Deployable Hybrid Manufacturing Center Solves Parts Supply Chain Challenges at Sea

The availability of replacement parts for equipment continues to pose a significant challenge in contested defense environments. Traditional supply chains and logistics are often unreliable, placing warfighters in potentially hazardous situations. To ensure mission readiness and mitigate the risks associated with global supply chain disruptions, alternative procurement methods must be explored. Additive manufacturing (AM) offers a promising solution, with ongoing evaluations focused on expanding its capacity. When configured appropriately, AM can also enable point-of-need production in contested settings.
In the summer of 2024, Snowbird Technologies was engaged by the Naval Postgraduate School’s Consortium for Advanced Manufacturing Research and Education, along with FLEETWERX, an innovation hub, to provide a Snowbird Additive Mobile Manufacturing Technology (SAMM Tech) platform for testing and evaluation in afloat readiness missions. SAMM Tech was chosen due to the U.S. Navy’s interest in exploring the metal weld wire directed energy deposition capabilities it offers. Designed for deployment in tactical and austere environments, SAMM Tech was an ideal candidate for installation on a San Antonio Class Amphibious Transport Dock, with at-sea demonstrations planned for a month-long evaluation.
Just hours after being installed on the ship’s deck, SAMM Tech was called into action to address a critical issue. A catastrophic failure occurred in a key component of the reverse osmosis pump, causing the ship’s fresh water generation system to fail. Within 28 hours of printing and an additional 6 hours of machining—enabled by SAMM Tech’s dual capability system—the replacement part was fabricated, restoring the pump to full operation before a traditional order for a replacement could even be initiated.
Snowbird Technologies would like to present this case study at Rapid+TCT, showcasing how SAMM Tech addressed an urgent operational need in a contested environment.