Printing critical engine parts
The Wärtsilä Hub for Additive Manufacturing (WHAM) has been using 3D printing on a small scale for some years now, making it a pioneer in the marine industry’s 3D printing trend. The team has plastic, carbon and metal printers in its facilities and they’re available to anyone in the company that can make use of them, widening the potential for innovation. Recognising the extensive opportunities that 3D printing offers, in 2018 WHAM began developing a regional ecosystem by cooperating with local universities. This collaboration led to a series of lectures and visits that introduced basic 3D printing technology to students, inspiring undergraduates with the goal of bringing new talent and growth to the industry. The long-term aim was to make Vaasa, where the majority of Wärtsilä’s engine design takes place, a world-class 3D printing centre, combining the skills of the industry with new academic excellence. Having 3D printing expertise in close proximity with engine design expertise also promises to accelerate innovation.
“When you’re looking at a new component for an engine and trying to figure out if 3D metal printing could be the ticket, you can just go next door and push the boundaries of what is possible,” Juho Raukola, Innovation Expert at Wärtsilä explains.
Read more from the Wärtsilä web page.
