ADDMAN Group, through its HARBEC business unit, will collaborate with industry leaders to help solve supply chain challenges and reinforce U.S. national security capabilities.
FORT MYERS, Fla.—Manufacturing services provider ADDMAN Group reported that it has been entrusted, through its HARBEC business unit, with a pivotal qualification project for the U.S. Navy. The project focuses on the additive manufacturing (AM) of copper-nickel (CuNi) components in submarine fittings and is intended to reinforce the United States’ national security capabilities, ADDMAN said in a release.
ADDMAN Group is a versatile provider of advanced manufacturing technologies ranging from additive manufacturing to precision CNC machining and injection molding.
According to the release, the project involves collaborating with industry leaders such as Phillips, Austal USA, the U.S. Navy, and Blue Forge Alliance. It is described as “a critical component of the Navy’s strategic plan to overcome supply chain challenges and meet its ambitious ‘2+1’ submarine production targets.”
The additive manufacturing qualification project is reported to address the pressing issue of extended lead times and quality concerns associated with traditional castings, which can exceed 12 months with a high scrap rate. It is aimed at significantly reducing procurement cycles and enhancing component quality.
“The challenges of traditional casting methods have impeded the Navy’s ability to meet its production goals,” said Robert Dunn, senior director of Hypersonic and Maritime Business Development at ADDMAN, in a statement. “Through this project, we are not just solving a supply chain issue; we are contributing to national security. Leveraging additive manufacturing for these critical components, we can eliminate the limitations of casting, offering superior material properties and faster production times.”
ADDMAN said in the release that the project is a testament to the company’s commitment to innovation. It also demonstrates how strategic collaborations and technological advancements can address the complex challenges faced by the defense sector.
The successful implementation of the project is expected to ensure a more robust and resilient supply chain and also solidify the U.S. Navy’s position at the forefront of technological innovation. These benefits will continue through the entire lifecycle of the programs, the company said, as repair components can be sourced to reduce time in dock.
“A primary mission of Austal USA is to bring new production capacity into the Submarine Industrial Base,” said Don Hairston, general manager for Austal USA Advanced Technologies, in the release. “We are excited to work with ADDMAN Group to deliver on that mission.”
ADDMAN’s approach involves the collective expertise and resources of its seven production sites across the United States, including the specialized skills of the HARBEC unit in Rochester, New York. The collaboration is said to underscore a holistic strategy for exploring scalable production of additively-manufactured Naval components that will enable the Navy to achieve its production and operational objectives.