Developing smart technologies to improve the productivity of small and medium-sized shipyards in Europe

SMARTYards

THE SMARTYARDS PROJECT AIMS TO IMPROVE THE PRODUCTIVITY OF EUROPEAN SMALL AND MEDIUM- SIZED SHIPYARDS AND RELATED SUBCONTRACTORS BY AT LEAST 20%

This will be achieved by improving the knowledge and techno-logical skills needed to combat tough global competition and to provide innovative products. This is particularly important given that the technology gap between larger and smaller European yards has increased significantly over recent decades.

In the technical arena, the project will develop, test and validate smart technological solutions, comprising the optimum between design, equipment and work organisation. All solutions will address the specific needs and challenges of the target group, which have been clearly identified in the proposal.

Seven key Technology Areas and related innovative ideas have been identified, representing all critical processes from design through production to repair and conversion:

• Design methods and tools• Production preparation and planning• Accuracy control and shaping• Welding and assembly• Coating materials and processes• Outfitting and ship maintenance, repair and conversion

techniques• Innovative materials and their assembly

These solutions will be adapted and documented in a Technology Catalogue. The most promising solutions will be selected to build, test and validate at least seven physical mock-ups, which will be demonstrated to the European maritime community, as repre-sented by a User Group.

“We see the SMARTYards project as a way of finding new opportunities to improve our existing best practices and developed processes, as well as their innovation. Our goal is to ensure implementation of positive and proven results of the Project in our core business and to strengthen intellectual capital of our Company. From our perspective this is an essential question for any yard, therefore it is a great challenge for us.”An

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ULJANIK Shipyard, Croatia

SMARTYards First Results

• The needs and interests of shipyards have been identified in two detailed questionnaires covering technology ideas, business models and training.

• Four workshops were held at participating shipyards. These workshops provided valuable insight into the practices and needs of the small to medium-sized shipyards.

• In the seven pre-selected technology areas around twenty Technology Ideas were identified and further analysed. The final list will contain the seven most promising demonstrators, one from each technology area. Depending on the selected demonstrator, an increase in efficiency between ten and twenty per cent is to be expected.

Contact

Project Coordinator: Michael HüblerCenter of Maritime Technologies e.V.Tel.: +49 (0)40 69 20 876-0Fax: +49 (0)40 69 20 876 66E-Mail: huebler@cmt-net.orgWebsite: www.smartyards-project.eu

“SMARTYards covers all phases in shipbuilding, from early design to production of the ship. We have high expectations of the benefits of integrating design and engineering tools for use by small and medium-sized shipyards in cooperation with design and engineering offices.”

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The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Union Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007 – 2013) under the grant agreement n° 605436.

ULJANIK Shipyard, Croatia

Meuse et Sambre, Belgium

1 Center of Maritime Technologies e.V.CMT, Germany

2 Asociación de Investigación Metalúrgica del NoroesteAIMEN, Spain

3 Stichting Centrum voor Maritieme Technologie en InnovatieCMTI, Netherlands

4 Conoship International BVCono, Netherlands

5 DN&T SADN&T, Belgium

6 Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.FhG, Germany

7 Inrotech ApSInro, Denmark

8 Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellschaft mbH & Co. KGFSG, Germany

9 Meuse et Sambre SAM&S, Belgium

10 Navrom Shipyard S.R.L.Navrep, Romania

11 Numeriek Centrum Groningen BVNCG, Netherlands

12 Safinah LimitedSAF, UK

13 SDC Ship Design & Consult GmbHSDC, Germany

14 Santierul Naval Orsova SASNO, Romania

15 Technische Universität Hamburg-HarburgTUHH, Germany

16 Universitatea Dunarea de jos GalatiUGAL, Romania

17 Uljanik Brodogradiliste d.d.ULJ, Croatia

18 Francisco Cardama SACARDA, Spain

19 Blatraden ABBLA, Sweden

Consortium

The project consortium comprises nineteen partners from nine European countries, with SME shipyards and technology provid-ers in a leading role. By improving the technology level of small and medium-sized companies, the project will contribute to the overall increase in the competitiveness of the EU maritime sector, through a self-sustaining wide network of large and smaller companies. Innovative ideas for new products and services together with novel business models will strengthen the role of SMEs and create new employment opportunities.

Technical developments will be accompanied by the elaboration of innovative business models, productivity and environmental assessments. Training schemes will be developed and a sustainable innovation network created in close cooperation with European marine and maritime associations.

“Due to continuous research and innovation Flensburger Shipyard has achieved a strong development in the area of production. Strengthening the results by aligning to other shipyards and improving the approaches by taking additional requirements into consideration are the main goals for Flensburger Shipyard in the project SMARTYards. Hence, flexibility in production is boosted enabling Flens-burger Shipyard to meet the requirements of the future order book.”D

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Flensburger Shipyard, Germany

Cardama Shipyard, Spain