Airbus has selected Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg to produce the lower cargo door actuator and valve for the A350, using 3D printing technology (additive layer manufacturing).

Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg is the company’s centre of competence for flight control systems, landing gears, gears, gearboxes as well as electronics, and is collaborating intensively with Airbus in the development of additive layer manufactured components.

At the beginning of 2019, it started the serial production of 3D printed parts, having certified and delivered a printed proximity sensor bracket for the A350 nose landing gear. This bracket was the first-ever introduced Airbus system part to be qualified for titanium additive layer manufacturing. The valve of the lower cargo door actuator system is a much more complex component for the same aircraft.