Beehive Industries is accelerating its production of 3D-printed jet engines, targeting an annual output of over 8,000 engines. The Denver-based aerospace company recently secured a significant contract worth $29.7 million from the U.S. Air Force for its Frenzy 8 engine, specifically designed for uncrewed systems. In pursuit of its production goals, Beehive has invested more than $50 million to expand its additive manufacturing capabilities by acquiring 30 new EOS metal 3D printers, boosting its total to 50. Additionally, they have purchased two Ohio machine shops and ordered large-format printers from Nikon SLM Solutions for wider aerospace applications.<\/p>\n
This strategy reflects Beehive’s ambition to establish an end-to-end manufacturing system that integrates additive manufacturing with dedicated machining processes, aiming to meet the Air Force’s directive for "affordable mass" production. At the core of their efforts is the Frenzy 8, a 200-pound-force-thrust engine developed for swarm-class drones and other uncrewed defense systems, which is now ready for full-rate production.<\/p>\n
The company transitioned from concept to validated technology in under a year, conducting rigorous tests that confirmed the engine’s performance across various operational conditions. The recent Air Force contract will not only support the Frenzy 8’s production but also fund initial manufacturing of a smaller 100-pound-force version, the Frenzy 6, to enhance the Air Force\u2019s capabilities in deploying economical systems at scale.<\/p>\n
To address the need for increased production capacity, Beehive’s expansion includes acquiring advanced metal additive manufacturing systems and two Ohio-based machining companies, highlighting the critical nature of precision post-processing in achieving production readiness. These facilities are set to function as a Production Machining Center of Excellence and a Production Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence, further aiding in the goal of producing more than 8,000 engines annually.<\/p>\n
In addition to enhancing engine production capabilities, Beehive’s acquisition of large-format printers aims to diversify its offerings, allowing the company to create large aerospace components for external customers alongside its engine production. These steps are part of a larger $70 million expansion in Southwest Ohio, projected to generate over 200 jobs and strengthen the company’s manufacturing infrastructure.<\/p>\n
As Beehive embarks on this ambitious journey, it faces operational challenges including the integration of new technologies, hiring of skilled labor, and ensuring consistent production quality over large volumes. The success of these initiatives will depend on optimizing various aspects such as machine uptime and inspection processes to transition from low-volume production to a high-rate output of thousands of qualified jet engines.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Beehive Industries is accelerating its production of 3D-printed jet engines, targeting an annual output of over 8,000 engines. The Denver-based aerospace company recently secured a significant\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":1753,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1752","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\n