The first 3D printed ISO certified marine gangway

Caracol’s LFAM technology is leading innovation in the marine industry with Heron AM. The turnkey large format thermoplastic composite 3D printing platform has been chosen by Namthaja to unlock a new application for Jana Marine Service Company, assuring high precision and speed, and repeatability.

Among the great success stories showing the possibilities that LFAM brings to industrial production of marine parts, stands the project developed by the team at Namthaja for Jana Marine Service Company LLC. The leading 3D printing service bureau in Saudi Arabia produced the first 3D printed marine gangway, designed and engineered for Saudi marine services company Jana Marine Service Company LLC.

The team at Namthaja worked to scale the production of this part industrially, achieving a full certification for the part’s use. Starting from design and engineering the 3-meter gangway, meant to withstand heavy loads during embarking and disembarking of crews from ships. The part was manufactured by using Heron AM with ASA-glass fiber, in accordance with ISO 7061:2015 standards, tested and approved to ensure that the allowable deflection under specified testing loads would be of max 40 mm when loaded with over 720kg – achieving a maximum deflection of less than 20 mm with a 750 kg load.

The part was 3D printed in a single piece eliminating all needs for assembly and manual operations, with a material that guarantees UV and weather resistance in outdoor environments as well as satisfies the mechanical characteristics necessary for the part. Furthermore, the low density of the material ensures the structure be lightweight – improving the weight by 30% compared to traditional gangways – while also maintaining its sturdiness, also thanks to the glass fibers. By consolidating all the development done on the part with a full quality and safety certification, they’ve managed to ensure long-term process repeatability and industrial production.

The benefits derived from the application of Caracol’s LFAM technology have proven to be highly impactful:

• Drastic cost and lead time reductions, thanks to smoother operations with no need for assembly or manual processes.
• Enhanced part efficiency due to a 30% weight reduction.
• Assured functional and mechanical performance of the part, thanks to the extrusion of advanced composite materials such as ASA GF.
• Scalability due to the repeatability of the process within a certified industrial production environment.

Related Case Studies

Check out our success stories