Phillips Federal supplies US Navy with hybrid AM machines
Phillips Corporation, Federal Division (Phillips Federal), headquartered in Hanover, Maryland, USA, has announced that the US Navy has expanded the advanced manufacturing training capabilities at its Schoolhouse in Danville, Virginia, with the procurement of hybrid and Additive Manufacturing systems. The systems were delivered in partnership with BlueForge Alliance, the Navy’s procurement and programme management partner.
The investment includes twelve Phillips Hybrid Manufacturing machines and twelve Markforged X7 composite Additive Manufacturing machines. The equipment will provide sailors with hands-on experience in metal hybrid manufacturing, composite Additive Manufacturing and production workflows as part of the Afloat Training Program, supporting the development of the Navy’s advanced manufacturing workforce and fleet sustainment capabilities.
“This effort reflects a highly collaborative approach between the Navy, BlueForge Alliance, Meltio, Markforged, and Phillips Federal to deliver real-world manufacturing capability for the fleet,” stated Bobby Keithley, Vice President of Sales & Product Strategy, Phillips Federal. “By training sailors on the same hybrid and additive systems they will encounter aboard ship, the Navy is accelerating readiness, improving sustainment outcomes, and strengthening its advanced manufacturing workforce. Hybrid manufacturing provides a powerful advantage by combining additive and subtractive processes, enabling sailors to produce new components, repair worn parts, and reduce dependence on traditional supply chains when operating in contested or remote environments.”
The twelve Phillips Hybrid systems are built on Haas TM-1P CNC platforms and integrate Meltio’s Directed Energy Deposition (DED) Additive Manufacturing technology. Combining CNC machining and metal Additive Manufacturing in a single machine enables sailors to manufacture new components, repair worn parts, restore high-value assets and add material where required.
Phillips states that combining additive and subtractive processes can reduce material waste and lead times while providing greater manufacturing flexibility. The systems will be used to train Navy personnel in technologies intended to support fleet sustainment, depot maintenance and expeditionary manufacturing operations.
The twelve Markforged X7 composite Additive Manufacturing machines will enable sailors to produce composite parts, tooling, fixtures, prototypes and replacement components. Together, the hybrid and composite machines will provide training in technologies intended for both shipboard and shore-based operations.
The Danville Schoolhouse training environment is intended to reflect manufacturing capabilities being deployed across the US Navy. Training on both metal hybrid manufacturing and composite Additive Manufacturing is intended to prepare sailors to manufacture, repair and sustain components closer to the point of need.
BlueForge Alliance executed the procurement on behalf of the US Navy, working with Phillips Federal to provide a standardised manufacturing solution aligned with fleet sustainment and workforce development objectives.
The Navy’s broader Deployed Advanced Manufacturing initiatives focus on point-of-need production and workforce development through the use of metal and polymer Additive Manufacturing in shipboard and shore-based operations. The Danville Schoolhouse training programme supports these priorities.
The announcement also cites the production of a replacement sprayer plate aboard USS Bataan as an example of shipboard manufacturing, highlighting the role of training sailors on manufacturing technologies before deployment.
The Navy Schoolhouse is owned by Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) and operated in collaboration with the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR).
“It is difficult to think of a more challenging environment than operating at sea, and Meltio’s technology could not be in better hands than the team at the Navy’s Danville Schoolhouse, supported by Phillips Federal,” said Gabriel Ortiz, Americas Channel Manager, Meltio. “As a retired sailor, I have a special appreciation for what this technology can accomplish when placed in the hands of well-trained sailors and Marines. Equipping the next generation of naval maintainers with advanced manufacturing capabilities will strengthen fleet readiness and help ensure critical parts can be produced whenever and wherever they are needed.”
