Photo credit: Principle Power Inc

Support from Marine-i is helping 3-D printing specialist J-Supplied to develop large-scale technology to produce bespoke parts for the floating offshore wind industry, such as custom-designed turbine blades.

Part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), Marine-i aims to help the marine technology sector in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly grow through harnessing the full potential of research and innovation.

From its base in Cornwall, J-Supplied has established a strong reputation as a provider of 3-D printing machines and as a manufacturer of 3-D printed products. The emergence of floating offshore wind as a major strategic growth area for the marine tech industry in south west England has prompted the company to diversify into this area.

J-Supplied managing director Martin Jewell said: “The ability to print large-scale, low-volume products is currently restricted by the commercially available equipment on the market. Typically, these can only manufacture products up to a 3 x 1m footprint.

“We identified the offshore renewable energy sector as the focus for a major innovation project to address this issue. Our vision is to have ‘warehouse size’ gantries that would enable a five-axis robotic 3-D Printer to produce very large products, such as turbine blades. This would break completely new ground for the industry.”

Marine-i, is providing a comprehensive package of RD&I support which includes market analysis by Marine-i partner, Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, highlighting the most important commercial opportunities for the technology in floating offshore wind, and bespoke research by the university of Plymouth Digital Fabrication Laboratory, to develop processes to optimise this new technology.

Professor Lars Johanning of University of Exeter, lead partner for Marine-i, said: “J-Supplied should be applauded for the scale and ambition of its thinking. As well as being a major commercial opportunity for the business, this new process would have huge benefits for the global floating offshore wind industry.”

On 10 February, a special online workshop will be taking place, examining how 3-D printing may be used in the production of wind turbine blades. There will be an opportunity to hear from leading experts and to help shape a future transnational innovative project in this field.

Delegates can register for this free event by visiting the web site: (www.marine-i.co.uk/events).