AML3D Installs First ARCEMY X Systems at Newport News Shipbuilding
AML3D has successfully commissioned its first two large-scale ARCEMY X metal additive manufacturing systems at Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS), with a second order for four more systems already placed.
Australian 3D printer manufacturer AML3D has finalized an initial order with Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS), a division of Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), by commissioning two large-scale ARCEMY X metal additive manufacturing (AM) systems. This initial order is valued at approximately AU$4.5 million (US$3.2 million). Each of these systems is equipped with a 10,886 kg positioner, designed to facilitate heavy-capacity metal AM builds for various shipbuilding applications.
Following the commissioning of the first two units, NNS is expected to make a final payment of approximately AU$892,000. In addition to this initial deployment, NNS has placed a second order worth approximately AU$9.9 million for four more custom ARCEMY X systems. These are scheduled for delivery in early 2027 from AML3D’s manufacturing facility located in Stow, Ohio. NNS intends to utilize all six systems to decrease component lead times and complement existing traditional manufacturing processes.
AML3D’s manufacturing hub in Stow, Ohio, is currently undergoing an expansion to increase its capacity, driven by escalating demand from the U.S. Marine Industrial Base (MIB). The company is doubling its output at this site, primarily in response to procurement targets set by the U.S. Navy for the upcoming years. This expansion is a key part of AML3D's U.S. scale-up strategy, with similar demand signals observed in other defense markets and non-defense industrial manufacturing sectors across the U.S., UK, and Australia.
The U.S. naval shipbuilding sector has been under significant pressure to shorten lead times for components, which can range from six months to two years using legacy methods. Additive manufacturing is being explored as a solution to produce certified parts closer to the point of need, thereby alleviating supply chain bottlenecks and lengthy procurement cycles. AML3D has been strategically building its presence within the U.S. naval shipbuilding industry, with ARCEMY systems previously deployed at various Navy-affiliated locations.
The commissioning of AML3D's ARCEMY X systems at Newport News Shipbuilding signifies a substantial advancement in scaling large-format metal AM for critical naval applications. This deployment addresses the urgent need to reduce lead times and enhance the agility of the U.S. naval industrial base, directly contributing to the broader industry's push for more efficient and localized production capabilities.
Edited by the news editor with AI from the original report — please refer to the original source.