🚀 Exciting News: New Quoter & Client Portal Launch 🎉
Dear Customers,
Our new online quoter and client portal are officially live! From September to December, both old and new versions will run in parallel as a transition period.
✨ Special Offer: Enjoy automatic quantity discounts — the more you order, the lower the unit price (up to 25% off for selected materials).
🌟 Already available:
⚡ Better user experience & faster server performance
🕒 More accurate delivery time estimates
📝 Simplified and faster order process
🔮 Coming soon:
🛠 Instant quote for CNC & other processes
📦 Order tracking & workflow updates
📧 New email notification system
📂 Batch upload & batch editing of models
🔍 Online DFM (Design for Manufacturability) checks
📊 Enhanced order panel with detailed statistics
Thank you for your support — we look forward to bringing you an even smoother ordering experience!
The Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI), in partnership with the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), has released a new strategy and roadmap aiming to transform additive manufacturing (AM) in the UK aerospace sector by 2028. This initiative seeks to significantly increase the use of AM in civil aerospace, preparing the industry for a £10 billion market by 2033, while addressing key challenges and accelerating the adoption of AM technologies.
🌟Content in this article
The Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI), supported by the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC)—the National Centre for Additive Manufacturing—has unveiled a comprehensive strategy and roadmap for additive manufacturing (AM). This new plan envisions a transformative leap in AM technology by 2030, aiming for a substantial increase in the number of flying AM parts used in civil aerospace. This goal is to be achieved through a fully capable, end-to-end UK supply chain.
To realize this vision, it is essential to align technology development with critical product decisions anticipated by industry stakeholders in the 2028 timeframe, as they prepare for next-generation commercial aircraft.
The roadmap highlights: “The UK has all the essential elements for large-scale aerospace AM production, including a robust AM network with machine OEMs, a rapidly expanding supply chain, and unmatched academic expertise.”
The roadmap emphasizes the need for a unified effort to shift the focus from research and development to the production of end-use parts. Additive manufacturing is expected to play a crucial role in supporting aviation’s Net Zero 2050 goals and enhancing the global competitiveness of the UK aerospace sector.
Alex Hickson, Head of Technology – Structures, Manufacturing & Materials at ATI and co-author of the roadmap, stated: “Advancing our capabilities and integrating additive manufactured parts into aircraft are vital steps toward achieving Destination Zero. This roadmap outlines the strategic direction and key milestones necessary for boosting UK competitiveness and capitalizing on the economic opportunities in this field.”
Katy Milne, Future Mobility Associate Director at MTC, added: “The aerospace sector is experiencing unprecedented innovation, with new, more sustainable aircraft and more integrated supply chains being developed. AM is a critical enabler in this evolution.
“By sharing insights through this roadmap, OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers will be better equipped to make informed decisions on optimizing AM for next-generation aircraft. This will help supply chains build the necessary capabilities to meet future demands and ensure a prosperous future for UK aerospace manufacturing.”
Additive manufacturing has the potential to deliver products with improved fuel efficiency, enhanced thermal management, and reduced mass. By consolidating complex assemblies into single parts, AM can significantly cut manufacturing costs, reduce waste, and simplify assembly. It also accelerates the time to market for complex, high-value products by lowering development costs and shortening development cycles.
While aerospace products from major players such as Airbus, Boeing, GE Aerospace, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., and Rolls-Royce are already benefiting from AM in UK facilities, there is still considerable untapped potential. To stay globally competitive, the UK must accelerate its adoption of AM technologies.
The roadmap focuses on four key challenge areas: strengthening supply chain resilience, improving qualification efficiency, reducing part costs, and expanding application opportunities. Addressing these challenges will build confidence in AM, enabling decision-makers to integrate this technology into future programs confidently.
Developed with input from over 50 partners across the aerospace supply chain, including OEMs, the ATI AM Strategy and Roadmap includes case studies from Airbus, Eaton, GKN Aerospace, and Rolls-Royce, showcasing the benefits of AM in parts production, thermal management, and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO).
The ATI Additive Manufacturing Strategy and Roadmap is now available for download here:
Abstract: In the field of mechanical manufacturing, the durability of parts directly determines the lifespan and reliability of the products. Galvanization, as a classic, efficient, and cost-effective metal surface treatment process, provides excellent rust and corrosion protection for steel parts. This article will deeply explore all aspects of galvanizing for mechanical processing parts, including its core principles, detailed comparisons of various processes (electro-galvanizing, hot-dip galvanizing, mechanical galvanizing, etc.), the protective mechanism of the galvanized layer, advantages and disadvantages analysis, subsequent treatments (such as passivation, phosphating), quality inspection standards, and how to select the most suitable galvanizing process based on the characteristics of your parts, helping you equip precision-machined parts with the strongest “armor”.
In the field of precision manufacturing, part polishing is a crucial step that determines the performance, lifespan, and appearance of products. Whether it is the core components of automotive engines, the precise components of medical devices, or the micro parts of electronic equipment, after professional polishing treatment, not only can the surface smoothness be improved, the friction loss be reduced, but also the corrosion resistance be enhanced, laying a solid foundation for subsequent assembly and use. This article will start from the basic understanding of part polishing, deeply analyze the mainstream polishing processes, material adaptation schemes, common problem solutions, equipment selection techniques, and industry development trends, providing comprehensive and practical reference guidelines for manufacturing enterprises, technicians, and procurement professionals.
