Interview with Stephan Eelman

Mr. Eelman, what connects you to the Erfurt event?

I've been attending rapid.tech 3D ever since I started working intensively with additive manufacturing, in other words since around 2010. It is one of the best specialist events in its field in Germany. Since 2022, I have not “only” been a participant, but also actively support the organization of the congress as head of the Aerospace Forum.

What topics will be the focus of the forum in 2025?

Put simply, aerospace is always about achieving flight with the lowest possible weight and high functional integration in the smallest possible installation space. Additive manufacturing can provide innovative solutions here that are not feasible with conventional technologies. But: AM must also be profitable, especially in view of the necessary qualification and certification. This means that the first “shot” has to be right straight away given the often very small quantities involved, especially in aerospace. The focus in the Aerospace Forum is therefore clearly on applications that offer the user added value and have already proven this in practice.

What applications are these, for example?

Experts from Pioneer Aeronautics Innovation, Liebherr-Aerospace, CHESCO and Howmet Tital will be presenting such applications for the aviation sector. For example, how wingtips manufactured using artificial intelligence and AM ensure more efficient and sustainable operation of existing aircraft. Or how AM-compliant development and approval of aviation components is achieved. In addition to established AM processes for metal, we will also look at other manufacturing processes that can be used in the aviation sector and present investment casting, which is carried out using additively manufactured molds.

The Ariane Group and Fraunhofer EMI will present current applications from the aerospace sector, including the industrialized additive manufacturing of rocket engine components and multidisciplinary topology optimization in the field of nanosatellite technology. Materialise will also report on the progress of polymer AM for aerospace, particularly in terms of sustainability.

Why are you involved in rapid.tech 3D alongside your professional duties?

AM continues to exert a great fascination. This technology is constantly evolving. New materials, new applications and new trends are coming into play. In conjunction with digitalization and AI, further potential is opening up for aerospace. Highlighting this for potential users and advancing it together with profit for the aerospace industry is a strong driver.