Case Study: Gulf Wind Technology achieves rapid design iteration and 2.5–5× faster wind-tunnel model production with Stratasys 3D printing

How Gulf Wind Technology pushes wind energy forward with the help of 3D printing

Gulf Wind Technology, a rotor-design specialist tackling highly variable Gulf Coast wind conditions, needed a faster way to produce large, test-ready wind tunnel models to validate CFD designs. To speed iteration and enable complex features like integrated pressure taps, Gulf Wind partnered with Stratasys and selected the Stratasys Neo800 SLA printer using Somos PerFORM Reflect material.

Using Stratasys Neo800 and PerFORM Reflect, Gulf Wind printed large, high-strength airfoil models with integral pressure channels and threaded ports, improving test setup and durability. The Stratasys solution cut production time by about 2.5–5× versus composite lay-up or CNC machining, improved PIV surface quality, and accelerated design validation—allowing more testing, faster iteration, and a stronger competitive position.

Gulf Wind Technology

Joe Lotuaco

Senior Product Developer