3D print in the Maritime Industry: from concept to implementation
With this project, we explored how different stakeholders in the maritime industry can use 3D Print and AM technology to develop and improve a product and/or service ahead of competitors. The partners deep dived into four specific cases of relevance to their core business:
- On board 3D print
- Large scale 3D print
- 4D print
- Repair & Reconditioning using additive manufacturing technology
While a common learning from the process is that academia, in general, is more optimistic about additive manufacturing than what commercial availability suggests possible, the applications change as technology evolves: in a fast pace. What seemed impossible yesterday, may be commercially feasible tomorrow. For that reason, we encourage anyone who considers exploring 3D print and additive manufacturing more in depth to do so in their own context with the latest available technology. The results are likely to be very different from ours.
Throughout the project, we sought inspiration in the pains and ideas voiced by the participating companies and the technology insights shared by experts. We explored individual maritime cases, but shared and evaluated collectively, as our aim was (and still is with this report) to motivate and inspire more maritime companies to consider how 3D printing, AM and other digital technologies can be a tool or even an enabler in their future product, service and/or business development.