The U.S. Navy’s Maritime Industrial Base (MIB) Program, Common Dynamics Electrical Boat, and Lincoln Electrical partnering to speed up using additive manufacturing within the building of nuclear-powered submarines.
The initiative comes at a vital time. By 2028, the USA should ship one Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine and two Virginia-class assault submarines every year whereas persevering with to maintain the present fleet. Assembly this formidable demand requires new approaches to extend throughput, scale back bottlenecks, and strengthen provide chains. Additive manufacturing, which permits the speedy manufacturing of advanced elements, is rising as a key a part of the answer.
Matt Sermon, Government Director of the Maritime Industrial Base Program, emphasised the significance of this step. He defined that this system is charged with strengthening and increasing the shipbuilding and restore capability the nation wants for deterrence and warfighting. By investing in additive manufacturing at scale, he stated, the Navy is making certain that its industrial base is provided with the instruments, applied sciences, and resilience essential to fulfill its mission.
By means of MIB Program funding, Common Dynamics Electrical Boat will supply vital submarine elements from Lincoln Electrical’s new large-scale metallic additive manufacturing facility in Cleveland. This superior operation is anchored by 4 state-of-the-art SculptPrint machines, representing Lincoln Electrical’s largest government-funded funding in additive manufacturing up to now.
Ken Jeanos, Vice President of Provide Chain, Supplies, and Logistics at Common Dynamics Electrical Boat, defined that shortages in materials availability have been a serious driver of building delays throughout the submarine enterprise. He famous that 3D printed elements may play a transformative function by slicing lead instances for important elements and accelerating the supply of submarines to the U.S. Navy.
Jeanos described this newest funding as a pivotal step that additional unlocks additive manufacturing’s potential, permitting the protection trade to confront advanced provide chain challenges with revolutionary and environment friendly options. He added that the trouble builds upon a number of years of collaboration by Electrical Boat’s engineering and procurement groups to combine additive manufacturing and different superior applied sciences into submarine manufacturing.
Lincoln Electrical’s Chairman and CEO, Steven B. Hedlund, highlighted the importance of the partnership, stressing that the funding not solely strengthens the corporate’s collaboration with Electrical Boat but additionally demonstrates Lincoln Electrical’s long-term dedication to delivering transformative options for the protection industrial base.
The Maritime Industrial Base Program, established in September 2024, leads the Navy’s efforts to revitalize America’s shipbuilding and restore capabilities. Its mission is to broaden and strengthen the economic base that helps the development and upkeep of floor ships, plane carriers, and submarines important to nationwide protection.
