HD Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI), announced on 17 March the successful final evaluation and demonstration of its “3D Printing Convergence Demonstration Technology” for self-manufacturing maintenance parts on operating ships.
Scheduled for completion by December 2025, the project aims to develop a 3D printing system for producing maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) parts on ships. The technology enables vessels to produce necessary parts onboard, reducing the need for extensive spare part inventories and shortening ordering, production, and delivery timelines.
Furthermore, the demonstration occurred at HD Hyundai Samho in Mokpo where the company operated 3D printing equipment on an actual ship and tested devices to reduce movement and vibration, addressing challenges posed by continuous ship motion.
The company plans to commercialize the technology, creating a digital parts library and networking system between ports and ships for remote ordering. In addition it is collaborating with HD Korea Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering to develop carbon steel powder materials for shipbuilding, aiming to expand printable parts and reduce costs.
Through this demonstration, we were able to confirm the competitiveness of 3D printing technology in the shipbuilding industry.
…an HD Hyundai Heavy Industries official stated
To remind, in May 2024, achieved New Technology Qualification (NTQ) Stage 1 and 2 from ABS, the first NTQ on additive manufacturing in Korea.
