USA’s biggest shipbuilder places $4.5 million order with AML3D

Wire arc additive manufacturing business AML3D has been awarded its biggest contract so far, with Newport News Shipbuilding ordering two custom-built Arcemy machines.

According to a statement from the Adelaide-headquartered company on Monday, the order worth approximately $4.5 from the subsidiary of HII – the USA’s biggest shipbuilder – further embeds it in the shipbuilding sector.

It added that the systems will be its “second and third heavy capacity” systems to be deployed and the ninth and tenth  ARCEMY systems overall that have been ordered to support the US Navy’s Maritime Industrial Base. They will be built based on the large-format Arcemy X machine, but with the use of “a 10,886kg positioner to create a heavy capacity build capability.”

AML3D was founded in 2014 and its technology is based on layer-by-layer robotic-controlled building of welding beads, forming near-net shapes.

CEO Sean Ebert said the systems “are similar in scale” to an Arcemy X unit that recently came online for another US shipbuilding prime contractor, and that demand across the US and other internationally-significant defence markets is “continuing to accelerate.”

He added: “Having an established US manufacturing base means AML3D is  advantaged when supporting US customers as the US Government’s tariff policy evolves.”

The company officially opened its US headquarters and factory in Ohio last December.

Picture: credit AML3D

Further reading

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AML3D identified as ‘pivotal’ for US Navy growth

AML3D books $1.2 million order for small edition of its machine from Austal USA

AML3D installs largest custom machine at Austal USA-run AM Center of Excellence in Virginia

AML3D opens new US tech centre