Etihad, Diehl sign commercial 3D retrofit deal

Dubai: Etihad Airways Engineering and Diehl Aerosystems have signed a deal to jointly design, manufacture and install a 3D printed cabin part for a customer.

Etihad says the part — an in-flight entertainment cover plate to be installed in economy class seats of several aircraft for a Middle East airline — it will be the first such serially produced plastic 3D part on an aircraft, and will lead to cost savings of 20 to 30 per cent.

Etihad Airways Engineering CEO Jeff Wilkinson said, “Our partnership with Diehl will help us commercialise this technology and make it available to our customers around the world.”