3D Printing Sets Sail via Collaboration

Thanks to the collaboration between V2 Group, a Spanish company specializing in the design, engineering, and large-format 3D printing for nautical and naval applications, and Caracol AM, an Italian company in advanced large-format 3D printing technologies,together, they have developed a functional 6-meter-long monolithic catamaran for open waters. This boat was produced using robotic 3D printing technology and aimed at developing a product that can be industrialized and scaled, researching the full process: from design to materials, to production and post-processing with the requirements needed by the naval industry, the companies report.

This project was conceived with a long-term vision, analyzing every step of the process to lay the groundwork for future industrialization of such boats, the companies report. From material selection to the optimization of printing times, assembly, and testing, every aspect has been refined to identify the key elements needed to scale production efficiently, sustainably, and economically, Caracol and V2 Group add.

This achievement demonstrates the feasibility of robotic large-format 3D printing and helps establish the foundation for a new approach to manufacturing boats and nautical components, according to the companies.

V2 Group and Caracol AM are committed to the continuous improvement of this manufacturing approach to broaden its applications in this sector, including transitioning toward the industrialization of the process to possibly pave the way for a more scalable, sustainable, and accessible production model within the sector, they report.

The collaboration between these two European companies positioning 3D printing as a key solution to tackle challenges of the nautical industry. 

Caracol

CARACOL was founded in 2017 in Milan, Italy. It has developed an integrated technological platform, including both hardware and software, to produce advanced large-scale components. Through the integration of an extrusion head, the development of dedicated software - Eidos Manufacturing, and the use of robotic arms as movement support, Caracol offers additive manufacturing technology for advanced components for customers in industries such as aerospace, marine, energy, design, and architecture. 

V2 GROUP

V2 Group is a Spanish company dedicated to manufacturing components and boats using 3D printing technologies. Born as a startup, it is currently in the midst of a funding round to raise capital that will enable it to scale its business to the next level.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.