Manufactured by the U.S.-Israeli firm Stratasys on a FDM 3D printer, the parts take advantage of the new lightweight, but strong, materials coming into use today, like Airbus-certified ULTEM 9085 resin, which is flame, smoke and toxicity compliant, as well.

Speed of production is the other major appeal of 3D printing for Airbus. In fact, efforts to make a deadline inspired Airbus to turn to Stratasys, which was not only able to make the parts on time and cheaply, but also with up to 90 percent less raw material and energy. For Dan Yalon, executive vice president of business development, marketing and vertical solutions at Stratasys, the 3D-printed parts represent the future of airplane production.

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