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Description
Sofic designs and manufactures vessels for the yachting, composite, fishing, and shipbuilding industries. Under the project we are developing a technology for the production of heavy-duty vessels, with reinforced concrete and additive printing which uses ecological crystalline composite based on a mineral binder reinforced with steel fibre. This technology will allow us to develop a market niche by introducing new worksite crafts, fishing boats, marina service boats, tourist boats and houseboats. The new vessels will be 7-7.5 m long and approximately 36m² big. A customer who chooses our hull instead of a laminated one will receive a much more durable and resistant product at a comparable price. The advantages of the new vessels include extended service life, ranging between 25 and 80 years, 3-fold increased impact strength, greater refractoriness, no need to move out of the water for maintenance works and overwintering, and the resulting lower operating costs.
The project covers development works, the purchase of production resources (CNC digitally controlled machining centre, form of a vessel hull, worksite craft) and marketing services. Our Norwegian partner – KvantIT Marglewski - will carry out tests of a concrete mix in field conditions, and obtain information from potential Norwegian clients on the operating conditions of marina service boats, communication boats and research vessels used on sea waters. Those data will be used in the development works to create a calculation model and a vessel design.
Using the new additive printing technology in the hull production will result in a reduction of the annual carbon emission by 0.28 tons and a decreased electricity consumption by 0.01 GWh. The new technology will also reduce the consumption of materials for the construction of spatial structures.
Summary of project results
The aim of the project was to increase the competitiveness of our company, through the implementation of a new production technology, using an ecological crystalline composite based on a mineral binder reinforced with directed steel fiber, which will be applied in additive printing.
The new technology was our own idea and through its implementation we wanted to be able to produce heavy-duty vessels that, compared to objects produced by currently available methods, would have advantages that would be attractive from an investor''s point of view and that would protect marine and inland waters.
The challenge we faced in the project was to develop a mineral binder-based crystalline composite that could be used in additive printing and, in turn, to select process parameters to manufacture it economically. This task was outsourced to an external research unit and the solution was developed with a Norwegian partner.
The second challenge was to design a boat in the new technology and prepare a base in the form of molds for its manufacture. This too was accomplished with the help of the partner and an external engineering firm.
The results of the project are particularly felt by:
- the owners of the company, who acquired a new, profitable and competitive technology for the production of vessels, expanded the company''s offer with an innovative product and also significantly enriched the production park with equipment for the production of the new solution,
- the company''s employees, who acquired new competencies and gained improved working conditions,
- the company''s customers, who can purchase new, attractive products,
- the local environment, especially the local labor market employees, who gained the chance to find employment in a technologically innovative company,
- the environment, which has been relieved by SOFIC''s ongoing operations.
In quantitative terms, we gained:
- an increase in revenues and profits,
- an increase in the value of production assets,
- reduced energy intensity of production.
The results of the project are particularly felt by:
- the owners of the company, who acquired a new, profitable and competitive technology for the production of vessels, expanded the company''s offer with an innovative product and also significantly enriched the production park with equipment for the production of the new solution,
- the company''s employees, who acquired new competencies and gained improved working conditions,
- the company''s customers, who can purchase new, attractive products,
- the local environment, especially the local labor market employees, who gained the chance to find employment in a technologically innovative company,
- the environment, which has been relieved by SOFIC''s ongoing operations.
In quantitative terms, we gained:
- an increase in revenues and profits,
- an increase in the value of production assets,
- reduced energy intensity of production.
Summary of bilateral results
Thanks to the cooperation with the Norwegian partner, we were able to carry out a full range of research and development work, which led to the development of a new production technology. We also had the opportunity to establish the first contacts with potential customers from the Norwegian market and target them with the new solution. The partnership allowed us to learn more about the Scandinavian market and the rules governing it, thanks to which we hope to enter it more easily.