This article is based on an official press release from Airbus and additional industry data regarding Norsk Titanium.

Airbus Initiates Serial Production of Large Titanium 3D-Printed Parts for A350

As of January 2026, Airbus has officially commenced the serial integration of large-scale, 3D-printed titanium components into the A350 program. According to an official company statement, this milestone focuses on the Cargo Door Surround area of the Commercial-Aircraft, marking a decisive shift from traditional Manufacturing methods to advanced Wire-Directed Energy Deposition (w-DED) technology.

This development represents a significant evolution in aerospace manufacturing. While 3D printing (additive manufacturing) has been used previously for smaller brackets and non-structural cabin parts, the move to w-DED allows for the production of large, high-load-bearing structural components. Airbus indicates that this transition is driven by the need to reduce raw material waste, shorten production lead times, and prepare for the high-rate demands of future aircraft programs.

The Shift to Wire-Directed Energy Deposition (w-DED)

Historically, the aerospace sector has relied heavily on “Powder Bed Fusion” for additive manufacturing. While precise, this method is constrained by the size of the printer’s bed, typically under two feet, and relatively slow production speeds measured in grams per hour. In its recent announcement, Airbus detailed its adoption of w-DED to overcome these limitations.

Breaking Size and Speed Barriers

The w-DED process utilizes a robotic arm to feed titanium wire into a laser or plasma beam, melting the material layer-by-layer to build a part. According to technical details released by Airbus, this method offers two primary advantages over powder-based systems:

• Scale: The robotic nature of w-DED allows for the creation of components up to 7 meters (23 feet) in length, enabling the production of large structural ribs and frames.
• Speed: Deposition rates have increased from grams per hour to several kilograms per hour, making the technology viable for industrial-scale serial production rather than just prototyping.

The parts currently being installed on the A350 Cargo Door Surround are produced as “near-net shapes.” This means the component is printed to a rough outline of the final specification and then machined to exact tolerances. This hybrid approach combines the speed of additive manufacturing with the precision of traditional machining.

Sustainability and Efficiency Gains

A primary driver for this technological shift is the drastic reduction in material waste, measured in the industry by the “Buy-to-Fly” ratio. This ratio compares the weight of the raw material purchased to the weight of the final finished part.

According to industry data and Airbus’s manufacturing analysis:

• Traditional Forging: Often requires a Buy-to-Fly ratio of 10:1 to 20:1. This means for every 1 kilogram of finished part, 10 to 20 kilograms of raw titanium must be purchased, with 80-95% of that material machined away as scrap.
• w-DED Printing: Achieves a ratio closer to 2:1. Only about 2 kilograms of wire are needed for a 1-kilogram part, resulting in significantly less waste.

By reducing the amount of titanium required, Airbus aims to lower both environmental impact and production costs. Furthermore, the digital nature of the process reduces lead times from months to weeks, as it eliminates the need to create physical molds or dies associated with forging.

Strategic Partnerships and Future Programs

The successful integration of these parts is supported by a partnership with Norsk Titanium. Following a Master Supply Agreement signed in April 2024, Norsk Titanium has utilized its proprietary Rapid Plasma Deposition (RPD) technology to supply these structural components. This collaboration has been instrumental in moving the technology from a testing phase to serial mass production.

Enabling the ZEROe and Next-Gen Single-Aisle

Airbus has stated that the A350 application serves as a “stepping stone” for more ambitious future projects. The scalability of w-DED is considered critical for two upcoming challenges:

1. High-Rate Production: The successor to the A320 family, expected in the late 2030s, will require production rates that traditional forging supply chains may struggle to support. w-DED allows for on-demand printing of large parts, potentially alleviating supply bottlenecks.
2. Hydrogen Aircraft (ZEROe): Future Hydrogen-powered aircraft will require complex cryogenic fuel tanks. w-DED is uniquely suited to print these large, hermetically sealed structures as single pieces, reducing joints and minimizing the risk of leaks.

AirPro News Analysis

The adoption of w-DED for the A350 Cargo Door Surround signals that Airbus is moving aggressively to close the gap with competitors in the additive manufacturing space. Boeing has utilized Norsk Titanium’s RPD parts on the 787 Dreamliner since approximately 2017 to reduce costs. However, Airbus’s application appears to target larger and more complex structural areas, suggesting a strategy of “catch-up and scale-up.”

Furthermore, this move validates the broader industry trend toward “Near-Net Shape” manufacturing. As geopolitical and supply chain instabilities continue to affect the availability of raw titanium, technologies that reduce material consumption by up to 90% are no longer just “green” initiatives, they are strategic necessities for maintaining production stability.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is w-DED?
Wire-Directed Energy Deposition (w-DED) is a 3D printing technique that uses a laser or plasma beam to melt metal wire as it is deposited by a robotic arm. It is faster and capable of building larger parts than traditional powder-bed fusion.

Which aircraft are using these parts?
As of January 2026, the parts are being serially integrated into the Airbus A350, specifically in the Cargo Door Surround area.

Who is the supplier for these parts?
The parts are produced in partnership with Norsk Titanium, utilizing their Rapid Plasma Deposition (RPD) technology.

Sources: Airbus, Norsk Titanium