Submarine maintenance utilises 3D printing

QinetiQ has installed a new additive manufacturing facility at HM Naval Base Clyde, aimed at cutting maintenance time for the Royal Navy's submarine fleet by enabling components to be printed and delivered dockside on demand.

Delivered through two contracts with the Submarine Delivery Group's (SDG) Additive Manufacturing team, the new capability combines an "All In One" (AIO) solution, a UK sovereign, point-of-need manufacturing system, with a Market Access Cell (MAC) for more complex parts. Together they allow submarine components to be