Progress in digital manufacturing doesn't always come from new machines or faster production. Sometimes, it starts with the material itself.
One of our material suppliers has recently introduced a new version of the polypropylene we use to print our boats. While our current material is designed to retain its colour and strength for around five years, the new version is built to last at least ten before degradation begins.
For us, that's a significant development. The printing process stays the same, our production setup doesn't change, but the material offers the potential for a much longer service life. It's an improvement that could make a real difference to how our boats perform over time.
Material development is an important part of making large-scale 3D printing a reliable manufacturing method. The technology matters, but so does what goes into the machine. Better materials can help us build products that last longer, perform more consistently and require less frequent replacement.
It's the kind of quiet progress that makes no noise but changes what we can honestly promise our customers. And it's exactly the direction we want our materials to move in: towards more responsible choices and products built to last.