Attendees receive an in-depth look at plasma cutting, abrasive waterjet, and laser technologies/
HANOVER, N.H.—The toughest challenges facing the shipbuilding industry today—and how innovative manufacturing technologies can help shape its future—made for a dynamic exchange at a symposium hosted recently by Hypertherm Associates, a U.S.-based manufacturer of industrial cutting systems and software.
The 2025 Shipbuilding Symposium, attended by more than 16 representatives from shipbuilding manufacturers across North America, took place at Hypertherm Associates headquarters in Hanover in August. Symposium attendees received an in-depth look into Hypertherm plasma cutting technologies, as well as information on OMAX® abrasive waterjet systems, and BLM Group laser machines.
More than $38 billion has been invested to build and repair defense, commercial, and leisure watercraft in North America in 2025, according to a release issued by Hypertherm following the symposium. Although cutting thick mild steel predominates in shipbuilding, the industry is increasingly introducing new materials, such as aluminum and stainless steel, to meet fuel efficiency and emission regulations, for corrosion resistance, and to gain speed and detection advantages in defense operations, the company said in the release.
“With material trends in mind, as well as skilled labor shortages, safety concerns, and cost containment, shipbuilders are looking for new cutting methods,” said Aaron Brandt, president and CEO of Hypertherm Associates, in a statement. “By bringing manufacturers together, we learned firsthand what challenges they face and introduced them to new technologies that provide tremendous advantages over older processes.”
The agenda included tours of Hypertherm Associates’ heavy industrial and light industrial factories, as well as presentations on key relevant products in both categories. Multiple workshops enabled attendees to experience the use of plasma cutting technology in applications common to shipbuilding, including gouging, cobot, and robotic dome cutting.
Plasma, waterjet and laser cutting have become increasingly attractive to shipbuilders because the technologies can be used to cut a variety of materials, including mild steel, aluminum, and stainless steel. The cutting methods are also said to increase efficiency, decrease costs, and improve workplace safety versus traditional oxyacetylene and carbon-arc technologies.
“In the case of 12mm mild steel, for example, the Hypertherm plasma Powermax125® achieves cut speeds five times greater than oxyacetylene cutting without creating noxious fumes or combustible gases,” the release stated. “Additionally, Powermax®, XPR® and MAXPRO200® plasma systems are ideal solutions for gouging.”
For shipbuilders seeking efficiency and versatility, OMAX abrasive waterjets are reported to provide near-net cutting. To facilitate flexibility and productivity, a variety of tube and sheet metal machines from BLM GROUP are also available. They include tube lasers, 5-axis lasers, sheet lasers, press brakes, tube benders, wire benders, end-formers, and cold saws, according to the release.
Hypertherm Associates also provides advanced software and digital controls, intuitive consumable designs, and cobot integration for shipbuilders. Each are said to be proven workforce enhancers that allow current operators to upskill and diversify. Plus, advanced technology, especially robotic, is attractive to the next generation of manufacturing professionals, the company said.
“Through ongoing dialogue, we learned what shipbuilding manufactures value most in their work, and attendees left this event with a clear understanding that Hypertherm Associates provides a holistic approach to shipbuilding,” Brandt added. “Whether they are repairing an existing structure or building a new ship, the array of plasma, waterjet, automation, laser, and digital tools equip the industry with the safest, most advanced, and proven technology for high-quality shipbuilding.”
Hypertherm Associates’ products, including Hypertherm plasma and OMAX waterjet systems, are used by companies around the world to build ships, airplanes, and railcars; construct steel buildings; fabricate heavy equipment; erect wind turbines, and more. In addition to cutting systems, the company creates CNCs and software that are said to increase productivity and profitability for the companies that use them.