Honeywell, Lufthansa adopt 3D printing

Honeywell and Lufthansa Technik are using additive manufacturing to speed the production of aerospace parts and reduce delays tied to conventional supply chains, according to company materials and industry reporting. Lufthansa Technik says its additive-manufacturing center develops prototypes, tooling and certified aircraft parts, while Honeywell says 3D printing is changing how aerospace companies design, develop and source components. The push is focused on a practical problem in aviation: spare parts that are needed in small batches, on short notice, and under strict certification rules. In maintenance and propulsion work, that can determine how long an aircraft or engine stays out of service. ### Why are these companies using 3D printing now? Lufthansa Technik says complex designs and small production batches can drive up both cost and lead time under conventional manufacturing methods. On its additive-manufacturing pages, the company says it uses in-house design, production and certification capabilities to address those constraints and offer faster, more cost-efficient solutions. The company also says its center in Hamburg can take projects from concept to aviation-approved part. (lufthansa-technik.com) Honeywell says additive manufacturing opens up both design and supply-chain options. In a company blog, Honeywell said the technology allows more complex parts, faster development and different sourcing choices than traditional methods. In a separate post on jet engines, Honeywell said ceramic 3D-printed molds are helping cut months from the development timeline for a next-generation turbofan family. (lufthansa-technik.com) ### Which parts are already moving into certified use? Lufthansa Technik said in a June 8, 2022 statement that a metal component for the IAE V2500 engine anti-icing system received EASA certification, which it described as the first load-bearing metallic spare part from a 3D printer approved for aerospace use. The part was developed at Lufthansa Technik’s additive-manufacturing center with Premium AEROTEC. (aerospace.honeywell.com) Lufthansa Technik also says its additive-manufacturing operation works under 21G and 21J approvals, covering production and design authority. Industry coverage from 2025 reported the company was using material-extrusion printers for aircraft interior parts and prototyping, with final parts produced in high-performance thermoplastics for aviation applications. ### How does this change spare-parts logistics? Honeywell says additive manufacturing can reshape aerospace supply chains by enabling parts that would be difficult or uneconomic to make through conventional processes. (lufthansa-technik.com) Lufthansa Technik says additive production is particularly useful where single units or very small series are needed quickly. Together, those points describe a model in which some parts are made closer to the point of maintenance need rather than stocked in large inventories for long periods. (lufthansa-technik.com) Lufthansa Technik’s broader maintenance business underscores that use case. The company says it supports airlines, lessors, governments and private jet owners across maintenance, repair, overhaul and material supply, including 24-hour aircraft-on-ground support desks. In that setting, shorter production cycles for approved parts can affect turnaround times when a component is unavailable through normal channels. ### Why does propulsion work make qualification harder? (aerospace.honeywell.com) The 2022 Lufthansa Technik certification milestone involved an engine anti-icing component, showing that additive manufacturing is moving beyond cabin and tooling applications into engine-related hardware. Engine and propulsion parts face tighter qualification demands because they operate under heat, vibration, pressure and safety constraints, which means the manufacturing process itself must be documented and approved. Lufthansa Technik says certification is a core part of its additive offering, and Honeywell’s engine-development work points to the same emphasis on process control and validation. (lufthansa-technik.com) Dr. Aenne Koester is listed by Lufthansa Technik as head of additive engineering and manufacturing, a sign that the company has built a dedicated organization around design and approval of printed parts rather than treating the work as a lab exercise. Honeywell, for its part, ties additive manufacturing directly to turbine-blade development and aerospace production methods. ### What should readers watch next? Lufthansa Technik says its additive-manufacturing center offers certified aircraft parts as well as tooling and prototypes, and Honeywell continues to describe additive manufacturing as part of future aerospace production and engine development. (lufthansa-technik.com) The next markers will be additional certified printed parts, especially for engine and structural applications, and whether more maintenance providers fold on-demand production into routine support operations. (lufthansa-technik.com 1) (lufthansa-technik.com 2)