Curtiss-Wright and Sintavia deliver additively manufactured impeller for US Navy submarine
December 4, 2024
The EMS Division of Curtiss-Wright has delivered what is reportedly the first submarine component with an additively manufactured impeller that will be installed in a US Navy vessel. Curtiss-Wright’s Engineered Pump Division (EPD), Bechtel Plant Machinery Inc (BPMI), and Sintavia, LLC, collaborated to develop, manufacture, test, and supply the submarine component utilising a qualified, metal additively manufactured part.
Sintavia provided the AM impeller following a thorough qualification process. The impeller was assembled into the pump and tested at Curtiss-Wright’s facility in Bethlehem.
Additive Manufacturing technology offers a solution to the development of a product or component that historically has been difficult or costly to manufacture, often resulting in delays. The use of this technology is expected to provide a reliable and high-quality domestic source while also leading to shorter manufacturing lead times, increased quality, lower risk in performance, and improved delivery to further meet the needs of the US Navy.
“Sintavia has proven to be an invaluable industry partner, and we are excited about the opportunity to further solidify our partnership by increasing the number of additively manufactured parts for this application and other critical naval defence components,” said David Micha, Sr Vice President and General Manager of the EMS Division. “In addition, we are proud to be providing the first critical service equipment utilising an additively manufactured component to the US Navy’s submarine program and look forward to expanding these capabilities in the future to more efficiently serve our customer.”
“We would like to thank both Curtiss-Wright and BPMI for the opportunity to leverage Sintavia’s additive technology in the production of this critical component,” stated Lindsay Lewis, Sintavia’s Corporate Vice President. “Leading-edge manufacturing processes such as AM will continue to be key differentiators in developing superior defence components in the years to come.”
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