The DESCAM Program

ASTM will play a leading role in amplifying DECSAM’s outcomes—ensuring its findings, standards insights, and adoption pathways reach the global manufacturing community. Leveraging its UK-based AM operations and world-class Centre of Excellence, ASTM will provide deep expertise in qualification, certification, data interoperability, and sustainable materials practices. This engagement builds on the recent launch of ASTM International UK, a dynamic new regional hub created to accelerate additive and advanced manufacturing qualification, standardization, and industrial adoption across the UK and Europe

Authentise will establish an end-to-end digital thread across the additive-manufacturing supply chain by deploying its FLOWS MES, defining technical data packages, and enabling dynamic production scheduling across supply-chain and supply-network scenarios. Together, these capabilities aim to strengthen resilience and reliability while reducing costs in AM operations.

The University of Sheffield is an established academic partner, bringing a strong record of industry-focused research and deep fundamental insight. Within DECSAM, it will leverage the Henry Royce Institute for Advanced Metals Processing and its open-architecture AM platform to explore and implement advanced machine-control and validation methods, underpinned by internationally leading capability in AM modelling and simulation. The work will be delivered by a team of four academics (Prof. Iain Todd (P.I.), Prof. Hector Basoalto, Prof. Kathy Christofidou, Dr Pablo Baldivieso) and seven senior researchers. Sheffield will be a partner in DECSAM until December 2027.

ToffeeX will support DECSAM by developing new physics-driven generative design software such as topology optimisation, integrated physics simulation, and ML-based surrogate modelling tools. These will be used to generate designs for high-performance components. Features such as design and manufacturability constraints ensure both interpretability and manufacturability of results, while advanced algorithms enable rapid design generation, accelerating the design–manufacture–test cycle.

Apex Additive Technologies will extend powder life and reduce costs by implementing advanced process control and conditioning for reuse; benchmark, validate, and deploy macro-simulation workflows to enable true right-first-time operations; and validate and implement beam-shaping to balance quality with productivity. It will also develop and qualify a broad range of materials to expand capability and support partner applications with Airbus, Domin, Renishaw, and GKN, while piloting the ASTM AM Certification Program.

Additive Manufacturing Solutions (AMS) is a knowledge and capability hub delivering metal AM from prototype through to production, backed by qualification and testing, sustainable and next-generation material development, and training via its in-house academy. Within DECSAM, AMS will focus on boosting productivity through novel scan strategies and developing sustainable material feedstocks.

Renishaw plc will support DECSAM by developing processes and parameters for high-temperature materials, improving process control through modelling and simulation, and extending powder life for greater feedstock sustainability. Using its RenAM 500 series metal additive manufacturing systems, Renishaw will also deliver improvements to productivity, quality, and automation to reduce non-productive time and lower overall labour costs.

GKN Aerospace is a risk and revenue sharing partner in a number of leading aero-engines and will leverage this position to integrate multiple DECSAM-developed technologies to demonstrate the cost effectiveness of powder bed additive manufacturing for future engine products. GKN will lead the assessment and development of new material systems including sustainable feedstock, part-based simulation methods, and co-ordinate both in-situ inspection and monitoring, and Laser Powder Bed productivity studies.

Domin is a scale-up based in Bristol, United Kingdom, developing and manufacturing their patented, high-performance technology for hydraulic systems, including high-speed control valves and ultra-compact pumps. Domin combines modern tools like metal 3D printing, modern electronics, and advanced design and simulation techniques, to deliver unparalleled performance and reliability. Domin’s mission is to transform motion control in globally important industries like industrial manufacturing, automotive, and aerospace.

“The UK government’s investment in green aerospace innovation is a strong signal that sustainable manufacturing is both a national priority and a global opportunity,” said Andrew G. Kireta Jr., president of ASTM International. “DECSAM exemplifies the kind of industry-led collaboration needed to unlock additive manufacturing’s potential at scale—and ASTM is proud to contribute to its success.”

“As the National Centre for Additive Manufacturing, we’re excited to help improve the cost-competitiveness of the technology so that it can be scaled and adopted more widely across the UK’s aerospace industry. This large programme is an opportunity to make a major step forward towards this and we’re proud to be playing a central role in its delivery and working with excellent partners,” said Dr. David Brackett, Chief Engineer – Digital Engineering, MTC.

Sébastien Aknouche SVP Material Solutions at GKN Aerospace said: “The DECSAM Project strengthens GKN Aerospace’s broader additive manufacturing capabilities, delivering environmental, performance, and supply chain advantages over traditional material supply chains. With growing demand for additive solutions from all engine customers, this project enhances our UK technology base and positions us for future production growth.”

“As the sole academic partner, this project highlights the University of Sheffield’s leading expertise in additive manufacturing and computational modelling. This cross-cutting research project will allow us to accelerate our work in advanced manufacturing and computation modelling, bringing together diverse areas of expertise that wouldn’t otherwise be possible at this speed. The additive manufacturing research we’ll be conducting at the Henry Royce Institute will not only contribute to their key performance indicators but also directly support two of our university’s spin-out companies: Instruct3D and m2i2. We’re especially excited about the potential for this research to integrate directly with the AMRC’s Factory+ connected manufacturing framework,” said Prof. Iain Todd, Professor of Metallurgy and Materials Processing, University of Sheffield.

“Additive manufacturing can only deliver on its aerospace promise if the entire supply chain is digitally connected and traceable. That’s where Authentise comes in. By establishing the digital thread across DECSAM partners we’ll help turn today’s research into certifiable, production-ready solutions faster, cheaper, and more sustainably.”

“Too often, additive manufacturing gets stuck in pilots because the data and workflows aren’t connected. DECSAM gives us the chance to prove that a real digital thread across materials, machines, and partners doesn’t just make aerospace parts cheaper and faster — it makes the whole supply chain more resilient and sustainable. That’s the only way this industry scales.”
Andre Wegner, CEO, Authentise Ltd.

“This grant is a powerful validation of the work Domin is doing to lead the next generation of aerospace manufacturing. Metal 3D printing is a transformative technology, and we are already redefining industry standards through it, but to make it truly viable for aerospace, we must solve tough problems around material consistency, process control, and certification. With this funding, we’re taking a huge step forward”.
Marcus Pont, CEO