MARINE & OFFSHORE SOLUTIONS
Metal 3D Printing Solutions for Marine & Offshore Engineering
Revolutionizing maritime supply chains with on-demand additive manufacturing. From massive propellers to precision heat exchangers — industrial-grade components engineered for the harshest saltwater environments.
OVERVIEW
Critical Challenges in Maritime Engineering
The marine industry faces a unique triad of manufacturing hurdles that traditional supply chains struggle to address. Our additive manufacturing solutions bridge the gap between port and vessel.
Extreme Corrosion
Components must withstand constant exposure to saltwater, humidity, and high pressure — demanding materials with exceptional pitting and crevice corrosion resistance.
Logistical Nightmares
Sourcing spare parts for vessels in international waters can take months, leading to costly demurrage and extended operational downtime.
Large & Obsolete Parts
Many marine components are massive, and casting molds for older vessels often no longer exist — making traditional replacements nearly impossible.
40%
Weight Reduction
90%
Faster Lead Time
>5m
Max Print Size
$0
Tooling Costs
KEY CAPABILITIES
Our Additive Manufacturing Solutions
Transitioning your fleet from physical warehousing to a Digital Inventory with industrial-grade metal 3D printing technology.
Corrosion Resistance
Marine-grade alloys including Duplex Steel, Inconel, and Titanium deliver superior resistance to saltwater pitting, crevice corrosion, and biofouling.
Rapid Manufacturing
Print directly from CAD files in days, not months. No molds, no tooling — dramatically reducing lead times for critical spare parts.
Digital Inventory
Replace costly physical warehousing with digital files. Print any part, anywhere, on demand — eliminating holding costs and obsolescence risk.
Design Freedom
Topology optimization removes excess material without compromising strength. Create internal channels, lattice structures, and geometries impossible to cast.
APPLICATIONS
What We Print
From large-scale structural components to precision functional parts and legacy replacement — we cover the full spectrum of marine manufacturing needs.
Large-Scale Structural Components
Utilizing Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing to print massive marine structures without the need for molds or extensive tooling.
- Propellers & Blades — bronze or stainless steel, mold-free
- Rudder Systems & Stocks — custom heavy-duty steering
- Deck Equipment — crane hooks, winches, structural brackets
- Hull Repair Patches — certified steel plates for emergency reinforcement
Complex Functional Parts
Laser Powder Bed Fusion enables extreme precision for small-to-medium parts with complex internal geometries impossible to achieve with casting.
- Heat Exchangers — optimized lattice structures, up to 40% weight reduction
- Valves & Pump Housings — monolithic printing eliminates leakage
- Impellers — high-precision complex geometries
- Obsolete Spare Parts — reverse engineered legacy components
Obsolete Spare Parts Recovery
When original OEMs no longer exist and casting molds are long gone, we bring your legacy components back to life through advanced 3D scanning and digital reconstruction.
- 3D scanning of broken or worn-out components
- CAD reconstruction of original geometry
- Material analysis and specification matching
- Certified replacement printing and testing
MATERIALS & TECHNOLOGY
Marine-Grade Materials
Metal powders and wires that meet rigorous offshore standards for ductility, tensile strength, and corrosion resistance.
| Material Family | Specific Grade | Marine Application Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Duplex Stainless Steel | Duplex 2205 / Super Duplex 2507 | Twice the strength of standard steel with exceptional resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion (PREN > 40). Ideal for subsea manifolds. |
| Austenitic Stainless Steel | 316L / 304L | Industry standard for general marine hardware, offering excellent intergranular corrosion resistance. |
| Nickel Superalloys | Inconel 625 / 718 | Superior resistance to seawater impingement and high-temperature oxidation. Used in exhaust systems and turbine blades. |
| Copper Alloys | CuNi / Al-Bronze | Naturally resistant to biofouling and seawater corrosion. Essential for cooling pipes and propellers. |
| Titanium Alloys | Ti64 (Grade 5 / Grade 23) | Exceptional strength-to-weight ratio and virtual immunity to saltwater corrosion. Used for racing yachts and AUVs. |
Our Manufacturing Technologies
We deploy the right technology for the right part size and complexity.
Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM)
Best for massive parts from 1 meter to over 5 meters. Uses an electric arc to melt metal wire, layer by layer, with high deposition rates and low material cost.
✓ Near-net-shape structures ✓ Low material cost ✓ High deposition rate
Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF / SLM)
Best for small to medium, highly complex parts. A high-power laser selectively melts metal powder with extreme precision of ±0.05mm.
✓ Internal cooling channels ✓ Lightweight lattice ✓ ±0.05mm precision
WHY CHOOSE AM
Traditional Casting vs. Metal 3D Printing
Why leading shipowners and offshore operators are switching to additive manufacturing.
| Feature | Traditional Casting / Forging | Metal 3D Printing (AM) |
|---|---|---|
| Lead Time | Weeks to Months (Mold creation required) | Days (Print directly from CAD file) |
| Tooling Costs | High (Expensive molds and patterns) | Zero (No tooling required) |
| Inventory Strategy | Physical Warehousing (High holding costs) | Digital Inventory (Print on demand) |
| Design Flexibility | Limited by draft angles and machining access | Unlimited (Topology optimization allowed) |
| Legacy Parts | Difficult / Impossible if supplier is gone | Easy (Scan and print) |
Solving Industry Pain Points
Decentralized Manufacturing
We can print parts at the port closest to your vessel, drastically reducing logistics costs and carbon footprint across your entire fleet.
Weight Reduction
Topology optimization removes excess material without compromising strength, improving vessel fuel efficiency by significant margins.
Obsolescence Management
We extend the lifespan of older vessels by recreating parts that are no longer available in the market through reverse engineering and digital inventory.
CLIENT STORIES
Trusted by Maritime Industry Leaders
Hear from the shipowners, engineers, and fleet operators who have transformed their maintenance strategy with our solutions.
“Met3DP’s additive manufacturing capability has transformed our fleet maintenance strategy. A critical propeller repair that would have taken 3 months was completed in under 2 weeks. The cost savings on demurrage alone were substantial.”
“The Duplex 2205 components printed by Met3DP have shown exceptional corrosion resistance in our North Sea installations. After 18 months of exposure, testing confirmed properties equal to or better than traditional castings.”
“We manage a fleet of 30-year-old vessels where many OEM parts are simply unavailable. Met3DP’s reverse engineering and printing services have extended the operational life of our ships by years.”
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Are 3D printed marine parts certified?
Yes. We work in accordance with guidelines from major classification societies including DNV, Bureau Veritas, and Lloyd’s Register to ensure our printed parts meet the necessary mechanical and chemical properties for marine certification.
How does the corrosion resistance compare to casting?
3D printed parts, particularly those made with rapid solidification rates like SLM, often exhibit a finer microstructure than cast parts. This can result in equal or superior corrosion resistance, provided the correct heat treatment and surface finishing are applied.
Can you replace a broken part without a 3D model?
Absolutely. We offer reverse engineering services. We can 3D scan your broken or worn-out part, reconstruct the geometry into a CAD model, and print a brand-new replacement — all without requiring the original design files.
GET STARTED
Ready to Secure Your Maritime Supply Chain?
Don’t let a missing part keep your vessel in dry dock. Contact our marine engineering team today for a feasibility assessment and quote.
CONTACT US
Get in Touch with Our Marine Engineering Team
Reach out for a feasibility assessment, technical consultation, or to request a quote for your marine 3D printing project.
