Rolls-Royce
Develops and manufactures critical, weight-optimized aerospace and defense components using in-house metal Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) additive manufacturing.
- CEO / Founder
- Tufan Erginbilgic
- Team Size
- 5001-10000
- Stage
- Public
- Total Funding
- Publicly Traded
- Latest Round
- Post-IPO
- Key Investors
- European Union (Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking); South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority
Technology & Products
Key Products
Additive Manufacturing Development Cell (Bristol); LPBF-qualified engine components (e.g., for Pearl 10X); Defense and aerospace structural parts
Technological Advantage
Proprietary LPBF process expertise and design-for-AM (DfAM) knowledge accumulated over decades, protected by trade secrets and a vast aerospace IP portfolio. The 350 m² environmentally controlled development cell in Bristol enables rapid prototyping and process maturation under strict aerospace-grade conditions, creating a high barrier to entry through certification and regulatory lock-in.
Patent position
Rolls-Royce filed 29 patent families in 2022–2024, and its volume rose 7% from 27 in 2019–2021 while tracked AM filings in the same patent offices fell 31%; Equipment’s share rose from 48% to 59%. AMPulse analysis
- Filing momentum
- 29 families filed 2022–2024, 27 in 2019–2021 (+7%); all tracked AM filings in the same offices -31%
- Focus, 2019–2021 → 2022–2024
- Materials 89% → 93%Equipment 48% → 59%Applications 33% → 22%
- Filed in
- EP 52%US 43%CN 7%WO 5%
- Named competitors, AM patent families
- GE Additive 219Siemens Energy Additive Manufacturing 182Safran 157
107 AM patent families in total. Recent years are still being published, so read a filing change against the same-office figure.
Differentiation
Value Proposition
Reduces lead times for complex engine components from months to weeks, enables design optimization for weight and performance unachievable with traditional methods, and secures sovereign manufacturing capability for critical defense assets.
How They Differentiate
Vertically integrated engine OEM with in-house AM development and production, unlike competitors who are primarily equipment suppliers (GE Additive) or service bureaus. Focus on full lifecycle ownership of IP and manufacturing readiness for defense-aerospace components, creating a lock-in moat via program-specific qualification (e.g., GCAP).
Market & Competition
Target Customers
Aerospace OEMs (e.g., Airbus, Boeing), Defense agencies (e.g., UK MoD), and next-generation combat aircraft programs (e.g., GCAP).
Industry Verticals
Aerospace; Defense
Competitors
GE Additive; Siemens Energy; Safran
Growth & Milestones
Growth Metrics
Group revenue increased 14% to £20.06B in 2025; operating profit grew 40% to £3.46B; operating margin expanded to 17.3%.
Major Milestones
1906: Company founded; 2026: Opened 350 m² Additive Manufacturing Development Cell in Bristol with UK MoD funding; 2025: Achieved £20.06B revenue and £3.46B operating profit; Ongoing: Component development for GCAP sixth-generation fighter program
Notable Customers
UK Ministry of Defence; Airbus; Boeing; GCAP program
Recent coverage of Rolls-Royce
- Rolls-Royce opens new AM Development Cell to accelerate aerospace part qualification3dprint.com
- Rolls-Royce Opens AM Development Cell in Bristol for Defense Aircraft Engine Componentsmanufacturingdigital.com
- Rolls-Royce opens additive manufacturing hub in Bristol for military aircraft engine componentsthedefensepost.com
- Rolls-Royce opens UK defense-funded additive manufacturing cell in Bristolforo3d.com
AM patents
AM-relevant patents linked to this company.
- Patents
- 119
- Granted
- 22
- Families
- 107
Leading domains: process (115), material (105), equipment (55)
Filings by year: 2024: 21 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 8
- METHOD OF MANUFACTURE AND APPARATUS THEREFOR20260027623 · US
- POWDER FLOW MEASUREMENT IN ADDITIVE MANUFACTURING SYSTEMS04155013 · EP
- A METHOD OF MANUFACTURING A COMPONENT04321280 · EP
- POROUS STRUCTURES20190054535 · US
- Methods of manufacturing and cleaning10376932 · US
Funding rounds
- Grant$69.76M2026-03Lead: European Union (Clean Aviation Joint Undertaking) · Source: Rolls-Royce Press Release
- Grant$2.6M2026-03Lead: South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority · Source: Rolls-Royce Press Release
Equipment deals on record
Publicly disclosed purchases or installs only.
- SLM 500
Not disclosed
Buyer: Rolls-Royce · Supplier: SLM Solutions (Nikon SLM Solutions) - SLM 500
2 systems · Not disclosed
Buyer: Rolls-Royce · Supplier: Nikon SLM Solutions