Overview
The structure of Italian boatyard sector is made of a large number of companies of which only 10% with more than 50 employees. This element highlighted the need for technological innovation as well as for new boat design methodologies.
The MAC project was aimed at:
- developing NEW TECHNOLOGIES facilitating the introduction of structures and components made with innovative materials and processes concerning functional, economic and environmental aspects;
- developing accurate and reliable DESIGN METHODOLOGIES for the re-engineering of components.
It was expected that innovative processes would be developed with the aim of rationalizing production steps, taking advantage of the transfer of environmentally sustainable and cost-effective technologies for the transformation of materials and using, for example, the LOM prototyping techniques for the realization of molds, the automated cutting of materials and semi-finished products by using power laser.
Funding
Results
MAC developed an innovative process for closed-mould shipbuilding plus an improvement of the so called SQRTM, Semi Qualified Resin Transfer Moulding.
The overall production process has been optimised by making use of tailored numerical models.