Burnley-based FDM Digital Solutions Ltd has been acquired by Gardner Aerospace, an international manufacturer of aerospace finished components.
Formed in 2012 by Graeme Bond, FDM is at the forefront of 3-D printing and has grown to become one of the UK’s leading polymer additive layer manufacturers; it has customers in many sectors, including automotive, medical, motor-sport, Formula One and aerospace.
It will become part of the Gardner Technology Centre, a newly created business unit focused on advanced technology, innovative solutions and R&D.
Gardner Aerospace CEO Dominic Cartwright said: “We are breaking new ground in terms of technology.
The acquisition of FDM gives us the perfect opportunity to expand our technical knowledge, R&D capability and product offering, and it aligns us with our customers’ growing expectations on innovative solutions, continuous improvement and cost-competitiveness.
"The role of 3-D printing in manufacturing is constantly expanding and this newly acquired additive layer manufacturing capability complements our long-standing capabilities as a producer of metallic detailed parts and sub-assemblies.”
Gardner Aerospace counts key aerospace OEMs and Tier One suppliers among its customers, including Airbus, Embraer, Gulfstream, Pilatus, Spirit, GKN, Stelia Aerospace, Ruag and Safran (
www.gardner-aerospace.com).
It employs more than 2,000 people world-wide, with manufacturing facilities in the UK, France, Poland and India.