Snowbird Demonstrates Deployable Manufacturing for Navy Sustainment at RIMPAC

During RIMPAC 2026, Snowbird Technologies demonstrated its SAMM Tech deployable hybrid-manufacturing platform aboard USS Essex and ashore at Leader’s Field, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. The activity took place as part of the Naval Postgraduate School’s Consortium for Advanced Manufacturing Research & Education (CAMRE) Littoral and Expeditionary Advanced Manufacturing and Repair Experiment, with the NPS CAMRE and FLEETWERX initiatives. The deployment tested whether metal components could be manufactured close to where they are needed, including in shipboard and land-based operational settings. Snowbird described the exercise as an opportunity to demonstrate expeditionary manufacturing in an operational environment; Karl Wojtkun of the company said, “RIMPAC provided an important opportunity to demonstrate expeditionary manufacturing in an operational environment.”

The platform used the Meltio Engine Blue wire-laser metal additive manufacturing solution, with nitrogen as the process gas. Shipboard production aboard USS Essex was followed by manufacturing at Schofield Barracks, where an on-site generator supplied nitrogen. Across the exercise, SAMM Tech produced seven types of components: oxygen tank brackets, drain caps, load test clamp components, turnbuckles, a 4-inch pipe flange, and an air pressure radio six-pack. The demonstration is relevant to Navy sustainment because it explored producing replacement parts near the point of need rather than relying exclusively on conventional ordering and extended supply chains. The reported activity involved the United States Navy, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PHNSY), and the Naval Postgraduate School context described in the source material.

Snowbird’s analysis found that four of the seven parts had reported cost advantages compared with OEM procurement. Twelve oxygen tank brackets were produced in an estimated 75 hours for approximately $2,492 in wire and gas, versus estimated procurement costs of $9,624 from PHNSY and $10,224 to USS Essex. The load test clamp outer was produced in approximately three hours for $101, compared with estimates of $420 from PHNSY and $455 to USS Essex; Snowbird reported savings of up to 351% for this part. The load test clamp inner took approximately nine hours and cost $289, compared with the same $420 and $455 procurement estimates. The air pressure radio six-pack was produced in about five hours for $154, versus $624 and $654 in estimated procurement costs, which Snowbird characterized as 325% savings. These figures are company-reported demonstration results, not independently validated, universal savings rates or an award-level cost analysis.

The procurement implication is broader than unit cost: Snowbird reported that on-site production avoided approximately 692 hours of procurement time on one part order. The company’s analysis also notes that additive manufacturing may cost more than procurement for an individual part while still potentially offering operational value when conventional sourcing entails weeks of delay. For Navy sustainment organizations and prospective contractors, the demonstration is a signal to assess where part availability, lead times, and supply-chain distance create readiness risks, and whether deployable manufacturing could address specific requirements. However, no solicitation, contract award, funding amount, active bid opportunity, or procurement contact was announced. The reported performance should therefore be treated as an operational demonstration and market indicator—not evidence that the Navy has selected a solution or validated the results across other parts and operating conditions.

• RIMPAC 2026: SAMM Tech operated aboard USS Essex and at Leader’s Field, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, demonstrating shipboard and shore-based production.
• Seven component types were produced, including oxygen tank brackets, drain caps, load test clamp components, turnbuckles, a 4-inch pipe flange, and an air pressure radio six-pack.
• The system used the Meltio Engine Blue wire-laser metal additive manufacturing solution and nitrogen process gas; shore-based nitrogen came from an on-site generator.
• Four of seven parts reportedly offered cost advantages over OEM procurement, according to Snowbird’s analysis.
• Twelve oxygen tank brackets cost approximately $2,492 in wire and gas to produce, compared with estimated procurement costs of $9,624 from PHNSY and $10,224 to USS Essex.
• The load test clamp outer cost $101 to produce in approximately three hours; Snowbird reported savings of up to 351% against procurement estimates of $420 and $455.
• The air pressure radio six-pack cost $154 to produce in about five hours, compared with procurement estimates of $624 and $654; Snowbird reported 325% savings.
• Approximately 692 procurement hours were reportedly avoided on one part order, highlighting lead-time and readiness considerations alongside part-level cost.
• Procurement teams can use the demonstration to evaluate specific sustainment bottlenecks and potential deployable-manufacturing requirements, while treating company-reported figures as demonstration data.
• No solicitation, contract award, funding amount, or active bid opportunity was announced; the event is a market signal, not a confirmed procurement action.