At the end of August this year, a working meeting was held at the State Enterprise “Odesa Aviation Plant,” part of Ukroboronprom, with heads of aviation factories. The topic was “Challenges in implementing import substitution measures at enterprises.”
During the meeting, solutions were proposed to boost production efficiency and achieve import substitution through mastering additive manufacturing technologies. For perhaps the first time, representatives from the private sector took part in the meeting with reports and presentations.
Specifically, the Titanium Institute in Zaporizhzhia proposed metal powder alloys for fabricating parts using LPM additive manufacturing technology.
Prostir3D showcased samples of products and technological equipment for the aviation industry, made using additive manufacturing technologies with advanced modern thermoplastics.
Experts from Prostir3D also proposed cutting-edge methods for manufacturing parts and spare components for aviation equipment. They cited successful examples of design bureau Pivdenne and State Enterprise Antonov using ULTEM 9085 material — certified for aviation use — in their products. This means that, today, import substitution challenges can be effectively addressed.
But import substitution wasn’t the only thing on everyone’s mind. As Ukroboronprom head Aivaras Abromavičius pointed out, the top priority for the concern right now is developing modern, competitive aviation technology. To realise these ambitious plans, manufacturers and designers need to move away from outdated post-Soviet methods and adopt cutting-edge Western technologies — like those offered by STRATASYS, for example.
Current trends in industrial manufacturing show that thermoplastics and composite materials are effectively replacing metals. Components like frames, structural elements, load-bearing parts, brackets, and much more can now be produced using 3D printing technology.
Samples of parts made using LPM and FDM additive manufacturing technologies will be showcased at the PROSTIR 3D stand during the 16th International specialised exhibition “Arms and Security 2019,” taking place from 8 to 11 October 2019 at the International Exhibition Centre in Kyiv.