Additive manufacturing proves effective in reducing valve lead time.
Military Sealift Command vessel MV Leroy A. Mendonca, a Bob Hope-class vehicle cargo ship, urgently needed a 14-inch damage control flooding drain check valve. Typically industry lead times for larger-sized were 1.5 to 2 years, creating a serious sourcing challenge.
Through optimized engineering and rapid prototyping, Inflo produced the cast moldings required for manufacturing the 14-inch valve, reducing mold production time to a matter of weeks instead of the months typically required for traditional sand casting models. This enabled the valve to be manufactured in a fraction of the originally anticipated time.
Success stories like this highlight the versatility and ingenuity of our OEM partners and demonstrate their commitment to providing solutions that not only meet ongoing demand for qualified products, but also support the tight timetables ship programs face to repair efforts and new construction.
When the need for timely procurement of equipment was challenged by incompatible industry lead times, additive manufacturing helped source a larger-sized check valve faster. It is a strong example of OEM collaboration, engineering ingenuity, and schedule-driven execution supporting the needs of the fleet.
