AFD Systems
Provides turn-key polymer additive manufacturing services including design, analysis, certification, and production for aerospace and industrial applications.
- CEO / Founder
- Jerrod Hartley
- Team Size
- 11-50
- Stage
- Established
- Total Funding
- $25K
- Latest Round
- Grant
- Key Investors
- Made Smarter (Technology Adoption Grant)
Technology & Products
Key Products
Turn-key polymer additive manufacturing (design, analysis, certification, Part 21G-approved production with Form 1 release); plus systems integration, airframe & cabin interior engineering, metrology/3D scanning, innovative tooling, and high-integrity test rigs for aerospace and other regulated sectors.
Technological Advantage
UK-first CAA Part 21G Production Organisation Approval dedicated to polymer AM for aviation (Form 1 release of flightworthy parts); end-to-end aerospace-grade polymer AM from design/scanning to certified production, with Made Smarter-funded 3D laser scanning metrology and FDM systems (Stratasys/Markforged; ULTEM, Antero, AM200).
Differentiation
Value Proposition
Reduces development time and cost for complex polymer parts through integrated design-to-production AM services, enabling rapid prototyping and certified production.
How They Differentiate
Aerospace/defence-focused full-service polymer AM with UK-first Part 21G POA dedicated to polymer AM (Form 1 flightworthy parts), integrated with airframe/structures engineering and certification expertise—beyond typical general-purpose AM bureaus.
Market & Competition
Target Customers
Aerospace OEMs, defense contractors, industrial manufacturers requiring certified polymer components
Industry Verticals
Aerospace; Defense; Medical; Motorsport; Nuclear; Rail; Space
Competitors
3T Additive Manufacturing; Materialise; Proto Labs
Growth & Milestones
Growth Metrics
Received £20,000 Made Smarter technology adoption grant for 3D scanning; over 600 projects across 70+ platforms; 30+ specialists at Blackpool Airport Enterprise Zone; June 2026 UK-first Part 21G POA for polymer AM.
Major Milestones
Launched polymer additive manufacturing facility; Received Made Smarter funding for 3D scanning integration; Rebranded from Airframe Designs to AFD Systems; June 2026: first UK company awarded CAA Part 21G Production Organisation Approval dedicated to polymer additive manufacturing for aviation (EASA/CAA Form 1 release)
Notable Customers
Airbus; Boeing; BAE Systems; Lockheed Martin; Babcock; Raytheon; MBDA; QinetiQ; Héroux-Devtek