How Additive Manufacturing (AM) is Enabling the Next Leap in Aerospace Innovation

In this episode, Host Fabian Alefeld speaks with Brian Neff. Brian is the CEO of Sintavia and Chairman of the Board of Additive Manufacturer Green Trade Association (AMGTA). Sintavia is an aerospace manufacturer that uses 3D printing technology to achieve the next levels of engine performance, thermodynamic efficiency, part consolidation, and sustainability for its customers.

From the Austin studio, Brian shares what makes additive manufacturing (AM) a perfect fit for building rocket engines, Sintavia's unique role at the crossroads of aerospace innovation and additive expertise, and how Sintavia is helping the aerospace industry overcome resistance to change. In addition, he describes how AM achieves new levels of sustainability for manufacturers and their customers, how Sintavia is using AM to enable next-generation aerospace innovations from fully electric aircraft to space travel, and the emerging AM capabilities and materials he is excited about.

Comments about the show or wish to share your AM journey? Contact us at [email protected]. The Additive Snack Podcast is brought to you by EOS.

Key Takeaways:

[1:53] Brian explains that multi-generational modality changes in aerospace are what excites him.

[4:30] How Sintavia differentiates themselves and their impact on the aerospace industry.

[8:17] What Brian considers barriers to AM adoption and how Sintavia overcomes the barriers.

[10:13] How AM is helping to enable sustainable manufacturing technologies and how Sintavia is approaching new applications. 

[22:12] The AM incentives that will transform the traditionally conservative aerospace industry. 

[26:09] How the ever-evolving AM industry’s emerging capabilities will impact the aerospace industry and what changes Brian envisions for the future of space travel. 

Shareables:

“I was first introduced to AM in 2011 when I was running a jet engine repair company and toured a competitor in Bavaria.” — Brian Neff, CEO, Sintavia

“Sintavia is a combination of a company that understands aerospace quality, understands additive technology, and brings them together in two very important and critical product categories which are the next generation of flight and launch engines and the next generation of heat exchangers to cool them.”— Brian Neff, CEO, Sintavia

“In 2019, we came up with the AMGTA. The whole purpose of the AMGTA is to take a very hard, very accurate look at how the technology [AM] is more sustainable, and create pathways and strategies for companies, using specific raw additive technologies, to use those properly.” — Brian Neff, CEO, Sintavia

“100% of all private commercial rocket engines, at least the thrust chambers for those, are printed. 100% across the industry of the eight companies that have either launched into space or are about to launch into space every single one of those rockets is printed.”— Brian Neff, CEO, Sintavia

“Sustainability to me is the other side of operational efficiency.” — Brian Neff, CEO, Sintavia