AML3D’s Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing selected for use in naval shipbuilding
October 29, 2020
AML3D Limited, Edinburgh, Australia, reports that its WAM® metal Additive Manufacturing technology has been selected by ASC Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of BAE Systems Australia, as having the potential to participate in its shipbuilding activities. Since December 2018, ASC Shipbuilding has been contracted by Australia’s Department of Defence to design and build nine Hunter class frigates for the Royal Australian Navy.
To drive innovation, ASC Shipbuilding wishes to highlight new technologies that maximise the cost-effectiveness of local manufacturing, while minimising lead-times for ship sustainment in Australia.
Under the initial commercial evaluation and validation testing programme, AML3D will use WAM®, a Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) technology and type of Directed Energy Deposition (DED), to produce various parts in a range of metal alloys, with the objective of meeting BAE’s internal standards for additively manufactured components.
The results of testing will be used by ASC Shipbuilding to determine whether AML3D’s technology is a suitable manufacturing solution to support the continuous naval shipbuilding and sustainment sovereign capability as laid out in the Australian Government’s Naval Shipbuilding Plan.
Andrew Sales, AML3D’s Managing Director, commented, “We are pleased to commence this project with ASC Shipbuilding. Having the stringent customer evaluation of AML3D’s proprietary wire Additive Manufacturing process will not only enhance exposure of our technology for marine and defence applications, but the successful endeavour would lead to a sustainable local shipbuilding industry for future generations.”
