A Melbourne-based company has supplied 3D metal printers to Ukraine through the US Department of Defense’s Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.
SPEE3D has sent a fleet of seven WarpSPEE3D 3D metal printers to rapidly manufacture critical repair parts for various military equipment.
Company co-founder Steven Camilleri, accompanied by key staff, trained the Ukrainian military on 3D printing metal parts in Jasionka, Poland.
Each printer, priced around $1 million, will focus on creating critical Ukrainian military equipment parts, which are in constant demand.
Printing Power
“This is a great milestone for SPEE3D, highlighting our commitment to supporting the supply chain operations of defence forces globally,” an official statement from the company read.
SPEE3D Vice President of Defence Chris Harris stressed the importance of providing on-demand manufacturing to the country.
“We’re focused on giving Ukrainian soldiers resources to fortify the maintenance and repair capabilities when and where it counts most,” he said.
The printers will be involved in fitting “parts of consequences” to equipment like troop carriers and guns, some of which were produced 40 years ago and are no longer in production.
Prolific Military Ally
SPEE3D has worked closely with other nations in the past to provide metal 3D printing in the military field.
In 2020, the Australian Army invested 1.24 million Australian dollars ($790,000) in its tactical printers, eventually seeing operations in the remote Northern Territory bushland for Exercise Koolendong.
The company was also chosen by the British Army’s Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers unit to provide technology for the force as part of a concept assessment.
