Industrial 3D Printing applications for shipbuilding

3D Printing Boats

Large Scale 3D Printing for the maritime sector

CEAD’s specialized 3D printers and local microfactories are changing the way boats are made. On this page we elaborate on the advantages of Large scale 3D printing for maritime applications. How we are producing boats hulls in new materials like our inhouse developed CEAD HDPro, for impact resistant and maintenance free hulls.

Continue reading to explore how our expertise in additive manufacturing is reshaping shipbuilding. In need of answers to your industrial 3D printing questions? Contact our maritime experts for input related to your application!

Donato Puntillo

Maritime Additive Manufacturing Specialist

Email: sales@ceadgroup.com
Phone: +31 (0) 15 737 01 83

Faber Navalis: built with purpose

The Faber Navalis is the first application-ready solution engineered for high-performance industrial and defense-grade production of boat hulls, up to 12m in length and 4m in width.

The solution combines specialized and patented CEAD hardware, CEAD HDPro material, dedicated Faber Navalis software workflow and quality control into one closed-loop production system: designed to ensure reliable, repeatable and high-performance results, completely automated.

Features

  • Patented CEAD Hardware
  • HDPro material
  • Faber Navalis Workflow Software

Features

  • Patented CEAD Hardware
  • HDPro material
  • Flexcube Maritime Workflow Software

Flexcube Maritime

The Flexcube Maritime is CEAD’s application-ready solution for high-performance, industrial and defense-grade USV hulls.

Optimized build-volume-to-cell ratio enables manufacturing of vessels up to 7.2 m (23 ft) long with beams up to 1,95 m (76 in).

Industrial 3D printing for maritime and defence

Industrial large-format additive manufacturing fits the maritime world perfectly: big structures, tough environments, and constant pressure on lead times and costs. Below are two sides of the same capability, shipbuilding applications and deployable production in the field.

3D printing in the field: from idea to action in days

During a NATO-led exercise at the Harbor of the Royal Netherlands Navy, we proved large-format 3D printing as a deployable capability: set up a tent, roll in a CEAD Flexcube, and produce on-site.

Results: installed in <1 day, 10 USV hulls printed (2.5 m, ~5 hours each), 3 design iterations, then outfitted and deployed the same day. The takeaway: local manufacturing enables rapid iteration and resilient supply, making large-format 3D printing truly field-ready.

NATO Bold Machina: large-format 3D printing for rapid USV prototyping

At the NATO maritime innovation platform Bold Machina in Den Helder, stakeholders from across NATO brought operators, engineers, and industry together to accelerate capability development for maritime Special Forces.

Results: a full-scale 12 meter RIB produced in 8 days.

Start producing with large format additive manufacturing

Contact CEAD’s large format additive manufacturing specialists to validate your business case.

Automated 3D Printing of Boats – CEAD’s Faber Navalis

At CEAD, we have developed a specialized machine for boat hull manufacturing, the Faber Navalis. Using our 3D printing expertise, designed for fully automated production.

Imagine starting the machine, and just 50 hours later, a 6-meter 3D printed industrial boat hull is ready, without any labor costs.

That’s what we focus on: developping a machine for the automated production of boat hulls, using our large scale 3D printing expertise.

The Faber Navalis

At the heart of the Faber Navalis is CEAD’s proven technology, powered by our in-house pellet extrusion technology. This system is capable of 3D printing boat hulls up to 4 meters wide with a single robotic based system. The maximum length is customer-specific, allowing full flexibility for different boat designs.

CEAD’s additive manufacturing solutions:

  • Automated production of 3D-printed boats: reducing labor costs and increasing efficiency.
  • Advanced software: for real-time monitoring and simulation of the printing process.
  • Optimized material for defence and industrial hulls: including our specialized HDPro formulation.

Why HDPro is the best choice for 3D printed boat hulls

We have developed a specialized formula optimized for large-scale 3D boat printing, ensuring the strength, durability, and printability required for industrial-grade hulls.

High impact resistance

Can withstand heavy impacts without damage

No water absorption

Unlike many thermoplastics, HDPro does not absorb water.

Anti-fouling

Naturally resistant to marine growth, reducing maintenance.

UV stable

No need for additional coatings, ensuring long-term durability.

Inert and corrosion-resistant

Suitable for applications like water and fuel tanks.

Start producing with large format additive manufacturing

Contact CEAD’s large format additive manufacturing specialists to validate your business case.

Advantages of industrial 3D printing for the maritime industry

In the ever-evolving landscape of manufacturing, the maritime sector has enthusiastically embraced the advantages offered by additive manufacturing. Just as other industries have reaped the benefits, the maritime industry is leveraging the power of industrial 3D printing to revolutionize its approach to production.

Additive manufacturing offers the following advantages for the maritime industry:

3D Printing Boat hulls using the specially developed machine from CEAD group is fast and does not require skilled labour. Currently our boat hull production machines are capable of 3D printing a 19Ft hull in only 88 hours, with 24 hours a day production, also in the weekends. Not requiring any labour once the machine is running.

We focus on entire boat factories, not just single machines. Our technology platform allows for easy scaling of your production. It also ensures you stay flexible in your product offering. Whether you are 3D printing Unmanned Surface Vessels or workboats or a mix. Our specialised boat hull 3D printers can do it all.

3D printing boats using CEADs specialised machines is a highly automated manufacturing process. What if you can run an entire boat factory with just a hand full of people. Producing large volumes of boat hulls, while still being able to offer custimization and a wide range of different boat hulls. Then this technology is the way forward.

Given the decrease in manual labor, assembly, procurement, storage and assembly, automated production for entire boats proves to be more far more economical than traditional manufacturing methods. On-demand production capabilities also attribute to a reduction in costs associated with maintaining extensive spare part inventories or storing molds.

CEAD has developed a special material for boat hulls named HDPro. It is a Heavy-Duty material for Maritime applications. Taking HDPE as a reference and ensuring we are outperforming this proven material. By having a hull material that is double the strength while still being able to handle high impacts and be maintenance free. Our HDPro material will set the new standard for hulls that are used in defence and industrial application. Applications that require low maintenance, easy repair and can take a beating.

In alignment with sustainability goals, 3D printing in the maritime industry results in a significant reduction in material waste compared to traditional manufacturing methods. Significant material is saved by not using molds but printing end parts (or complete hulls) directly. The ability to print complex shapes with minimal material usage emphasizes a commitment to environmental responsibility.

Additionally, material from used molds or prints with errors can be shredded and recycled in future prints. Industrial 3D printing truly helps to close the loop. A great example can be found in the boat printed by Al Seer Marine, which consists for 67% of recycled material.

With local manufacturing, you save on costly transport costs of large boat hulls. You become less dependent on what is happening on the supply chain in the world.

Developing the right material for 3D printing boats

At CEAD, we have been focusing on developing the ideal material for 3D printing boats: HDPro. With 25% GF, we double the stiffness and strength. This material is perfect for high demanding, industrial use, hassle and maintenance free.