JACKSONVILLE, FL — Snowbird Technologies, a U.S. manufacturer of mission-critical equipment and deployable manufacturing systems, today announced successful operational results from the company’s participation in NPS CAMRE’s Littoral and Expeditionary Advanced Manufacturing and Repair Experiment at RIMPAC 2026, where its SAMM Tech deployable hybrid manufacturing platform demonstrated on-demand metal additive manufacturing both aboard the USS Essex and ashore at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
Operating as part of the Naval Postgraduate School’s Consortium for Advanced Manufacturing Research & Education (CAMRE) and FLEETWERX initiatives, SAMM Tech successfully produced mission-critical components using the Meltio Engine Blue and nitrogen as the process gas, first aboard the USS Essex and subsequently at Leader’s Field at Schofield Barracks using nitrogen supplied by an on-site generator. The deployment demonstrated the ability to manufacture replacement parts closer to the point of need while reducing reliance on traditional procurement and extended supply chains.
“RIMPAC provided an important opportunity to demonstrate expeditionary manufacturing in an operational environment,” said Karl Wojtkun, Snowbird Technologies. “The results validated not only the ability to print parts in austere environments, but also the potential to reduce procurement costs and supply delays when parts are needed immediately.”
Measurable Cost and Time Advantages
During the exercise, SAMM Tech produced seven unique parts, including oxygen tank brackets, drain caps, load test clamp components, turnbuckles, a 4-inch pipe flange, and an air pressure radio six-pack. The results demonstrated significant economic advantages for several components. According to Snowbird’s RIMPAC results analysis, four of the seven parts delivered cost advantages compared with OEM procurement, with reported savings of up to 351%.
- Oxygen Tank Brackets (Qty 12): Printed in an estimated 75 hours for approximately $2,492 in wire and gas, compared with estimated OEM procurement costs of $9,624 from PHNSY and $10,224 to USS Essex.
- Load Test Clamp Outer: Printed in approximately 3 hours for $101, compared with $420 from PHNSY and $455 to USS Essex – representing 351% reported savings.
- Load Test Clamp Inner: Printed in approximately 9 hours for $289, compared with $420 from PHNSY and $455 to USS Essex.
- Air Pressure Radio (6-pack): Printed in approximately 5 hours for $154, compared with $624 from PHNSY and $654 to USS Essex – representing 325% reported savings.
The results also demonstrated the value of manufacturing parts on demand when conventional procurement may require significantly longer lead times. Snowbird’s analysis notes that even when additive manufacturing costs exceeded procurement costs for an individual part, on-demand production can avoid weeks of supply delay and support mission readiness. For example, approximately 692 hours of procurement time on one part order were avoided using SAMM Tech on location during the exercise.
From Shipboard Manufacturing to Expeditionary Sustainment
The RIMPAC deployment demonstrated a key capability of SAMM Tech: the ability to relocate and continue manufacturing operations across environments without depending on conventional manufacturing facility. Following shipboard operations, the system continued manufacturing operations ashore at Schofield Barracks using nitrogen supplied by an on-site generator. This demonstrated a flexible approach to process-gas availability while maintaining metal additive manufacturing operations in an expeditionary setting.
“RIMPAC reinforced the concept that the value of expeditionary additive manufacturing isn’t limited to whether a part can be printed,” said Wojtkun. “The larger opportunity is connecting digital part files, manufacturing, machining, inspection and sustainment capabilities so that the force can respond to parts requirements where and when they occur.”
Building a More Resilient Manufacturing Architecture
The results from RIMPAC 2026 provide operational data supporting Snowbird Technologies’ continued development of deployable manufacturing as a sustainment capability for defense and other mission-critical applications. By bringing manufacturing capability closer to the point of need, SAMM Tech is designed to help reduce dependence on centralized production and traditional supply chains while providing an adaptable manufacturing capability that can operate in distributed environments.
For the complete RIMPAC 2026 results, including part-level print times, manufacturing costs and procurement comparisons, see Snowbird Technologies’ accompanying “RIMPAC 2026 Results: Deploy. Print. Sustain.” sheet located here: https://snowbirdtech.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/2026_RIMPAC_Results-2.pdf
About Snowbird Technologies
Based in Jacksonville, Florida, Snowbird Technologies provides advanced manufacturing, environmental control and atmospheric water generation solutions to defense, government and commercial customers worldwide. The company specializes in ruggedized systems engineered to operate in extreme and austere environments, enabling mission success wherever it is required.
About FLEETWERX
FLEETWERX is a Partnership Intermediary Agreement (PIA) that connects the Naval Postgraduate School with industry, academia and government to bring new solutions into real-world military settings. By working directly with end users, FLEETWERX helps test, refine and move ideas into use faster.
About NPS CAMRE
The Consortium for Advanced Manufacturing Research and Education (CAMRE) at the Naval Postgraduate School focuses on how manufacturing can support military operations, improving how parts are made, repaired and delivered in the field.
Media Contact
Caroline Brown Samsel
Marketing Manager
Snowbird Technologies
cbrown@snowbirdtech.com
904-739-1300
