Orient Express Racing Team partners with HP for 37th America’s Cup
Accelerating competitive sailing with advanced AM technology and equipment as official supplier
The Orient Express Racing Team has partnered with HP Inc., a global technology leader, for their attempt at the 37th America’s Cup, taking advantage of a comprehensive array of HP’s cutting-edge products and services including computing, printing, and conferencing systems. This includes using HP’s eco-friendly Latex printing technology for the meticulous creation of all foundational branding elements for the future AC75, the official vessel for the 37th America’s Cup. The team is also producing essential components for the AC75 with HP’s 3D printing solutions.
3D printing transformation
The America’s Cup takes place in Barcelona, with the opening ceremony being held on August 22. As the world’s most competitive sailing competition approaches, the Orient Express Racing Team is installing advanced HP technology across its operations to help accelerate performance improvements.
The AC75 Orient Express Racing Team is collaborating closely with HP’s 3D Printing and Large Format Printing teams based in HP’s Barcelona site to help optimize the performance and high-profile branding of the AC75 boat.
“My favorite part of this collaboration is the state-of-the-art 3D printed parts for both the team’s training simulators and the actual boat,” François Minec, Global Head, Polymers 3D Printing, wrote on his LinkedIn account. “By harnessing the power of 3D printing, HP is providing the team with cutting-edge technology that will enhance their performance on the water. With the force of HP’s technology, we can help propel the Orient Express Racing team to victory. Let’s sail towards success together!”
Louis Viat, Orient Express Chief Operating Officer emphasized: “We place great importance on teamwork, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of excellence – principles that resonate strongly with the spirit of HP’s teams. The integration of their 3D printing technology into our partnership is particularly exciting. It allows for lightweight components, customization, and unmatched precision in the manufacturing of parts. Thousands of 3D printed components will be produced at HP’s 3D Printing Center of Excellence in Barcelona and assembled at our base. Notably all the human-machine interfaces. The support, competence, responsiveness, and proximity of HP are very precious to us.”
Accelerating performance
Other HP-driven improvements for the Orient Express team at the America’s Cup include equipping meeting rooms with Poly by HP audio and video conferencing systems and providing employees with the latest HP PCs and printers.
Additionally, HP’s latest generation workstation models, including the ZBook Power G10, ZBook Studio G10, and ZBook Fury G10, empower the Orient Express Design teams with unparalleled mobility and professional-grade performance, enhancing collaboration and driving critical performance-driven designs. These workstations can be used by engineers to continuously monitor all systems of the AC40, whether hydraulic, electrical, telemetry, or mechatronics. “This requires reliable and robust computers to act in real-time and assist the sailors,” says Valentin Salomez, IT Manager.
The team is also using HP’s Latex Technology to help ensure Orient Express stands out in the America’s Cup competition, by producing a sustainable vinyl wrap for the 4,300 sqm base, located near the entrance of Port Vell in Barcelona. “The ability to redesign the entire base using HP’s versatile, high quality latex printing has not only enhanced its aesthetics but also imbued it with a sense of identity and pride, very important for the competing athletes,” added Viat.
