DEEP unveils HexBot six-arm robotic DED machine for large-scale metal Additive Manufacturing
May 12, 2025
DEEP Manufacturing Limited, based in Bristol, UK, has revealed its HexBot robotic Wire Arc Directed Energy Deposition (DED) Additive Manufacturing machine, a technology also referred to as Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM), for large-scale metal part production.
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The HexBot is designed for use in the energy, offshore, and maritime sectors, where customers requiring large, custom components quickly and accurately stand to benefit significantly from the technology. Applications include structural parts for offshore wind platforms, subsea energy infrastructure, and shipbuilding, with the system aimed at addressing longstanding engineering and operational challenges.
The six-arm synchronised DED setup operates in unison to manufacture large-scale metal components. Each robotic DED arm can independently build parts up to 3 m in diameter, and when working together, the full HexBot system can produce components up to 6.2 m in diameter and 3.2 m high.
DEEP Manufacturing sees the HexBot project as a major technological milestone. Compared to conventional methods, it enables faster and more flexible production of complex, high-strength parts, allowing DEEP to address the needs of the offshore, maritime, and energy industries.
“HexBot pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in ultra large-scale Additive Manufacturing, offering speed, scale, and customisation on a level never achieved before,” stated CEO Peter Richards. “This is a uniquely capable system backed by our world-class technical expertise – one that’s not only delivering on DEEP’s vision but also contributing to the advancement of manufacturing as a whole.”
Launched in January 2025, DEEP Manufacturing was established as a specialist division of DEEP, which is developing next-generation underwater pressure vessels to support the creation of subsea human habitats. These ambitious structures demand highly customised, large-scale metal components, produced with extreme precision and at speeds beyond the reach of conventional manufacturing.
The company secured DNV approval in principle (AiP) for its use of Wire Arc DED in the production of steel pressure vessels for human occupancy in February.
While initially developed to meet internal demands, the company states it quickly became clear that DEEP Manufacturing’s unique capabilities have far wider industry applications. The business is now supporting external clients across offshore, maritime, energy, and aviation sectors – industries where the need for fast, scalable, and structurally sound metal components is constant.
DEEP is also in discussions with a number of UK and US-based partners to explore Joint Industry Projects (JIPs) aimed at accelerating WAAM adoption and helping shape global industry standards.
“It’s a challenging and uncertain time for many industries, but advances in technology – particularly Additive Manufacturing, and more specifically WAAM – have the potential to empower companies not just to survive, but to thrive in difficult conditions,” added Richards.
