Korean Register Certifies 3D Printing Repair Tech for Defense and Shipbuilding

First-of-its-kind certification for metal repair

Korean Register (KR) has awarded a manufacturing process certificate to AM Solutions for its laser wire directed energy deposition (LW-DED) additive manufacturing repair technology. The certification, presented on July 28 at AM Solutions' center in Daejeon, marks the first time KR has verified the safety and reliability of a 3D printing process used to repair damaged metal structures rather than produce new parts.

The certified LW-DED process melts metal wire with a laser and deposits it layer by layer onto the damaged area. This targeted approach restores only the affected section instead of replacing or remanufacturing the entire component. The result is shorter repair times and lower costs, especially for parts that are discontinued or hard to source.

What the certification covers

KR revised its additive manufacturing guidelines to create a certification framework that spans materials, processes, products, and manufacturing methods. The scheme explicitly covers both newly manufactured parts and the repair of existing metal structures. That distinction matters: until now, most classification society certifications focused on additively manufactured new components, not maintenance and repair.

The International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) established Recommendation No. 186 last year to enable safe additive manufacturing in marine and offshore applications. KR's new framework builds on that guidance and extends it to repair work.

Who attended the ceremony

The certificate presentation included representatives from the Republic of Korea Navy, KR, the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH), Daejeon Metropolitan City, Daejeon Technopark, and AM Solutions. Sangsoo Kim, Senior Vice President of KR's Naval Business Center, said the certification provides a new solution for maintaining and repairing high-value equipment in defense and shipbuilding sectors.

Why this matters for additive manufacturing

Additive manufacturing has gained attention in aerospace, shipbuilding, offshore, and defense for its ability to produce complex parts quickly. But industrial adoption has been slowed by a lack of certification frameworks, high implementation costs, and limited demand for non-standard parts. KR's certification removes one major barrier by giving shipyards and military maintenance teams a class-approved repair method they can actually use.

If LW-DED repair gains traction, it could change how militaries and shipping companies manage spare parts. Rather than stocking legacy components for decades, operators could print replacement sections on demand. That shift would reduce inventory costs and simplify supply chains for vessels and equipment with long service lives.