Singapore Strengthens Aerospace MRO with 3D Printing at Core

Singapore is advancing its position as a global aerospace hub with the launch of Phase Two of the Smart Manufacturing Joint Lab (SMJL), a partnership between the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Rolls-Royce, and Singapore Aero Engine Services Private Limited (SAESL). The initiative aims to enhance maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) operations by integrating advanced automation and additive manufacturing technologies.

The collaboration builds on the lab’s initial phase from 2017, which invested S$68 million to modernize Rolls-Royce’s fan blade production and optimize SAESL’s repair processes. That effort delivered measurable gains, including a 20 percent productivity increase at Rolls-Royce’s facility and projections of a 40 percent rise in SAESL’s output by 2028.

The Rolls-Royce UltraFan. (Photo Credit: Rolls-Royce)

A major focus of Phase Two is the adoption of 3D printing for component repair and engine overhaul. By integrating additive manufacturing into the MRO workflow, the partners aim to reduce lead times, minimize material waste, and improve the performance of complex parts. The upgraded processes are expected to help the Fan Blade Singapore facility boost production by over 30 percent without expanding its physical footprint.