategic expansion, AM Craft has successfully extended its EASA Part 21G Production Organization Approval to Paradigm 3D, a key partner company located in Dubai. This extension broadens its reach into the dynamic Middle Eastern aviation market, offering localized support and faster component delivery. Meanwhile, Stratasys has been actively producing certified aviation parts through its dedicated subsidiary, Additive Flight Solutions (AFS), strategically located in Singapore. Under the new framework of this expanded partnership, AM Craft will assume full ownership and operational control of AFS. This pivotal acquisition not only extends AM Craft’s production network significantly into the burgeoning Southeast Asian market but also sets the stage for further global expansion, with concrete plans to establish a brand-new, state-of-the-art facility in Hamburg, Germany, within the coming months. This new European hub will further enhance localized production capabilities and responsiveness for clients across the continent.

The newly integrated and expanded network, operating a formidable fleet of 13 advanced printers under the stringent EASA 21G approval, has already achieved an impressive milestone, producing over 28,000 flight-ready parts. This track record underscores the proven capability and reliability of their additive manufacturing processes for aerospace applications. Looking ahead, the partnership is actively exploring potential collaborations with Stratasys Direct Manufacturing in the United States. Such a collaboration would leverage Stratasys Direct Manufacturing’s extensive equipment base and manufacturing expertise to enhance production capabilities even further, creating a truly global and interconnected ecosystem for certified aerospace 3D printing. This global strategy aims to position production facilities closer to major MRO hubs and aerospace clusters, reducing logistics complexities, accelerating delivery times, and providing regionalized support to customers worldwide. Scott Sevcik, AM Craft’s Vice President of Strategy and Business Development, expressed profound optimism regarding the expansive potential of this strategic partnership, highlighting the inherent global nature of the aviation industry.

“Aviation is a global industry, and our customers see localization of production as a major advantage that AM Craft can offer. By aligning with Stratasys and Additive Flight Solutions, we are better able to meet our customers’ needs to be in more major MRO hubs and provide timely, certified components. This proximity not only reduces shipping times and costs but also offers a critical layer of supply chain resilience and responsiveness. We believe that this collaboration with Stratasys, as well as the ongoing development of relationships with other major aviation suppliers and distributors, will be instrumental in helping us to significantly accelerate our future growth and market penetration. The ability to provide EASA-certified parts across multiple continents is a game-changer for our clients and for the industry as a whole, enabling more efficient and sustainable aircraft operations globally.”

This alliance between Stratasys and AM Craft marks a pivotal moment for the aerospace industry, promising to unlock unprecedented levels of efficiency, resilience, and innovation through advanced additive manufacturing. The combined strengths, particularly AM Craft’s certification prowess and Stratasys’s technological leadership, are set to redefine how critical aircraft parts are designed, produced, and supplied globally. The expansion of their certified production network, from Europe to Dubai, Singapore, and soon Hamburg, demonstrates a clear commitment to localizing production and enhancing responsiveness to customer needs worldwide. This strategic vision will undoubtedly contribute to reducing aircraft downtime, optimizing inventory management for airlines and MROs, and fostering a more agile and sustainable future for aviation. The partnership’s focus on certified parts ensures that these advancements are implemented with the highest standards of safety and reliability, paving the way for wider adoption of 3D printing in the skies.

What are your thoughts on this significant partnership between Stratasys and AM Craft and its potential impact on the future of aerospace manufacturing? We invite you to share your insights in a comment below or join the conversation on our official LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter pages! Don’t miss out on the latest advancements and news in the world of additive manufacturing – be sure to sign up for our complimentary weekly newsletter here to get the freshest 3D printing news delivered straight to your inbox! Additionally, you can explore all our insightful videos and exclusive content on our dedicated YouTube channel.