University of New Brunswick selects Concept Laser M2 cusing for marine R&D
GE Additive will supply the metal AM system for the Marine Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence
In its final announcement from the Farnborough Airshow in the UK, GE Additive is going beyond aerospace-related news into the marine sector. The company has announced that it will supply the University of New Brunswick in Canada with a Concept Laser M2 cusing machine as part of the latter’s establishment of Canada’s first Marine Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence.
The University of New Brunswick, located on Canada’s east coast, selected the Concept Laser M2 cusing system in cooperation with its commercialization partner Custom Fabricators & Machinists as well as its training partners at the New Brunswick Community College, the College communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick and the Nova Scotia Community College.
Once installed, GE’s metal additive manufacturing system will primarily be used to further R&D projects based around hybrid printing, blast resistance and enhanced corrosion protection. These research areas, led by Dr. Mohsen Mohammadi and his team, will play an important role in integrating additive manufacturing into the marine industry.
Interestingly, the University of New Brunswick’s Marine Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence will reportedly be the first in Canada to explore the use of metal 3D printing for producing certified parts for the marine industry. The multi-million-dollar center was first launched in May 2017 and is funded in part by Lockheed Martin Aeronautics and Irving Shipbuilding Inc.
“We’re seeing more and more people show interest in coming to New Brunswick to be part of what we’re doing,” said Mohammadi, Director of the AM center at its launch. “This is the first centre of its kind in Canada and we are doing it right here in New Brunswick. Our technology is greener and more efficient than conventional methods and will create high value jobs here in Atlantic Canada. I’m so grateful to our many commercialization, industry and training partners who have supported our work so far and I look forward to welcoming new participants in the future.”
Other Farnborough announcements
As mentioned, the University of New Brunswick news is one of many announcements made by GE Additive this week in the context of the Farnborough Airshow. Earlier this week, the AM giant announced that Eaton’s Aerospace Group had integrated two Concept Laser metal AM systems at its facility and was leveraging GE’s AddWorks consultancy services.
Japanese company Honda is another recent partner of the company, as GE Additive announced it would be conducting its first AddWorks consulting services in Japan with Honda’s Aircraft Engine R&D Center.
Finally, and perhaps the biggest news of the bunch: GE Additive launched its Manufacturing Partner Network, which is aimed at accelerating the supply and demand for AM through an “open and competitive marketplace.” In combination with the launch, it also announced its first three MPN partners: Burloak Technologies, Carpenter Technology Corporation and Protolabs Inc.
