AML3D breaks into US submarine construction

By Peter Roberts

Adelaide’s AML3D has built on its Australian maritime manufacturing work to sell a large-scale, industrial Arcemy ‘X-Edition 6700’ Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing metal 3D printing system (pictured) to support the US Navy’s submarine industrial base.

Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing is an additive process similar to welding that will be used to produce on-demand industrial grade parts critical to rapidly scaling the parts supply for submarine construction.

The Arcemy order, placed by US Department of Defence intermediary BlueForge Alliance, marks the second Australian company to win US submarine construction work, following shipbuilder Austal’s contract from General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB) for structural assembly fabrication.

US submarine construction yards are unable to keep up with the pace of orders from the US Navy, something which has complicated Australia’s efforts to source submarine technology from the US and UK under the Aukus agreement.

The sale of the Arcemy, AML3D’s largest system, is valued at approximately $1.0 million (US$697,800) , payable up front and upon meeting delivery and installation milestones.

The system’s supply, shipping, installation, and commissioning will commence upon receipt of an Authority to Proceed from BlueForge and is expected to be completed during calendar year 2023.

A further expansion of AML3D’s strategic partnership with the US Navy is expected with an additional contract for metal characterisation testing using AML3D’s Arcemy systems for the provision of parts to the industrial base, expected in Q3.

The Arcemy ‘X-Edition 6700’ system will be located at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, the largest science & energy laboratory in the US Department of Energy system and a key partner to the US Navy and other US global tier 1 clients.

AML3D CEO Ryan Millar said: “This sale is a significant opportunity for AML3D, as it is part of a long-term strategic partnership with the US Navy helping them scale up submarine production with advanced additive manufacturing technology.

“This opportunity with the US Navy and the Submarine Industrial Base aligns with ALM3D’s strategy of focusing on Arcemy product sales, especially in the US maritime and defence sectors.”

Further reading:
AML3D 3D PRINTED PANAMA CHOCK RECEIVES CERTIFICATION
AUSTAL WINS NEW WORK IN US SUBMARINE CONSTRUCTION FIELD

Picture: AML3D/Arcemy system