A Huge Leap Towards Sustainable Manufacturing
Additive Manufacturing Solutions (AMS), located in Burscough, West Lancashire, UK, has recently secured funding from Innovate UK for their innovative project called ‘Recycling and Reuse of Aerospace Materials for Additive Manufacturing’ (R2AM2). This project aims to explore the vast potential of recycling aerospace parts and using them as feedstock for metal additive manufacturing. By doing so, they hope to not only reduce waste but also examine the processability and performance of recycled additive manufacturing production.
According to recent research, there is a staggering amount of non-ferrous metals (excluding aluminum) available for recycling from retired civil aircraft, estimated at approximately 740 tonnes each year. Unfortunately, only a small fraction of this valuable resource is currently recycled. The R2AM2 project seeks to change this by initiating an environmental shift in how additive manufacturing materials are utilized.
This initiative is particularly significant considering the projected growth of the global additive manufacturing powder market, expected to surpass $1 billion this year. Titanium, which is a crucial component in this market, faces potential supply constraints and rising costs due to geopolitical conflicts and limited resources. Therefore, utilizing the approximately 600 tonnes of recycled aircraft parts becomes increasingly vital.
AMS refers to this approach as “high-value scrap mining” and envisions it as a sustainable alternative to traditional resource-intensive mining practices. By repurposing scrap aerospace parts and transforming them into manufacturing feedstock, AMS hopes to create a vibrant and highly profitable source of materials for industries such as defense, space, aerospace, and automotive.
Robert Higham, CEO and founder of AMS, emphasizes the importance of Innovate UK’s support in this field, stating that it is a significant step toward their goal of promoting and increasing onshore manufacturing. The ability to establish a secure and sustainable supply chain of products is essential for their ambitious plans. The R2AM2 project represents the first step in developing a high-value circular economy and providing valuable data on its possibilities. AMS is honored to be awarded the funding necessary to bring this idea to an industrial feasibility stage.
The R2AM2 project is scheduled for completion in November 2023 and involves recycling scrap aerospace parts into powder for testing and subsequent use in manufacturing new parts. The information collected from these tests will provide crucial insights into the viability of using recycled materials for premium additive manufacturing feedstock in the UK.
AMS invites you to share your thoughts on this project through their social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Make sure to sign up for their weekly additive manufacturing newsletter to stay updated on the latest stories in the industry. With initiatives like R2AM2, the future of sustainable manufacturing looks promising.
