GKN Aerospace becomes first to gain Nadcap accreditation for laser wire additive manufacturing

GKN Aerospace has become the first company to obtain Nadcap accreditation for Laser Wire Directed Energy Deposition, providing independent validation of a metal additive-manufacturing process for aerospace and defence applications. The audit examined process controls, operating procedures, staff qualifications, equipment, material management and traceability against specialist manufacturing requirements. GKN says it has already delivered fully certified additively manufactured components that are flying, and intends to use the accreditation to support further industrial production applications. The approval concerns manufacturing-process quality and repeatability, rather than announcing a new aircraft programme or certifying every component produced with the technology.