Damen Shipyards Group has entered a cooperative consortium with Rotterdam Additive Manufacturing Lab (RAMLAB), Promarin, Autodesk and Bureau Veritas to develop a 3D-printed ship's propeller.

The 1,300mm propeller will be named WAAMpeller and is set to be world’s first class-approved, 3D-printed material of its kind. It will be developed on the basis of a Promarin design, which is typically found on a Damen Stan Tug 1606.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Premium Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Related Company Profiles

View all

Damen Research and Development department project engineer KeesCusters said: “Three students from Delft Technical University were investigating the potential of 3D printing for us. They brought us into contact with the other members of the consortium.

“What is quite unique about this group of five companies is that, while we have joint interests, we also have individual aims.

“This leads to a very productive and cooperative atmosphere in what is a very exciting project.”

See Also:

Port of Rotterdam’s RAMLAB will manufacture the WAAMpeller from a bronze alloy using a combination of Autodesk software and the Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) process.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

The propeller will weigh approximately180kg, and will be verified by international certification agency Bureau Veritas.

"Our ambition is to demonstrate that the research phase for 3D printing in the maritime sector is over, and that it can now be effectively applied in operations."

The First WAAMpeller unit is scheduled to be printed by the end of the year, and is expected to undergo full-scale trials with Damen upon completion.

Custers added: “We will be performing a comprehensive programme that will include bollard pull and crash test scenarios.

“Our ambition is to demonstrate that the research phase for 3D printing in the maritime sector is over, and that it can now be effectively applied in operations.”

Damen intends to eventually build more effective, more cost-efficient and more environmentally friendly vessels via the WAAMpeller project.

Image: The 3D printed WAAMpeller will be based on a Promarin design that is typically found on a Damen Stan Tug 1606. Photo: courtesy of Damen Shipyards Group.