The program, which offers access to on-demand additive manufacturing was launched by Wilhelmsen’s Marine Products division in December 2019. The company’s customers include Berge Bulk, Carnival Maritime, Thome Ship Management, OSM Maritime Group, Executive Ship Management and Wilhelmsen Ship Management.
“We are very excited with this milestone – completing one of the first commercial deliveries of 3D printed parts in the maritime industry,” Hakon Ellekjaer, Head of Venture, 3D Printing, Wilhelmsen Ships Service was quoted as saying in the press release. He added “This is just the beginning of the journey, and we are quickly expanding our offering, together with our key development partners, enabling our customers to benefit from the savings provided by 3D printing, digital inventory and on-demand localized manufacturing.”
Wilhelmsen, as part of their ongoing cooperation with the Ivaldi Group, is providing spare parts on demand to the selected six customers’ vessels around the globe. Parts in this program are being monitored in close collaboration with class society DNV GL. Through a unique selection, digitization, and documentation process, every part goes through a quality-controlled process where each part is given a print passport number. All necessary documentation relating to the manufacturing, design, and performance requirements of each part is then captured and enclosed with the delivered part. DNV GL, through the Print Passport Number and their published rules and standards, are providing ecosystem assurance to the Wilhelmsen 3D.
Wilhelmsen and Ivaldi have delivered several 3D printed parts to the Berge Bulk vessel, and scupper plugs were one of the part categories. There are numerous scupper plugs on a vessel. For convenience and readiness, each drainage hole on the open deck has its own scupper plug. Scupper plugs are used for closing drainage holes to prevent oil spills or other contaminant spills on a ship.
3D printed scupper plugs are equally as functional as traditional versions. In addition, they are also an assembly, which means that if a part breaks, that one part can easily be replaced, instead of the whole scupper plug. Making them available through a digital warehousing solution means they are faster and easier to procure worldwide. It also means, thanks to on-demand manufacturing technologies, that only the exact number of parts required are produced, reducing costs and environmental footprint.
