Maritime Industry
The maritime industry, which comprises shipping companies, ships manufacturing, and port authorities, has slowly begun to undergo a digital transformation. Automation is gaining increasing interest across the maritime industry while IMO puts the issue of autonomous ships high on the agenda, stepping up efforts toward their adoption. Also, advanced software and simulation capabilities are emerging and maritime connectivity improved. Not until very recently, however, did the digital transformation in the maritime industry apply to manufacturing – and specifically to additive manufacturing processes.
There are multiple reasons why AM was slower to enter maritime industry manufacturing processes and they depend largely on the type of ships. For example, in the yachting industry, AM already proves ideal for a large number of parts – even small parts – due to the very small zie of batches required. However, operators in this industry are traditionally very slow to adapt to change.
There are of course exceptions, especially in what we consider marine (rather than maritime) applications. This segment, which includes racing boats (especially in the America’s Cup, where technological advancements and weight containment are major issues), as well as luxury yachts. This segment has already begun opening up to these technologies for production of small part batches or custom components. More recently, new composite (CFR or GFR) materials have enabled additive manufacturing of very large parts using materials that provide sufficient chemical and environmental resistance to be used in the tough marine environment. In one case, even an entire submarine hull was 3D printed in a joint project involving ORNL and the US Navy.
In the transportation industry, thus in seaport and large ships applications, the biggest limit was part size. As new DED, WAAM and blown powder processes have enabled faster additive production of much larger parts, a slew of new applications have emerged to enable direct and cost-effective production of marine parts such as propellers, submarine ballasts and several other parts.
Finally, 3D printing, even with concrete based materials, has proven useful for building underwater structures and even help rebuild coral barriers. These applications fit more within the realm of construction 3D printing, however they have already shown enormous potential. Below you can find a selection of the most relevant news and application cases for AM in the maritime indutry.
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ASC Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of BAE Systems Australia was contracted by the Department of Defence to design and build nine Hunter class frigates for the Royal Australian Navy. A commercial Manufacturing Evaluation Program program for additive manufacturing was thus initiated by the maritime manufacturer to test parts manufactured using AML3D’s…
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Large format composite pellets 3D printing firm Thermwood recently printed several sections from a 51-foot long yacht hull mold to demonstrate how a single hull mold may be sufficient to manufacture even larger vessels, such as yachts. The printed sections of the test mold are made of carbon fiber reinforced…
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thyssenkrupp is extending its gains in marine additive manufacturing by signing a letter of intent as a prelude to entering a joint venture with Wilhemsen Ships Services for custom manufacturing marine parts. The companies will collaborate on delivering maritime spare parts using 3D printing. thyssenkrupp, which already deploys additive manufacturing…
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There was a time, not even 5 years ago, that the yachting and boating industry completely ignored 3D printing. That all seems to have changed dramatically thanks to the work of certain AM pioneers and the availability of new composite AM technologies. One of them is Moi Composites. The Italian…
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AML3D Limited just shipped its first stainless steel grade 316L 3D printed propeller to 3D Printing Corporation. 3DPC is a Japanese based 3D printing consultancy firm, focused on unearthing innovative, industry 4.0 technologies capable of enhancing the manufacturing capabilities of their clients. Both companies have been making significant moves recently.…
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AML3D Limited, an Australian company offering a very large format metal WAM technology platform, signed and is executing a contract with Austal Limited to co-develop components for maritime defense applications. The contract evolved from an MoU formed with Austal in August 2019. Austal identified AML3D as a leading provider of…
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Ultimaker and 3D Metalforge have teamed up to launch an industrial fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printing facility in Singapore. The site, reportedly the largest industrial FFF facility in Southeast Asia, comprises 21 Ultimaker S5 3D printers and is capable of 24/7 3D printing. The new facility will enable Singapore-based…
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The University of Maine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center (ASCC) and Navatek LLC, a commercial and DoD research company specializing in ship hull forms and naval structures, have been granted a $5 million contract by the Office of Naval Research (ONR). The contract and funding will enable the partners to…
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Global maritime company Wilhelmsen has demonstrated its commitment to the adoption of additive manufacturing over the past several months. Last December, for instance, the company launched an early adopter program (EAP) for 3D printing spare parts for the maritime industry. Then, in February, it completed the first commercial delivery of…
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AML3D Limited delivered its first Arcemy 3D printing module to ST Engineering in Singapore (ST) under a ‘rent to buy’ agreement. The Arcemy3D printing module supplied to ST is designed and built to minimize commissioning time before being able to produce commercially (this process is expected to be complete during…
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