The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) and Singaporean company Mencast Marine have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on the development of additive manufacturing applications in critical components for maritime vessels.
The partnership aims to design, manufacture, test, and qualify critical marine components through AM, as well as develop data analytics and artificial intelligence in the AM process, and validate innovative solutions for sustainability through AM. ABS will play a key role in verifying that parts are designed, produced, tested, and qualified based on ABS requirements and international standards, as well as facilitating the adoption of novel AM technologies.
Meanwhile, Mencast will validate and qualify the novel AM processes and products that will be developed, using AM to design and manufacture its suite of products in a more sustainable and efficient manner.
“AM technologies have a huge potential to revolutionize supply chain and maintenance procedures both in maritime and beyond, and ABS is committed to supporting these innovations without compromising safety,” said Gareth Burton, ABS Vice President of Technology.
“Singapore is a critical location of the emerging regional and global green ecosystems, of which Additive Manufacturing is certain to play a role.”
ABS has been involved in a range of industry-leading AM initiatives, including a joint development project to fabricate, test, and install functional AM parts on board an oil tanker.
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