Spee3D’s Expeditionary Manufacturing Unit 3D Prints Large Metal Parts in the Field

Spee3D’s Expeditionary Manufacturing Unit (EMU) is a complete mobile additive manufacturing (AM) solution that enables industries with large industrial equipment — including defense, mining and marine — to quickly print and replace large metal parts in the field.

The EMU combines Spee3D’s expeditionary metal 3D printer, XSpee3D, with its Spee3Dcell postprocessing and testing unit in two 20-ft. shipping containers, which together can produce cast-equivalent metal parts in record time close to the point of need.

Participating in the European Defence Agency’s AM Village 2024 Workshop in Tournai, Belgium, Spee3D was set to demonstrate its deployable technology alongside the British Army to military groups from more than 25 EU and NATO countries in mid-May.

Spee3D’s EMU enables the replacement of metal parts in hours instead of days or weeks, thereby minimizing the cost of disruption and downtime. Unlike other AM solutions, the EMU does not require dangerous and expensive lasers or inert gasses. Additionally, no extensive prior expertise with AM technology is required.

“The launch of our Expeditionary Manufacturing Unit addresses the current state of the global supply chain, which is fragile and increasingly under pressure,” says Byron Kennedy, Spee3D CEO. "Part of the issue for defense and other heavy industries is getting critical equipment up and running quickly to avoid costly production delays. EMU will enable the British Army and others to take control, giving them the ability to print and postprocess parts very quickly from anywhere."

The system includes two 20-ft. containers with twist locks; a rugged, mobile metal 3D printer that can produce high-density metal parts in a wide range of materials; and a fully equipped postprocessing shop, including a heat treatment furnace, CNC three-axis mill, tooling and testing equipment. As a truly expeditionary product, EMU can be transported on a single platform (truck trailer/ship/plane).

“Through its continual program of modernization, the British Army embraces new innovative manufacturing solutions to keep it at the forefront of emerging technology and at a tactical advantage over its potential adversaries,” says a UK Army spokesperson. “Our collaboration with SPEE3D has produced the world’s first fully field deployable 3D cold metal printing capability, heralding a step change in deployable engineering capabilities for our forces deployed overseas.”

Spee3D says it works extensively with defense around the world, including the Japanese, U.S., UK and Australian Defense forces. Last fall, a team was in Poland training Ukrainian military personnel on the technology. In the future, Spee3D will be working with the UAE Military of Defense.