Newsfender EU Launches 3D Printed, Sustainable Boat Fenders
The Spain-based company has introduced marine fenders 3D printed from TPU with a โreturn and recycleโ concept.
Editor-in-Chief,ย Additive Manufacturing
Boats, docks, shipyards and more rely on fenders, protective pieces of hardware that prevent and reduce the impact of watercraft collisions. Fenders are necessary to marine settings, but can be a wasteful part of vessel and infrastructureย production. Furthermore, fenders are often produced from materials such as foam andย polyurea, which are difficult to recycle and can even be hazardous to humans and the environment.
Newsfender EU uses large format additive manufacturing (LFAM) 3D printers from BigRep to produce marine fenders in a variety of shapes and configurations.ย
To reduce the environmental impact of fenders and improve functionality for these components, Spain-based companyย Newsfender EUย has launched a new product concept: โfully digital, on-demand production of fenders using recyclable TPU material.โย
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Operating out of the DFactoryย innovation hubย in Barcelona, Spain, Newsfender EU is using industrial large-format 3D printers fromย BigRepย to produce fenders in custom shapes and sizes.
Newsfender EU uses large format additive manufacturing (LFAM) 3D printers from BigRep to produce marine fenders in a variety of shapes and configurations.ย
The TPU fenders are recyclable and trackable, making it possible to return used items to the manufacturer to be made into new fender
The 3D printed fenders can beย customized andย produced on demand, eliminating inventory, andย made without fill material or coatings, simplifying and reducing waste in the manufacturing process.ย Flexible TPU material takes the place of traditional materials like foam and polyurea, which can contaminate waterways and harm aquatic life.ย
Plus, the material isย fully recyclable.ย Newsfender EU has developed a method for crushing and melting old fenders so that the material can be reused in new ones.ย
Fenders can be produced with a type of TPU that โchargesโ with UV light and glows in the dark.ย
In addition to being more environmentally friendly, 3D printed fenders can leverage additive designs to offerย optimized shock absorptionย for better performance in use. The additive process also makes it possible to embedย NFC chips for trackingย of the fenders. If one is lost at sea, for example, the finder could scan the fender with a smartphone to read its chip and learn who it belongs to. Newsfender also offers UV-reactive TPU that โchargesโ during the day and glows brightly at night to improve visibility.ย
3D printed fenders are already in use by the Guardia Civil and the Olympic Port in Barcelona, and the company has seen interest from other maritime authorities and shipyards as well.ย