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A collaboration between  (Palma de Mallorca and Barcelona), a Spanish company specializing in the design, engineering and large-format 3D printing for nautical and naval applications, and Caracol AM (Milan, Italy and Austin, Texas, U.S.), known for its large-format 3D printing technologies using fiber reinforcement, has resulted in the development of a functional 6-meter-long monolithic catamaran for open waters.

The project was conceived with a long-term vision to lay the groundwork for future industrialization of such boats. This meant meticulously analyzing every step of the process, from material selection to the optimization of printing times, assembly and testing, and ensuring the final product meets naval industry requirements. Each aspect was refined to identify the key elements needed to scale production efficiently, sustainably and economically. 

The final catamaran was produced using Caracol’s robotic 3D printing platform Heron AM, which extruded 30% glass fiber-reinforced recycled polypropylene (rPP) to achieve a product that can be industrialized and scaled. Use of large-format 3D printing for such an application enabled a highly customizable design, efficient material use and a significant reduction in environmental impact. Partners believe that the achievement not only demonstrates the feasibility of robotic large-format 3D printing but also establishes the foundation for a new era in the manufacturing of boats and nautical components.

V2 Group and Caracol AM are committed to the continuous improvement of this manufacturing approach to broaden its applications in this sector, including transitioning toward the industrialization of the process. Moreover, the collaboration helps to strengthen each partners’ leadership in nautical and naval innovation.