Pratt & Whitney develops new GTF repair solution

Pratt & Whitney has developed a new 3D printing repair method for components of its GTF engine, that will cut repair times by more than 60%, the company stated.

This repair method was developed at Pratt & Whitney’s North American technology accelerator in Jupiter, Florida, using a 3D printing technique called directed energy deposition to fix structural features on engine cases.

“This new 3D repair process makes us faster and more flexible,” said Kevin Kirkpatrick, vice president of aftermarket operations at Pratt & Whitney. “It helps reduce turnaround times, lowers tooling costs, and eases the pressure on the current supply chain. We're exploring more ways to use this technology across critical engine components.”

Over the next five years, Pratt & Whitney expects to recover $100 million worth of engine parts by using this new repair technology.

This development builds on a broader plan announced in April 2024 to use more technology accelerators for tasks like advanced inspections, adaptive processing, and coatings for various engine parts.