ASC and shipbuilder Austal have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on additive manufacturing (AM) technologies and workforce development, marking a significant step forward in strengthening Australia’s sovereign naval capability.
The partnership will advance the use of 3D printing in shipbuilding and submarine sustainment, strengthening Australia’s domestic AM supply chain to support both the Collins Class and US-built Virginia Class submarines. It will also support workforce development through training and upskilling in advanced manufacturing technologies.
ASC Chief Capability Officer Danielle Bull welcomed the partnership, and said it reflected the companies’ shared commitment to innovation and sovereign capability. “Additive manufacturing offers transformative potential for Australia’s maritime industry — enabling faster production, improved part performance, and greater flexibility in shipbuilding, maintenance and sustainment. At ASC, we are already investigating ways to further integrate AM into our sustainment operations. This partnership with Austal will accelerate our efforts to scale these capabilities and embed AM into the broader Australian supply chain, improving resilience, reducing lead times, and enhancing the performance and maintainability of critical components.”
Austal USA’s Advanced Technologies division has been at the forefront of AM adoption, operating the U.S. Navy’s Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence (AM CoE) in collaboration with BlueForge Alliance. The facility supports the qualification and scaling of AM parts for defence applications, including submarine platforms.
Austal Chief Technology Officer Glenn Callow highlighted Austal’s journey and approach to Additive Manufacturing. “This partnership builds on our long-term investments into advanced manufacturing. As early as 2020, Austal has worked with partners to align 3D printing technologies with the demands of its maritime customers. With this new partnership, we will continue efforts to uplift Australia’s shipbuilding and sustainment capability across the supply chain.”
Don Hairston, Austal USA’s Vice President for Submarines and Advanced Technologies said Austal USA was excited to embark on the collaboration. “It represents a tremendous opportunity for the AM CoE to share the knowledge, capabilities, and experience – our collective ‘lessons learned’ – with Austal Australia, ASC, and their AM partners. Together, we’re pushing the boundaries to build faster, more resilient worldwide supply chains for defence.”
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