Case Study: National Consumer Panel (customer) achieves up to 38% mass savings in ship structures with Altair (solution provider)

Altair enables lightweight, large-scale Additive manufacturing design

National Consumer Panel faced the challenge of reducing ship mass and CO2 emissions by replacing traditional fabrication with large-scale additive manufacturing (LSAM) and optimized designs. To address this, they engaged Altair and used Altair® Inspire™ for topology optimization as part of the MariLight feasibility effort to explore lightweight, AM-ready ship structures.

Altair conducted topology optimization, converted 2D drawings into 3D CAD using Inspire’s Sketcher and PolyNURBS tools, and refined designs for LSAM production; NMIS then demonstrated a partial build. The work delivered mass savings of 24–38% across key structures—bilge pump foundation (25% / 24 kg saved), windlass foundation (24% reduction), and bulbous bow (38% less mass)—while meeting or exceeding stress and buckling criteria, showing Altair’s solutions can cut material use and support lower CO2 emissions.

National Consumer Panel

Chris Dunn

Managing Director