A new consortium has been established to drive the adoption of 3D Printing in the maritime industry.

Named MN3D network (aka Maritimes Netzwerk für den 3D-druck) it was funded by the „Zentrales Innovationsprogramm Mittelstand” (ZIM) of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Energy, as well as resources from the partners involved.

Three key facts have led to the launch of this consortium: the growth of the AM market, the nascent place of AM in the maritime industry as well as the technology potential to change global flows of goods.

Furthermore, two years ago, the global maritime trade fair SMM in Hamburg held for the first time a special part dedicated to maritime 3D Printing highlighting several challenges companies of this field encounter: the size and exposure of the objects to low-frequency vibrations, seawater resistance, durability of the objects and associated reliability, accessibility of the objects, environmental requirements and economic efficiency.

In this regard, the MN3D network will carry out concrete research and development projects to promote innovations in 3D printing for the maritime industry. “To this end, applications are submitted to the ZIM programme for further funding.  Currently, R&D projects are being planned on surface quality, materials, integration of sensor technology, component sizes and tool life”, the consortium explains.

The partners involved in this network will be able to meet the changing needs of customers in the future, therefore increase their competitiveness on this challenging market. Those who are not yet positioned on this market will seize the opportunity to develop a new range of services dedicated to additive manufacturing in the maritime industry.

For a beginning, two phases will constitute the activities of the network: Jan 2020 – Dec 2020 on the one hand, and Jan 2021 – Dec 2023 on the other hand.

The partners include:

Companies

  • Winter 3D Konstruktions GmbH
  • DNV GL SE
  • FEM-composites
  • Gebr. Friedrich Industrie- und Elektrotechnik GmbH
  • Gebr. Potthast Kunststoffspritzguss GmbH & Co KG
  • GEFERTEC GmbH
  • JBS System GmbH
  • Mecklenburger Metallguss GmbH
  • REINTJES GmbH
  • Rolf Lenk Werkzeug- und Maschinenbau GmbH
  • SLM Solutions Group AG
  • S.M.I.L.E-FEM GmbH
  • Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems GmbH
  • Treo – Labor für Umweltsimulation GmbH
  • Weihe GmbH

Research institutions

  • Fraunhofer-Einrichtung für Additive Produktionstechnologien IAPT
  • Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht-Zentrum für Material- und Küstenforschung GmbH
  • Hochschule Flensburg
  • Hochschule für Angewandte Wissenschaften Hamburg

Cluster organisation

  • Maritimes Cluster Norddeutschland e.V.

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