Additive manufacturer Sintavia will build a production site to support the United States Naval Nuclear Propulsion Program in Hollywood, Florida, the company announced this week.
The aerospace and defense manufacturer was awarded the job by Bechtel Plant Machinery, another U.S. defense contractor. The plant is slated to begin production in Q2 2023, and will use additive manufacturing to build advanced nuclear propulsion systems for U.S. Navy submarine programs.
The Navy’s nuclear propulsion program designs, builds, operates and oversees the military branch’s nuclear-powered ships and corresponding operations facilities.
Sintavia Director of Corporate Strategy Lindsay Lewis declined to comment further on the project.
The Department of Defense utilizes additive manufacturing to reduce production costs and enhance its supply chain flexibility.
In January 2021, the department released its first Additive Manufacturing Strategy, which outlines how the process will be used to modernize national defense systems, enhance the ability to quickly build new parts and provide new battlefield innovations.
Other agencies within the U.S. military have also utilized additive manufacturing in recent months. Last year, the Defense Logistics Agency, U.S. Army and Department of Defense Manufacturing Technology Program, along with academic and industry partners, collaborated to use additive manufacturing to design, build and test new parts for a military helicopter.