world's first 3D printed boat beluga set sail during milan design week 2021

the sailing boat goes on its first voyage in milan

manufacturing company caracol and green technology business nextchem bring to life beluga, the world’s first 3D printed sailing boat. produced in one piece with recycled materials, the prototype presented officially at milan design week 2021 introduces an immersive experience into the world of large-scale 3D printing and in the possibilities that material upcycling offers. 

beluga, the world’s first 3D printed sailing boat is made in a single piece with myreplastTM recycled material

image courtesy of caracol 

the boat’s hull is 3D printed in a single piece with recycled material myreplastTM

italian lomazzo-based manufacturers caracol collaborate with partners nextchem to give beluga its first voyage on the water. traditional methods to produce sailing boats usually entail technologies that require molds and use materials that are more difficult to recycle, such as fiberglass. for this reason, caracol employs its proprietary robotic additive manufacturing system to produce the hull of the sailing boat in a single piece. with the 6-axis robotic arms and recycled material myreplastTM, nextchem’s trademark in upcycling technology, significant advantages in terms of costs, production lead time, and part performance make beluga a sustainable success with high-end requirements.

caracol has employed its proprietary robotic additive Manufacturing system to produce the hull of the sailing boat in a single piece

image courtesy of nextchem

the projeect is a sustainable example from innovation in manufacturing to circular economy and plastic recycling

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3D modelling the product’s multi-faceted layers

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caracol’s 6-arm robot during the printing process

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the 3D printing technology sees no scale limits

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project info:

name: beluga

manufacturers: caracol, nextchem

partners: euroscatola, yacht club santo stefano, elli, bombeer

year: 2021