Voltage Vessels Submits 3D Printed Composite Boat Hull for Defense Evaluation

Updated on June 01, 2026 • 3 min read

Hawaii-based startup Voltage Vessels has submitted a six-meter 3D printed rigid hull inflatable boat (RHIB) for U.S. maritime defense evaluation, marking the company’s first formal entry into military and autonomous naval programs.

The vessel was produced using a large-format additive manufacturing system from Dutch manufacturer CEAD, a platform increasingly used for industrial-scale composite structures.

A new approach to naval manufacturing

Unlike conventional marine construction, the hull was manufactured directly through large-format 3D printing.

Voltage Vessels argues that digital manufacturing could fundamentally change how naval vessels are produced by allowing hulls to be printed closer to deployment locations rather than manufactured in centralized facilities and shipped globally.

The concept supports:

• faster production
• distributed manufacturing
• reduced logistics burden
• localized repair capability
• rapid fleet expansion

Eclipse X9 composite material

The hull is manufactured from Eclipse X9, a composite material developed by Voltage Vessels.

The material combines:

• recycled PETG polymer
• chopped basalt fiber reinforcement

Basalt fiber is produced from volcanic rock and offers several advantages compared with traditional reinforcement materials.

Mechanical performance

Testing conducted at the University of Maine’s Advanced Structures and Composites Center reportedly demonstrated significant improvements over conventional large-format printing materials.

Reported results include:

Tensile strength

• 108 MPa along print direction
• 36.5 MPa across layer direction

Flexural strength

• 112.98 MPa in primary direction

Durability

• More than 90% strength retention after 24 months of saltwater exposure
• Less than 0.4% water absorption

These properties are particularly important for marine applications where long-term environmental exposure is a major challenge.

Why basalt fiber matters

One of the most interesting aspects of Eclipse X9 is the use of basalt fiber instead of carbon fiber.

Potential advantages include:

• corrosion resistance
• lower material cost
• non-conductive behavior
• good saltwater durability
• reduced electromagnetic interference

Unlike carbon fiber, basalt fiber does not conduct electricity.

This characteristic may benefit autonomous vessels that rely heavily on:

• radar systems
• communication antennas
• navigation equipment
• sensor networks

Supporting autonomous naval systems

The company is positioning the hull for future autonomous maritime applications.

As unmanned surface vessels become increasingly important in defense operations, lightweight and rapidly manufacturable hull structures could offer advantages in:

• patrol missions
• surveillance operations
• logistics support
• distributed maritime sensing
• autonomous fleet deployment

Distributed manufacturing strategy

Perhaps the most ambitious aspect of the project is the manufacturing model itself.

Voltage Vessels proposes regional production centers across the Indo-Pacific capable of printing hulls directly from digital design files.

The concept aims to:

• reduce supply chain dependence
• shorten production timelines
• improve regional responsiveness
• support defense logistics resilience

The company states that production capacity could eventually scale to:

• 15,000 metric tons annually

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This article is developed based on real engineering experience, machine testing data, and practical production knowledge from Jota Machinery’s work in advanced composite manufacturing.

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Editorial Perspective

The most significant aspect of this project is not the boat itself but the manufacturing philosophy behind it.

Defense organizations worldwide are increasingly interested in distributed production models that reduce dependence on centralized factories and long supply chains. Large-format additive manufacturing aligns directly with that objective.

The combination of recycled PETG, basalt fiber reinforcement and digital manufacturing also highlights a broader trend in advanced composites: moving beyond traditional carbon fiber toward materials optimized for cost, durability, electromagnetic performance and scalable production.

If military evaluations prove successful, projects like this could help establish a new category of additively manufactured composite maritime platforms, where digital files become as strategically important as physical inventory.