Aerospace

Rostec allocates $44.5 million to introduce additive manufacturing to Russian aerospace

Russian state-owned industrial technology holding conglomerate Rostec is allocating $44.5 million (₽3 billion) to the development of a specialist additive manufacturing technology center.

Named after a celebrated inventor and nitrogen chemistry specialist, the V.V. Chernyshev Center for Additive Technologies (CAC) will be established by Rostec in collaboration with three other members of the nation’as aviation cluster: Russian Helicopters, engineering company Technodinamics and radio electronic holdings KRET.

“Industrial 3D printing is becoming one of the indispensable attributes of modern industry,” comments Anatoly Serdyukov (source in Russian), Rostec’s industrial director of the cluster.

“We see the high potential of this technology and introduce it into our production practice.”

Additive manufacturing for Russian and global aerospace

The purpose of the V.V. Chernyshev CAC is to introduce additive manufacturing to the serial production of Russian gas turbine engines, servicing both national and international aerospace business. Overall targets are to reduce the cost of components by 44%; wight by 25%; and production times by 50%, taking care of the whole process from design through to classification.

The first products from the center are scheduled to be certified by 2025-2030 and, as previously reported, production for the Aviadvigatel PD-35 next generation airline jet engine is likely to be part of the plan.

Projected revenue generated by the center is expected to reach in the region of almost $200 million (₽13.2 billion) between 2018 and 2027, with sales profits over $53 million (₽3.6 billion).

The PD-35 predecessor - Aviadvigatel PD-14 engine. Photo by Vitaly V. Kuzmin
The Aviadvigatel PD-14, predecessor of the fortcoming  PD-35 engine. Photo by Vitaly V. Kuzmin

Additive in Russia

V.V. Chernyshev CAC founding member, Russian Helicopters, has already shown its commitment to the advance of additive manufacturing in its Ka series helicopter line.

As FITNIK, German 3D printing service bureau FIT AG, recently established a joint venture in the country with Russian engineering firm NIK. The Russian state has also developed its own large format 3D printer.

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Featured image shows metal 3D printed component. Photo via Russia’s United Engine Corporation