A Hawaii-based company is taking a unique approach to boat manufacturing by combining recycled plastic with volcanic rock-derived basalt fibre. Voltage Vessels, a startup based in Hawaii, has developed a material called ‘Eclipse X9’ which can be used in large-scale 3D printing and is being tested for marine applications. The material has already become part of the company's plans for printed boats, including a 6-metre hull submitted for US maritime defence evaluation. By replacing some conventional manufacturing processes with digital designs and printable composites, the company is exploring whether boats and marine structures could eventually be produced closer to where they are needed, instead of manufacturing them far away and then transporting them over long distances.
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