3D printed offshore crane hook passes test
15 January 2018 by Sotiris KanarisIn the first week of 2018, the world’s first 3D printed offshore crane hook— manufactured by Huisman—successfully passed its load test (80t) and all associated quality control checks.
Crane hooks are typically manufactured by casting or forging techniques. Huisman actively employs the 3D printing technique ‘Wire & Arc Additive Manufacturing’ (WAAM) to produce mid-size to large components with high grade tensile steel, including a large four-prong hook, with an own printed weight close to 1,000kg.
“An important benefit for larger crane hooks is the significant reduction in delivery time at a cost that competes with forgings and castings, and a more consistent level of quality,” said Huisman.
WAAM can be used for crane hooks, but also allows Huisman to manufacture other components with complex shapes, short delivery times or local alternative material properties, to improve for example wear and corrosion resistance.
In the near future Huisman aims to further improve the WAAM process by reducing the cost price for this technique and to increase manufacturing capabilities up to items of 2,500kg printed weight.
