3D printing expert opens competence centre in Delft

Materialise joins the Aerospace Innovation Hub at TU Delft, expanding its aerospace partnerships and advancing additive manufacturing research.

Materialise has opened an Aerospace Competence Center at the Aerospace Innovation Hub in Delft, marking its first presence in the city’s aerospace network.

“The opening of our new Aerospace Competence Center aligns with our commitment to support the aerospace industry through more than three decades of experience in additive manufacturing and software solutions, as well as our pioneering role in producing certified parts,” says Materialise CEO, Brigitte de Vet-Veithen.

Materialise has produced over 500,000 3D-printed aerospace parts, manufacturing around 4,000 different types per year. The company holds flight-ready accreditations including Production Organization Approval from EASA and EN 9100 certification. It works with OEMs, airlines, MROs and suppliers across the aerospace supply chain.

Delft's Vice mayor Maaike Zwart says: “By joining the Aerospace Innovation Hub, Materialise strengthens our dynamic Aerospace Delta ecosystem and the Innovation District Delft, paving the way for groundbreaking advancements in 3D printing and sustainable aviation.”

Materialise will collaborate with TU Delft on projects where students and researchers can gain hands-on experience with additive manufacturing. The company joins established aerospace names such as Airbus and Collins Aerospace at the hub.

TU Delft’s Faculty of Aerospace Engineering dean Henri Werij says: “The arrival of Materialise at the Hub marks an exciting step toward deeper collaboration and new opportunities to drive additive manufacturing expertise to the growing aerospace community.”

Additive manufacturing helps reduce supply chain costs, speeds up prototyping and enables flexible component design. Materialise also offers certified aerospace applications and maintains a data lake to support industry decision-making.