One of the world’s largest waterjet profilers
One of the world’s largest waterjet profilers has been built and supplied by Water Jet Sweden to SAAB Naval Shipyard in Karlskrona, Sweden. Measuring 6 × 15.5 metres, the machine provides a total cutting area of 93 m².
The machine is primarily used to cut sandwich laminates for superstructures used in the construction of corvette naval vessels, incorporating advanced stealth technology for patrol and defence operations in coastal waters.
The shipyard has extensive experience with waterjet technology, In 2015, SAAB Naval Shipyard invested in this larger and more advanced system, equipped with multiple cutting heads and bevel-cutting capabilities.
The shipyard has extensive experience with waterjet technology, since having installed its first waterjet machine in 1998. SAAB Naval Shipyard invested in this large and more advanced machine system, equipped with multiple cutting heads and Bevel-cutting capability. The new machine was designed to meet evolving production demands while doubling the available cutting capacity.
The superstructure production process requires large panels to be cut with high precision. The large-format waterjet system enables more efficient production by allowing panels for several different parts of the vessels to be processed on the same machine. The machine is equipped with a dedicated drilling unit for controlled piercing, enabling sandwich laminates to be cut without delamination.
The flexibility of waterjet technology allows the same machine to process a wide range of materials, including steel, aluminum, copper, wood and rubber. This versatility makes it a highly valuable production resource, capable of handling a broad range of cutting requirements.
The cutting system is powered by a KMT ultra-high-pressure pump, continuing the shipyard’s experience with KMT pumps on its previous waterjet system. The pump has proven to be highly reliable and well suited to the application. To provide the pump with optimal operating conditions, it is installed in a tempered container outside the production hall, protecting it from the carbon-fibre dust generated inside the facility.
SAAB Naval Shipyard highly values the quality and reliability of both the Water Jet Sweden machine and the company’s service and support. Precision, cutting speed and high machine uptime are key benefits. The machine’s high cutting accuracy helps reduce material waste and production costs, adding significant value to the overall manufacturing process.