At the end of 2022, the Ministry of Defence and Marine Systems signed a contract with Marine Systems for the design, production and delivery of additive manufacturing (AM) containers. The AM containers are used by the Ministry of Defence at exercise- and mission areas to print the necessary parts with 3D printers. Because the Ministry of Defence must be able to use these AM containers all over the world, they have been developed in such a way that they are able to function in a wide range of temperatures (-32˚C tot -+49˚C), humidity levels and weather conditions.
By using the additive manufacturing containers, the Ministry of Defence becomes less independent on spare parts that need to be transported to and from the exercise- and mission areas. Furthermore, installations can be used more quickly, which increases the availability of these installations.
In 2023 Marine Systems has delivered the first AM Container to the Ministry of Defence.
Curious how these containers are used? Check out the following link: AM-container levert onderdelen op afroep | 03 | Materieelgezien (defensie.nl)
In 2023, the first container was also used at the Ministry of Defence AM Event in Ede (the Netherlands). A report of this event is available through the video below.