Frankfurt am Main, Germany – November 21, 2019 – Oerlikon AM, the additive manufacturing unit of global technology powerhouse Oerlikon, announces it will provide metal additively manufactured qualification and flight components for United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) next-generation Vulcan Centaur rocket. ULA is the world's most experienced and reliable launch service provider, with more than 130 launches and 100 percent mission success.
ULA will design and develop the components, while Oerlikon supports with Design for AM, printing and post-processing. The nickel alloy 718 components will be printed in Oerlikon AM’s new, large state-of-the-art, AS9100-certified metal AM facility in Huntersville, North Carolina. Finished components will be delivered to ULA’s 1.6-million-square-foot factory in Decatur, Alabama. ULA is on track for the first Vulcan Centaur launch in 2021.
Oerlikon worked with ULA to complete a six-month process qualification to demonstrate properties that met ULA’s rigorous requirements for test and flight hardware.
“We are very excited about this alliance, which allows us to manufacture a number of flight components for ULA,” said Dr. Sven Hicken, Head of Oerlikon’s Additive Manufacturing Business Unit. “ULA is a leader in using additive manufacturing to reduce production lead times and increase performance in launch vehicles. Vulcan Centaur will advance the use of AM in rockets, and we are looking forward to the launch in 2021.”
Come by Oerlikon’s booth in Hall 12.1, Booth B01 at Formnext to find out more about additive manufacturing applications.
About Oerlikon AM
Oerlikon AM is a business unit of the global technology and engineering powerhouse Oerlikon, which is headquartered in Switzerland. Oerlikon’s additive manufacturing unit is leading transformative change in the aerospace, medical, automotive, power generation and tooling industries. Oerlikon AM provides print-tested and qualified metal powders, design for AM expertise, conventional and additive manufacturing services, from prototyping to production, as well as product validation and quality inspection support to leading global manufacturing companies who are incorporating additive manufacturing into their business models. Oerlikon AM employs more than 300 people at six locations in Europe, the USA and China, and is backed by Oerlikon’s 10,500+ employees in 37 countries.
About ULA
With more than a century of combined heritage, ULA is the world’s most experienced and reliable launch service provider. ULA has successfully delivered more than 130 satellites to orbit that provide Earth observation capabilities, enable global communications, unlock the mysteries of our solar system, and support life-saving technology.
For more information on ULA, visit the ULA website at www.ulalaunch.com, or call the ULA Launch Hotline at 1-877-ULA-4321 (852-4321). Join the conversation at www.facebook.com/ulalaunch, twitter.com/ulalaunch and instagram.com/ulalaunch.
Disclaimer
OC Oerlikon Corporation AG, Pfäffikon together with its affiliates, hereinafter referred to as “Oerlikon”, has made great efforts to include accurate and up-to-date information in this document. However, Oerlikon makes no representation or warranties, expressed or implied, as to the truth, accuracy or completeness of the information provided in this document. Neither Oerlikon nor any of its directors, officers, employees or advisors, nor any other person connected or otherwise associated with Oerlikon, shall have any liability whatsoever for loss howsoever arising, directly or indirectly, from any use of this document.
The contents of this document, including all statements made therein, are based on estimates, assumptions and other information currently available to the management of Oerlikon. This document contains certain statements related to the future business and financial performance or future events involving Oerlikon that may constitute forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained herein could be substantially impacted by risks, influences and other factors, many of which are not foreseeable at present and/or are beyond Oerlikon’s control, so that the actual results, including Oerlikon’s financial results and operational results, may vary materially from and differ from those, expressly or implicitly, provided in the forward-looking statements, be they anticipated, expected or projected. Oerlikon does not give any assurance, representation or warranty, expressed or implied, that such forward-looking statements will be realized. Oerlikon is under no obligation to, and explicitly disclaims any obligation to, update or otherwise review its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
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Image: Rendering of Vulcan Centaur rocket courtesy of United Launch Alliance
