SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, HAWAII – JULY 15, 2026 – Following successful advanced manufacturing operations aboard USS Essex (LHD-2) during transit to Hawaii, Snowbird Technologies has transitioned its Snowbird Additive Mobile Manufacturing Technology (SAMM Tech) system to Leader’s Field at Schofield Barracks, where it continues supporting the Naval Postgraduate School’s Consortium for Advanced Manufacturing Research and Education (CAMRE) distributed manufacturing experiment throughout Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2026, facilitated by its FLEETWERX PIA.
Following the arrival of USS Essex at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard (PHNSY), the deployable manufacturing platform was relocated ashore to expand operational support across the joint exercise. From its expeditionary position at Leader’s Field, SAMM Tech is receiving digital part requests from organizations participating throughout the RIMPAC network and producing mission-critical components closer to the point of need. Snowbird Mechanical Engineer David Sanger has remained with the system throughout the deployment—from shipboard operations at sea to field operations ashore—ensuring continuous manufacturing capability while supporting production requests as they are received.
“SAMM Tech was designed to provide advanced manufacturing wherever the mission requires,” said Karl Wojtkun, Vice President of Business Development at Snowbird Technologies. “Moving directly from shipboard operations aboard USS Essex to expeditionary field operations at Schofield Barracks demonstrates the flexibility and resilience of distributed manufacturing. The ability to respond to digital part requests across the exercise network represents another step toward delivering manufacturing capability directly to the tactical edge.”
SAMM Tech integrates metal additive manufacturing, plastic additive manufacturing, CNC machining and digital engineering tools within a patented, ruggedized containerized platform capable of operating in austere environments. During NPS CAMRE’s RIMPAC 2026 exercise, the system has continued producing metal components using Meltio laser-wire Directed Energy Deposition (DED) technology while supporting ongoing experimentation evaluating distributed manufacturing concepts for future military operations.
“What CAMRE, FLEETWERX, and our industry partners are demonstrating at RIMPAC 2026 is a shift in how the Fleet thinks about sustainment. By moving a containerized advanced manufacturing capability from the deck of USS Essex directly to an expeditionary site ashore, we’re showing the kind of flexibility that enables commanders to solve real-world problems,” said Morgan Bower, Hub Director, FLEETWERX.
“CAMRE’s experiment is about turning a promising capability into a repeatable, deployable practice. Receiving digital part requests from across the RIMPAC network and manufacturing components both ashore and afloat lets us study how distributed manufacturing performs where it actually matters: close to the warfighter,” said Chris Curran, Naval Postgraduate School (CAMRE). “The convergence of additive, subtractive, and polymer printing is what makes true expeditionary production possible. The lessons we capture here will shape how the Navy and Marine Corps approach point-of-need manufacturing and sustainment in future distributed operations.”
Advanced manufacturing operations are scheduled to conclude July 17, 2026, after which participating organizations will conduct final assessments of system performance, operational integration, and expeditionary manufacturing concepts demonstrated throughout the exercise. This milestone builds upon Snowbird Technologies’ previous participation in NPS CAMRE’s RIMPAC 2024 experimentation, where the company successfully demonstrated at-sea advanced manufacturing capabilities. The 2026 experiment expands upon those achievements by validating sustained manufacturing operations across both maritime and expeditionary land environments while supporting a distributed network of military users.
“NPS CAMRE’s RIMPAC exercise provides a unique opportunity to evaluate advanced manufacturing technologies in realistic operational conditions,” said Wojtkun. “The lessons learned during this experiment will help shape how expeditionary manufacturing supports future logistics, sustainment and readiness for distributed operations.”
Hosted by the Commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet and led by the Commander of the U.S. Third Fleet, NPS CAMRE’s RIMPAC 2026 is the world’s largest international maritime exercise, bringing together multinational forces to strengthen interoperability while evaluating emerging technologies that enhance operational effectiveness.
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
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Snowbird Technologies
cbrown@snowbirdtech.com
904-739-1300
