thyssenkrupp, a German multinational conglomerate specialising in industrial engineering and steel production, and Wilhelmsen, a comprehensive global maritime group, have formed a joint venture called Pelagus 3D, which will provide 3D printing services to the maritime industry in the future. It aspires to be the most comprehensive one-stop shop for digital manufacturing in the maritime and offshore industries.
To produce and deliver spare parts more efficiently in terms of time and cost, the new company will use modern additive manufacturing technology and a global partner network.
Customers will thus be able to ensure the seaworthiness of their ships while continuing to operate as planned. Pelagus 3D thus addresses the issue of high transport and storage costs, as well as the longer duration of traditional maritime manufacturing processes.
3D printing services to the Maritime sector
Thyssenkrupp contributes, on the one hand, its technological expertise in additive manufacturing as well as capabilities from its own Tech Centres in Singapore and Germany to supply 3D metal products for use in shipping and other industries to the joint venture.
thyssenkrupp Materials Services, the company’s materials distribution and service provider, also brings extensive experience in developing digital supply chain solutions and platforms. The platform used by Pelagus 3D, for example, was built by experts.
In turn, Wilhelmsen brings its extensive maritime expertise and direct ongoing experience in understanding the needs of vessel fleet managers, enabling the delivery of a diverse portfolio of maritime products and services for a variety of vessels.
“The global economy relies on resilient and flexible supply chains. The dynamic market environment has shown us this again and again, at least since Corona. In our partnership with Wilhelmsen, we are showing how we can maintain the operation of ships and secure the flow of goods in shipping, which is so important for international trade.”
– Ilse Henne, Chief Transformation Officer, thyssenkrupp Materials Services
Kjell André Engen, President of Wilhelmsen Ships Service said, “Through our collaboration with thyssenkrupp, we are able to introduce Pelagus 3D to the market and solve a substantial and evolutionary logistics puzzle. Not only is Wilhelmsen excited to see Pelagus 3D being released, but as the shaper of the maritime industry, we are also proud to finally offer this service to the global merchant fleet.”
Global partner network for various technologies and local manufacturing
The digital platform developed by thyssenkrupp Materials Services will be at the heart of Pelagus 3D, acting as a link between customers, ship managers, and OEMs. The joint venture will have access to a global partner network with various manufacturing technologies, most notably printing technologies, via this platform. This enables the company to respond to printing requests for any material. Furthermore, manufacturing will take place locally where the spare part is required, avoiding long transport distances.
Pelagus 3D will be based in Singapore. Ken Lip Ong, Head of TechCenter Additive Manufacturing at thyssenkrupp in Singapore, will serve as CEO, and Hkon Ellekjaer, Head of Ventures for 3D Printing at Wilhelmsen, will serve as CCO. Cetin Nazikkol, Chief Transformation Officer and CEO of the Asia Pacific Africa Region at thyssenkrupp AG, Dr. Sebastian Smerat, Head of Customer Innovation at thyssenkrupp Materials Services, Kjell André Engen, President of Wilhelmsen Ship Services, and Nakhul Malhotra, Vice President Emerging Opportunities Portfolio at Wilhemsen are all members of the Supervisory Board.
Materials as a Service” strategy
Pelagus 3D will be included in the innovation portfolio of thyssenkrupp Materials Services. In order to grow, thyssenkrupp Materials Services, one of the world’s leading companies in the global materials distribution and services sector, is constantly pursuing new digital business models as part of its “Materials as a Service” strategy.
Dr. Sebastian Smerat said, “We want to use innovations strategically to digitalise offers and supply chains, make them transparent and thus enable new forms of value creation.”
Other corporate ventures in the portfolio include “pacemaker,” an AI-based forecasting solution, and “toii,” an IIoT solution for optimising production processes, in addition to the 50% stake in Pelagus 3D.
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