The Airbus spin-off APWorks has been based at the Ludwig Bölkow Campus in Taufkirchen. The company leverages aerospace expertise for terrestrial industrial applications. A particularly spectacular example is the Light Rider, a 3D-printed motorcycle. Managing Director Joachim Zettler took the time to answer a few questions for us.
What does APWorks do? Please introduce yourselves briefly!
As a wholly owned subsidiary of the Airbus Group, APWorks specializes in the economic and technical optimization of components with regard to shape and material, followed by additive manufacturing. The goal is to save weight, shorten production times, integrate more functions into components than before, find the optimal material, and in some cases even shorten assembly times. Significantly more complex geometries can also be implemented than before. The best example of this is the Light Rider, the world's first motorcycle developed and manufactured using 3D printing. To achieve the aforementioned goals, the company applies proven concepts from the aviation industry to various industries. Customers include development departments and manufacturing facilities in the fields of robotics, mechanical engineering, automotive, medical technology, and aerospace.
Why did the Airbus Group establish APWorks as a standalone company rather than a new division? What are the advantages of a spin-off?
The aim then, as now, was to establish an agile unit on the market that can react quickly and efficiently to customer requirements and thus Best in Class Furthermore, component manufacturing is generally not part of Airbus' core business, so that – similar to the spin-off of Premium Aerotec in 2009 – a separate entity made more sense from the group's perspective.
“We still have the characteristics of a startup”
Are you a startup? Why?
No, we no longer see ourselves as a startup in the true sense of the word, as we have been active in the market for more than three years. Furthermore, we have established ourselves well in the fields of robotics, automotive, toolmaking, and aerospace, and are on the way to becoming more international. This no longer has the character of a startup for us, even though we still exhibit some of the characteristics of a startup. These include: Agility, speed and extremely high customer proximity.
What can established companies learn from startups?
The topic of agility is a preoccupation for many companies. How can one respond quickly and nimbly to customer requests and new market developments? That is the key question. For young and, by comparison, small companies, this is not an issue at all. This is also the reason why more and more large corporations are spinning off innovation centers and innovative small businesses. Everyone is somewhat emulating the Silicon Valley idea. But ultimately, it's always about increasing speed in order to meet market needs. That is also APWorks' goal. The topics of flexibility and speed are, in a way, synonymous with additive manufacturing.
What are the upcoming trends? What are your next steps?
Today, topics such as short production and lead times, weight savings, and functional integration are of central importance for the development and production of components. It's all about innovation, efficiency, and cost savings. The rapid availability of spare parts is also a key issue. Additive manufacturing, as offered by APWorks, offers all of this, embedded in the triad of engineering, materials, and printing.
Airbus closed its Unterschleissheim site just a few years ago and also cut jobs in Ottobrunn. Is APWorks affected by the restructuring at Airbus?
No, as I said, APWorks is its own GmbH and operates independently.
Airbus is a European company with countless locations. You're based at Ludwig Bölkow Campus in Taufkirchen. What advantages does this environment offer you? What's special about the greater Munich area?
The company headquarters at Ludwig Bölkow Campus APWorks ensures short coordination lines with Airbus colleagues in research and development, particularly in the area of materials. Furthermore, APWorks benefits from the exchange of information on the latest developments in aerospace at the location. The greater Munich area is also a dynamic and international economic region and offers optimal conditions for young, international companies like APWorks. The existing structure makes it possible to make innovative services accessible to various industries. Of course, we think and act beyond Munich and see ourselves as an international company, regardless of where we are located.
