U.S. Navy Partners With Hunt Valve for 3D Printed Submarine Components

The United States military has begun to modernize its fleet across all branches with the adoption of 3D printing technology. In a major overhaul for the U.S. Navy, Hunt Valve, the Fairbanks Morse Defense subsidiary, has recently been awarded a significant contract with the Maritime Sustainment Technology and Innovation Consortium (MSTIC) to spearhead the production of critical valve assemblies for submarines.

This marks a major shift from traditional manufacturing methods like sand casting, as 3D printing takes center stage in the push for cutting-edge naval technology. By leveraging the capabilities of AM, Hunt Valve aims to deliver state-of-the-art, 70-pound valve assemblies, engineered to surpass the quality benchmarks set by conventional sand-casting methods. Additionally, 3D printing promises a significant reduction in production timelines, enhancing the overall flexibility and efficiency of the Navy’s supply chain.

The valve assembly component in the process of being 3D printed.

“The utilization of additive manufacturing assembly with copper-nickel for large valve production is a real step forward for our industry,” said Andrew Pfister, Vice President of Aftermarket and Product Development at Fairbanks Morse Defense. “Not only does it create a superior product in terms of quality, but the process can significantly reduce lead-in times.“