GKN Aerospace has become the first company worldwide to hold Nadcap accreditation for laser wire directed energy deposition. The audit gives customers independent evidence that the process is controlled, and GKN expects it to open the way for more production parts in aerospace and defence. Nadcap criteria for this process only appeared in mid-2025.
What did the Nadcap audit examine?
Nadcap is a well-known accreditation scheme for special processes in aerospace. GKN Aerospace was reviewed across process control, working procedures, staff qualification, equipment, material handling and traceability. The company says certified L-DED-w parts are already in flight, and the accreditation adds an outside audit to that record. Sébastien Aknouche, SVP Material Solutions, said customers want robust, repeatable processes to support the move into industrial production.
How did the process get here?
GKN began with a 2017 agreement with Oak Ridge National Laboratory and later won multi-year repair work for Pratt & Whitney, where its Trollhättan site applies DED to geared turbofan engine parts. The Performance Review Institute, which administers Nadcap, issued the DED criteria AC7131/2 in June 2025, and the first audits started late that year.
Where is Nadcap heading in additive manufacturing?
By mid-2026 Nadcap had completed more than 100 powder bed fusion audits in ten countries or regions, and several OEMs require it from additive suppliers. Tekna was the first accredited for metal powder production, with criteria developed alongside BAE Systems, GKN Aerospace and Safran. Criteria for polymer laser sintering and filament extrusion were in test audits during 2026.
What it means
For manufacturers adopting AM, this shows how qualification routes mature: audit criteria arrive first, then the first accredited supplier, then OEM requirements. Buyers of wire-DED parts in aerospace can expect Nadcap status to become a standard supplier question, which raises the entry cost for smaller shops through documentation and process control. The accreditation proves the process is controlled, not that any single part is qualified. It continues the October report on the same GKN Trollhättan accreditation.
Frequently asked questions
What is Nadcap accreditation for L-DED-w?
It is an independent audit of GKN Aerospace's laser wire directed energy deposition process, covering process control, procedures, personnel, equipment, material control and traceability.
Why is this accreditation new?
The Performance Review Institute only published its DED criteria, AC7131/2, in June 2025, and the first audits began late that year.
This summary was written with the help of AI from the linked reports, under the editorial responsibility of Svetozar Kolesar.