Strata - a composite aero-structures manufacturing facility in the UAE - Siemens and Etihad Airways Engineering have successfully created the Middle East's first 3D-printed aircraft interior part as part of a pilot project, said a report.

The part, a plastic frame which surrounds media screens on Etihad Airways aircraft, can be manufactured on demand, cutting production time and eliminating the need for shipping or a locally-stored inventory, said a report in WAM.

The monitor frame was selected for the pilot project because of its complexity and appearance requirements. The 3D-printed parts can be employed in Etihad Airways aircraft immediately.

The 3D- printing technology also removes the requirement to design and build tooling for the manufacturing process, allowing future design updates to be modelled virtually and printed swiftly using existing equipment.

"This project showcases our joint capabilities in the UAE to design, certify and manufacture parts using the latest technologies. Its importance cannot be understated, as 3D printing enables high flexibility during design and prototyping and short lead times during production. It opens new possibilities to the industry and inspires our talented engineers to make their ideas become a reality," said Jeff Wilkinson, CEO, Etihad Airways Engineering, during a joint press conference held at GMIS 2017, the world’s first cross-industry forum.

"This technology has the potential to revolutionise the aerospace industry through innovation, while also developing local knowledge and skills," said Badr Al Olama, CEO of Strata and head of the GMIS organising committee. "We are extremely proud to announce the successful completion of our pilot project, this is a key step towards our goal of deploying 3D printing technology on live applications."

The timeframe in manufacturing aircraft parts is the primary challenge, Al Olama noted, while explaining that the new project would cut production time for individual parts from 120 days to only a few days.

During the project, Siemens used its global expertise in industrial 3D printing to consult on the selection of materials, testing and the development of the manufacturing processes. Etihad Airways Engineering was responsible for the part’s design and its certification for use in aviation. Strata 3D-printed the part in their Al Ain factory, supported by local partners VPS and D2M. The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority, GCAA, approved the entire process.