Exclusive: Boeing's space taxis to use more than 600 3D-printed parts

Product Development Engineer Jigar Patel works with a CAD image of a thrust reverser cascade in development at Oxford Performance Materials Inc., the maker of more than 600 parts to be used on Boeing's new Starliner manned spacecraft, in South Windsor, Connecticut, the maker of more than 600 parts to be used on Boeing's new Starliner manned spacecraft, in South Windsor, Connecticut, U.S., January 31, 2017. REUTERS/Mike Segar

Boeing Co has hired a small company to make about 600 3D-printed parts for its Starliner space taxis, meaning key components in the United States manned space program are being built with additive manufacturing.

The company, privately held Oxford Performance Materials, will announce a $10 million strategic investment from advanced materials company Hexcel Corp as early as Friday, adding to $15 million Hexcel invested in May and lifting Hexcel's equity stake to 16.1 percent, Oxford and Hexcel said.