HAL joins hands with Wipro 3D for aerospace component development

By OEM Update Editorial January 9, 2020 4:55 pm IST

Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) and Wipro3D, the metal additive manufacturing (AM) business of Wipro Infrastructure Engineering (WIN), have signed a pact to design, develop, prove, manufacture and repair aerospace components using metal 3D printing technology.

The Memorandum of Understanding also accentuates development, proof and application of new material for use in metal additive technology, stated HAL.

“This initiative between HAL and Wipro 3D will create a unique synergy of capabilities that can accelerate the adoption of metal additive manufacturing in aerospace in India. Qualification of parts for aerospace is challenging as it would require proving out and extensive testing followed by certification by regulatory authorities which may also include flight testing. This cooperation would be a unique opportunity for both the parties. Metal 3D printing has the potential to play a significant role in the success of national aerospace and defence platforms including HAL’s own needs,” said Shekhar Shrivastava, CEO, Bangalore Complex, HAL.

Wipro 3D has recently developed the country’s first industry-grade metal additive 3D printing machine jointly with the Indian Institution of Science (IISc).

Globally, the aerospace industry has been one of the foremost adopters of metal 3D printing due to the benefits of faster design iterations, weight and geometry optimisation, performance improvement, and flexible manufacturing.

“Wipro 3D and HAL have worked together in the past. This further strengthens our collaborative efforts to create additive technology leadership in aerospace,” Pratik Kumar, CEO, Wipro Infrastructure Engineering, was quoted saying.