French Navy enters new territory with propeller technology

Naval Group has fitted a 3D-printed propeller to the French Navy Eridan-class minehunter Andromède, following a three-year R&D process.

The 2.5m-span propeller, supported by five 200kg blades, was made in the Naval Group facility at Nantes-Indret before being mounted on the propeller shaft in late 2020.

‘Sea trials were then performed successfully at the end of December,’ Naval Group announced on 13 January 2021.

The first 3D-printed marine propeller (called WAAMpeller) was unveiled by Damen in November 2017.

However, Naval Group claims to be the first shipbuilder to apply a 3D-printed propeller to a naval vessel for full operational use.

The French company is investing €7 million investment in metal 3D printing this year and Eric Balufin, director of the Naval Group facility in Brest, said that the technology ‘will enable us to considerably reduce manufacturing solutions for complex geometrical shapes which cannot be produced through conventional processes. It will also enable us to greatly reduce production time and consequently in-service support’.

Other applications for 3D printing in ship design include production of thrusters, Naval Group added.

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