WAM® Technology evaluation for naval shipbuilding

AML3D’S WAM® TECHNOLOGY IDENTIFIED AS POTENTIAL PLATFORM FOR USE IN NAVAL SHIPBUILDING ENDEAVOUR

Highlights

  • ASC Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of BAE Systems Australia is contracted by the Department of Defence to design and build nine Hunter class frigates for the Royal Australian Navy
  • ASC Shipbuilding has identified AML3D’s WAM® as a technology with the potential to participate in its shipbuilding activities
  • A commercial evaluation program for Additive Manufacturing initiated by ASC Shipbuilding will test parts manufactured using AML’s proprietary WAM® process

AML3D Limited (ASX: AL3) (“AML3D” or “the Company”) is pleased to announce the commencement of a Manufacturing Evaluation Program with ASC Shipbuilding, a subsidiary of BAE Systems Australia.

In December 2018, ASC Shipbuilding was awarded the contract to design and build nine Hunter class frigates for the Royal Australian Navy.  To drive innovation, ASC Shipbuilding is focused on unearthing new technologies that maximise the cost-effectiveness of local manufacturing, while minimising lead-times for ship sustainment within Australia. Through this endeavour, ASC Shipbuilding has identified AML3D’s Wire Additive Manufacturing (“WAM®”) technology as a potential platform that could deliver such efficiencies and will undertake commercial evaluation and testing of WAM®.

Under the initial commercial evaluation and validation testing program, AML3D will utilise WAM® to produce various geometric parts in a range of metal alloys with the objective to meet BAE’s internal standards for additive manufactured components.

Results of testing will be used by ASC Shipbuilding to determine whether WAM® is a suitable manufacturing solution to support the continuous naval shipbuilding and sustainment sovereign capability as laid out in the Australian Government’s Naval Shipbuilding Plan.

AML3D is confident that WAM® will satisfy ASC Shipbuilding’s testing protocols for this initial stage evaluation. Given the scale of ASC Shipbuilding’s shipbuilding initiatives, progression to a commercial relationship would be of great significance to AML3D.

Mr Andrew Sales, AML3D’s Managing Director commented:

“We are pleased to commence this project with ASC Shipbuilding. Having the stringent customer evaluation of AML3D’s proprietary wire additive manufacturing process will not only enhance exposure of our technology for Marine and Defence applications, but the successful endeavour would lead to a sustainable local shipbuilding industry for future generations.”

This announcement has been authorised for release by the Board of AML3D®.

Source: AL3 – BAE_ASC Manufacturing Research PDF, Company News, Press Release

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About AML3D

AML3D Limited, a publicly listed technology company founded in 2014, utilises new technologies to pioneer and lead metal additive manufacturing globally. Disrupting the traditional manufacturing space, AML3D has developed and patented a Wire Additive Manufacturing (WAM®) process that metal 3D prints commercial, large-scale parts for Aerospace, Defence, Maritime, Manufacturing, Mining and Oil & Gas. AML3D provides parts contract manufacturing from its Technology Centre in Adelaide, Australia, and is the OEM of ARCEMY®, an industrial metal 3D printing system that combines IIoT and Industry 4.0 to enable manufacturers to become globally competitive.