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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It’s a big day for the UMaine Advanced Structures and Composites Center. Literally. The university has been awarded not one, not two, but three Guinness World Records today for its large-format 3D printer and related projects. The 3D printer itself was awarded the record for largest prototype polymer 3D printer,…
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Norway-based classification society DNV GL has issued a certificate to engineering company thyssenkrupp, making its TechCenter Additive Manufacturing the world’s first producer of 3D printed parts for maritime applications to receive manufacturer approval from DNV GL. As an approved supplier for maritime and general industrial 3D printed components, thyssenkrupp aims to…
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Northern Italy-based Aidro Hydraulics & 3D Printing is part of a Joint Innovation Programs (JIPs) focused on 3D printing of functional production parts for the Oil, Gas and Maritime industries. Participating companies in the project include giants such as Equinor, BP, Total, Rolls Royce Marine, TechnipFMC, Vallourec. Members include companies…
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American Magic, a New York Yacht Club challenger for the 36th America’s Cup, is furthering its use of 3D technologies to gain a competitive edge in the world renowned sailing competition. Recently, the company divulged how it is utilizing Creaform’s 3D scanning to simulate and verify boat components. Now, it…
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Following the success of previous AM Focus webinars, 3dpbm held the fourth installment in the series for the current year. Sailing the seas of AM applications for the maritime and the marine industries, the webinar touched upon adjacent segments such as the yacht-making industry and oil and gas, to highlight key…
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Rotterdam-based design studio The New Raw is no stranger to environmental causes—it’s whole mandate is to raise awareness about eco issues such as plastic waste with innovative design and technologies like 3D printing. Most recently, the group teamed up with the Aikaterini Laskaridis Foundation in Greece to highlight the specific…
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The maritime industry may not yet be at the same stage as, say, the aerospace or automotive industries in terms of additive manufacturing adoption, but there have been some tangible steps on the parts of shipping companies, ship manufacturers and port authorities to explore and accelerate the use of maritime…
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Creaform, a Canadian 3D scanning and measurement company, has been named an official supplier of the New York Yacht Club American Magic team, which will be participating in the 36th America’s Cup as a potential Challenger. Creaform will help the team to create, simulate and verify components for its racing…
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In January 2018, 11 companies started two aligned Joint Innovation Projects (JIPs). The objective of the group, which has grown to 16 partners, is to collaborate in the development of a guideline and accompanying economic model for the additive manufacturing of qualified, functional metal spare parts for the Oil, Gas…
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Norwegian registrar and classification society DNV GL will take on the role of lead researcher for the first phase of a new Singapore-based program aimed at exploring the use of additive manufacturing in the maritime sector. The initiative, a joint industry program (JIP) launched by the Maritime and Port Authority of…
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