AML3D receives $2M US Navy order for submarine parts

Adelaide-based AML3D Limited has won a $2 million contract to develop and metal 3D print a replacement component used in US Navy submarines, as well as a smaller contract to continue characterising key alloys to support the US Navy’s submarine program.

The high-demand component for which the US Navy seeks a replacement is no longer available from traditional manufacturers, creating an opportunity to demonstrate the role AML3D’s additive manufacturing technology can play in addressing supply chain constraints across the US Navy’s Submarine Industrial base.

The contract was signed with BlueForge Alliance, a non-profit, neutral integrator supporting the strengthening and sustainment of the US Navy’s Submarine Industrial Base, including through the acceleration of Advanced Manufacturing technologies.

The manufacturing contract is valued at about $2.02 million (US$1.51 million), payable up front and upon meeting contract milestones. The contract will run for a period of 9 months starting in September 2023. The non-safety-critical (NSC) components are high demand components made with Nickel-Aluminum-Bronze (NAB) alloy material, which AML3D have qualified.

The manufacturing contract will allow AML3D the opportunity to demonstrate that its ARCEMY^®Additive Manufacturing technology can produce complex components to a high quality and exceed the material strength properties of the equivalent cast parts.

“The delivery of these complex submarine components, which are no longer available from traditional manufacturers, demonstrates the important role of AML3D’s ARCEMY technology at a time of heightened interest in advanced manufacturing to help meet demand driven by the AUKUS alliance,” said AML3D Interim CEO Sean Ebert.

“AML3D’s focus is on the US defence, aviation and maritime sectors and the Company is well positioned to access the many opportunities that will be created as a result of the AUKUS Alliance, in the US, Australia and Europe.”

The NSC components manufacturing contract directly aligns with AML3D’s US scale-up strategy to embed the Company’s proprietary ARCEMY^® technology within the US Defence and Maritime sectors.

This contract follows recent alloy testing and ARCEMY sales to support the US Navy’s submarine industrial base and demonstrates the increasing momentum across AML3D’s US operations. It also came shortly after AML3D Limited was awarded a $0.37 (US$0.28 million) contract extension for NAB alloy characterization and corrosion and strength testing to support the US Navy’s submarine program.

The work associated with this contract will commence immediately and will be carried out at AML3D’s facility in Adelaide over the next 8-10 weeks. This new contract extension follows an initial alloy testing contract signed in March 2023.