Lockheed Martin, Sintavia Team Up to Advance Metal Additive Manufacturing

Sintavia developed material parameters for alloy C103, a high-performance niobium alloy which is well suited for rocket, jet and satellite propulsion applications. Photo Credit: Business Wire

Lockheed Martin Corp. and Sintavia are collaborating to expand research of metal additive manufacturing (AM) opportunities as an alternative to castings and forgings. The companies say that AM (also known as 3D printing) has the capability to improve efficiencies in existing castings and forgings supply chains, and provide parts with a higher level of detail and greater design opportunities.

Sintavia is an AM supplier for Lockheed Martin, supporting several programs in the manufacture and production of metal additive parts. The new collaboration will explore additional AM technology areas, including laser powder bed fusion, electron beam-directed energy deposition and friction stir AM.

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This enhanced relationship builds on the White House initiative “AM Forward,” announced by President Joe Biden in May. It is a voluntary compact aimed at strengthening U.S. supply chains by supporting U.S.-based suppliers’ adoption and deployment of AM.

Sintavia designs and 3D prints advanced propulsion and thermodynamic systems for customers in the aerospace and defense industry. It is a founding member of the Additive Manufacturer Green Trade Association which promotes the environmental benefits of AM over traditional methods of manufacturing. 

“Sintavia and Lockheed Martin are committed to improving the capability, agility and competitiveness of the defense industrial supply base,” says Brian Neff, Sintavia’s founder and CEO. “Our partnership with Lockheed Martin seeks to identify and streamline manufacturing inefficiencies, specifically in the production of flight critical structures.”

Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services.

“Lockheed Martin’s collaboration with Sintavia demonstrates our dedication to the White House’s AM Forward campaign in reducing overall operating costs and strengthening our domestic supply chain, efforts that are in line with our 21st Century Security vision,” says David Tatro, vice president for Operations Process Transformation at Lockheed Martin.

• Read about Sintavia’s development of Niobium printing technology for aerospace and defense.
• Learn how scaling production at Sintavia reveals sustainability challenges with AM.
• Read about the initial participants in the AM Forward initiative which was announced during a presidential visit to United Performance Metals in Cincinnati, Ohio.