Boeing HorizonX Ventures invests in 3-D printing company

Photo courtesy of Boeing HorizonX.

Boeing HorizonX Ventures has announced its investment in Digital Alloys Inc., a Burlington, Mass.-based company developing high-speed, multimetal additive manufacturing (AM) systems that produce 3-D-printed parts for aerospace and other production applications.

Digital Alloys' Joule Printing™ technology can combine multiple metals rapidly into each part to help improve thermal, electrical, magnetic, and mechanical properties. The process allows metals like titanium and high-temperature alloys to be 3-D-printed for parts that could be used on Boeing products.

"Our investment in Digital Alloys will help Boeing produce metal structural aerospace parts faster and at higher volume," said Brian Schettler, managing director of Boeing HorizonX Ventures. "By investing in companies with emerging additive manufacturing technologies, we aim to strengthen Boeing's expertise and help accelerate the design and manufacture of 3-D-printed parts to transform production systems and products."

Boeing has more than 60,000 3-D-printed parts flying on space, commercial, and defense products.