---
title: "USS Essex uses embarked 3D printers to cut supply chain delays"
url: https://www.voxelmatters.com/uss-essex-uses-embarked-3d-printers-to-cut-supply-chain-delays/
date: 2026-07-12
modified: 2026-07-11
lang: en
author: "Joseph Caron-Dawe"
description: "Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) and Combat Logistics Battalion 13, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, are using embarked 3D printers to produce replacement parts and tools rather than..."
categories:
  - "3D Printer Hardware"
  - "Defense"
  - "Maritime Industry"
tags:
  - "insights"
image: https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/USS-Essex-01-640x390.jpg
word_count: 454
---

# USS Essex uses embarked 3D printers to cut supply chain delays

Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) and Combat Logistics Battalion 13, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit, are using embarked 3D printers to produce replacement parts and tools rather than waiting on the traditional supply chain. Some components can take weeks to arrive by conventional order, and others are no longer manufactured at all.

“[We're able to manufacture parts on site at the point of need](https://www.voxelmatters.com/us-armys-am-platoon-fabricates-counter-uas-mounts-in-the-field-during-flytrap-5-0/),” said Gunnery Sgt. Samuel Margarini, 3D Printing Team Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge at Combat Logistics Battalion 13, 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit. “Whether it's for the ship, the Marine Corps, or aviation, we're able to solve problems without waiting on the supply chain.”

When a part or product specification needs replacing, the team measures the item, designs a digital model, and prints a plastic prototype to check dimensions before producing the final version. [More complex parts require a 3D scanner to capture measurements for digital recreation](https://www.voxelmatters.com/metalnox-cuts-propeller-repair-time-by-20-with-shining-3d-tech/). Margarini said the plastic prototypes, which are quicker to make than metal ones, let technicians confirm fit and refine designs before installation, saving time and reducing waste.

[![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/USS-Essex-03-640x431.jpg)](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/USS-Essex-03.jpg)

[![](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/USS-Essex-02-640x456.jpg)](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/USS-Essex-02.jpg)

## Fewer steps between job and part

“The traditional process requires a department to submit a job and the supply department to track, receive, and issue parts,” said U.S. Navy Cmdr. Jason Pirrallo, Supply Officer aboard Essex. “This capability enables the entire manufacturing process to occur on the ship, reducing administrative hurdles and the time from job submission to receipt of parts.”

Pirrallo said the onboard printing program has cut the workload tied to parts orders and reduced spending across departments, freeing funds for other priorities.

“If we're in the middle of the ocean and something breaks, instead of waiting a week or two for a replacement, we're able to get our equipment operational right there,” Margarini said. “There are many parts on ships that are no longer manufactured. Some manufacturers no longer exist, and some parts are simply obsolete. This technology helps supplement the supply system and keeps equipment operational.”

## Medical uses under consideration

Essex also serves as a forward-deployed medical ship during humanitarian response missions, and U.S. Navy Capt. David Foster, Senior Medical Officer aboard Essex, said the equipment used in that role often includes low-volume, high-acuity parts well suited to onboard printing. The team has already produced replacement room thermostat covers and oxygen storage parts that were unavailable for purchase.

“In the future, we're hoping to manufacture actual pieces of medical equipment that could then be sterilized and potentially used with patient care,” Foster said.

“I think a lot of people still don't fully understand the capabilities,” Margarini added. “The more people understand the technology, the more you can push and challenge the technology and help advance it.”