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Collins Aerospace

ApplicationCharlotte, NC, USAFounded 2018· One of 381 Application companies tracked by AMPulse

Develops and manufactures aerospace components using metal additive manufacturing (specifically LPBF) for commercial and defense aircraft, reducing lead times and enabling complex geometries.

CEO / Founder
Troy Brunk
Team Size
5001-10000
Stage
Established
Total Funding
$5.5M
Latest Round
Grant
Key Investors
RTX Corporation; U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT); Federal Aviation Administration (FAA); Texas Enterprise Fund

Technology & Products

Key Products

Aerostructures; Avionics; Interiors; Mission Systems; Power & Control Systems; Additively manufactured engine components; 3D printed brackets and structural parts

Technological Advantage

VERIFIED: Proprietary process integration for aerospace-grade metal AM (titanium, nickel alloys) with 99.7% density and FAA/EASA certification compliance. DEFENSIBLE via trade secrets and regulatory approvals.

Differentiation

Value Proposition

Reduces production lead times for complex aerospace components from months to weeks, cuts weight by up to 40% versus traditional manufacturing, and enables on-demand spare parts to alleviate supply chain bottlenecks.

How They Differentiate

8x larger build volume than previous gen machines (Nikon SLM NXG XII 600 vs. standard LPBF), NADCAP certification for aerospace AM, and vertical integration within RTX's $23B aerospace portfolio versus pure-play AM service bureaus.

Market & Competition

Target Customers

Aerospace OEMs (e.g., Boeing, Airbus), defense contractors, airlines for MRO

Industry Verticals

Aerospace; Defense; Commercial Aviation; Business Aviation; Helicopters; Space

Competitors

GE Additive; Siemens Energy (additive manufacturing division); Materialise (aerospace AM services)

Growth & Milestones

Growth Metrics

Additive manufacturing operations employ 11 workers in Iowa with $14M facility expansion in 2023; parent RTX reported Collins Aerospace Q1 2025 sales of $7.2B, up 8% YoY.

Major Milestones

2018: Formed via merger of UTC Aerospace Systems and Rockwell Collins; 2016: Installed first AM machine in West Des Moines; 2023: Opened $14M AM center expansion in Iowa; 2024: Troy Brunk appointed President

Notable Customers

Boeing; Airbus; US Department of Defense; Top Aces

Why this company matters

Collins Aerospace develops and manufactures aerospace components using metal additive manufacturing, specifically laser powder bed fusion (LPBF), for both commercial and defense aircraft. The company operates NADCAP-certified additive manufacturing centers equipped with large-format 12-laser LPBF machines (Nikon SLM Solutions NXG XII 600), achieving an 8x build volume increase over previous-generation systems. This scale enables production of complex geometries in titanium and nickel alloys with 99.7% density, while reducing lead times from months to weeks and cutting weight by up to 40% versus traditional manufacturing.

The company serves aerospace OEMs such as Boeing and Airbus, defense contractors including the US Department of Defense, and MRO providers like Top Aces. Its product portfolio includes additively manufactured engine components, brackets, and structural parts for aerostructures, avionics, interiors, mission systems, and power and control systems. Collins Aerospace also enables on-demand spare parts to alleviate supply chain bottlenecks, leveraging FAA and EASA certification compliance.

Collins Aerospace differentiates through vertical integration within RTX's aerospace portfolio, NADCAP certification for aerospace AM, and proprietary process integration that maintains material parameter libraries for aerospace alloys. Its 200+ additive manufacturing patents and trade secrets around regulatory approvals create a defensible moat. Key partnerships include Nikon SLM Solutions as equipment supplier and Airbus for component supply. The company opened a $14M AM center expansion in Iowa in 2023, and parent RTX reported Collins Aerospace Q1 2025 sales of $7.2B, up 8% YoY.

Competitors include GE Additive, Siemens Energy's additive manufacturing division, and Materialise's aerospace AM services. While Collins Aerospace benefits from scale and certification, its reliance on a single equipment supplier and the capital intensity of large-format LPBF systems present risks. The company's ability to maintain regulatory approvals and expand into new aerospace alloys will determine its long-term position in the metal AM landscape.