PPG supplies Lockheed Martin with aircraft seals

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PPG recently supplied Lockheed Martin with sets of six custom-designed ramp seals for the aft loading ramp of the C-130J Super Hercules military tactical airlifter.

“These 3D printed components are a game-changer for the C-130J Super Hercules,” Rod McLean, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin’s Air Mobility & Maritime Missions line of business, said. “PPG’s ARE technology is an outstanding example of how manufacturing innovation and evolution combine to deliver affordable, customized and durable components for our operators.”

PPG created the ramp seals using its patented ambient reactive extrusion technology, a 3D-printing process. This allowed the company to customize the design of various parts for continuous process improvement while increasing sustainability. The sale is PPG’s first for 3D printed components.

In conventional manufacturing, excess materials are removed to create the desired part. In additive manufacturing, the exact amount of material is deposited in the precise layout and design of the part, enabling the creation of durable and functional parts that were previously difficult to produce. This process shortens the time required to bring a product to market, eliminates the rework of a manually created product, reduces waste, and saves energy.

The first 3D printer using this technology for commercial applications was installed at PPG’s Application Support Center in Los Angeles.