Navy Schoolhouse Adds 24 Hybrid and Additive Manufacturing Systems for Sailor Training

The US Navy's Schoolhouse in Danville, Virginia is getting a serious upgrade. Naval Sea Systems Command has installed 24 new manufacturing systems at the training facility, giving sailors hands-on experience with the same hybrid and composite additive manufacturing tools they will use aboard ship.

The equipment includes 12 Phillips Hybrid Manufacturing systems built on Haas TM-1P CNC platforms with Meltio Directed Energy Deposition technology. These machines can manufacture new components, repair worn parts, and restore high-value assets in a single setup. The other 12 systems are Markforged X7 composite 3D printers, which sailors will use to produce tooling, fixtures, prototypes, and replacement parts on demand.

BlueForge Alliance executed the procurement on behalf of the Navy. The systems support the Afloat Training Program, which prepares sailors for deployment by teaching them production-ready workflows before they ever step aboard a vessel.

Bobby Keithley, Vice President of Sales and Product Strategy at Phillips Federal, said the training approach reflects how the Navy expects to sustain operations in contested environments. "By training sailors on the same hybrid and additive systems they will encounter aboard ship, the Navy is accelerating readiness, improving sustainment outcomes, and strengthening its advanced manufacturing workforce," he said.

Gabriel Ortiz, Americas Channel Manager at Meltio, added that the technology is especially valuable at sea. "As a retired sailor, I have a special appreciation for what this technology can accomplish when placed in the hands of well-trained sailors and Marines," Ortiz said. "Equipping the next generation of naval maintainers with advanced manufacturing capabilities will strengthen fleet readiness and help ensure critical parts can be produced whenever and wherever they are needed."

The Schoolhouse is owned by NAVSEA and operated with the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research. The hybrid systems combine subtractive CNC machining with additive metal deposition, while the Markforged printers give sailors a fast path to strong composite parts without waiting for supply chains.

Shipboard additive manufacturing has already proven its value. Earlier this year, sailors aboard USS Bataan used a 3D printer to produce a replacement sprayer plate at sea. The Danville training ensures more units can do the same when it matters most.