Airbus
Scales wire-arc Directed Energy Deposition (w-DED) to produce large structural titanium aircraft parts, reducing lead times and material waste by up to 95% compared to traditional methods.
- CEO / Founder
- Guillaume Faury
- Team Size
- 10000+
- Stage
- Established
- Total Funding
- Public Company (Equity raised through IPO and secondary offerings)
- Latest Round
- IPO - 2000-07
- Key Investors
- French Government (via SOGEPA) 10.9%, German Government (via GZBV) 10.8%, Spanish Government (via SEPI) 4.1%, Capital Research and Management Company 9.9%, BlackRock 4.4%
Technology & Products
Key Products
Aircraft structural components; Interior cabin parts; Helicopter components; Satellite parts
Technological Advantage
Verified advantage: w-DED achieves deposition rates of several kilograms per hour for parts over 23 feet long, with 15% weight reduction in certified cabin parts. Defensible through in-house R&D and partnerships.
Differentiation
Value Proposition
Enables on-demand production of large titanium components (up to 7 meters long) with 95% less material waste, cutting lead times from months to weeks and reducing aircraft weight for improved fuel efficiency.
How They Differentiate
3x faster build speed for large titanium parts via w-DED vs. traditional machining, with 95% material waste reduction and 15% lighter certified cabin parts compared to conventional designs.
Market & Competition
Target Customers
Aerospace OEMs, airlines, defense contractors
Industry Verticals
Aerospace; Defense; Space
Competitors
Boeing, Lockheed Martin, COMAC
Growth & Milestones
Growth Metrics
Revenue increased 4% to €52.6 billion in commercial aircraft activities for FY2025; produces over 25,000 flight-ready 3D-printed parts annually.
Major Milestones
Founded in 1970; First flight in 1972; Produced over 200,000 certified 3D-printed parts in service; Scaling w-DED for large titanium parts in 2026
Notable Customers
Korean Air (33 A350 order in 2024), Airlines worldwide (766 deliveries to 86 customers in 2024), Military agencies, Space agencies