Daewoo Shipbuilding Successfully Produces Test Model Ship Using 3D Printer

Review of Introducing 3D Printing Equipment

Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering announced on the 24th that it has successfully produced a 10-meter class test model of a twin-screw ship using composite plastic material (ABS) in collaboration with the U.S. 3D printer specialist company Ingersoll.

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Hyung-gil] Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering announced on the 24th that it has succeeded in producing a 10-meter class test model of a twin-hulled ship using composite plastic material (ABS) in collaboration with Ingersoll, a US-based 3D printer specialist company.

Shipyards have traditionally created scaled-down model ships made mostly of wood to test the performance of new vessels before construction. In response, Daewoo Shipbuilding has succeeded in producing model ships made of composite plastic materials instead of wood using 3D printing technology.

By applying 3D printing techniques, the model ship production period, which previously took three weeks, can be reduced by up to 40%. It also allows for quick and flexible responses to customer testing requirements. Utilizing unmanned automated systems is expected to greatly contribute to cost reduction and productivity improvement.

Made from composite plastic materials, the models have excellent waterproof properties, and some materials can be recovered and reused as raw materials after testing, earning favorable environmental evaluations.

Daewoo Shipbuilding plans to finalize the verification of the prototype model ship at its research facilities within the Siheung Research and Development (R&D) Campus and will consider introducing 3D printing equipment in the future.

Choi Dong-gyu, Executive Director and Head of Daewoo Shipbuilding Central Research Institute, stated, "This will be an important turning point in the paradigm of model ship production methods," adding, "We are expanding the innovation theme of digitalization to all parts of products, shipyard sites, and research and development, and this achievement is one of the successful cases."