Remote operations? Aging equipment? No problem

The military base in Alert, Nunavut. Troop deployments to conflict zones around the world. Unexpected increases in operational needs depleting stock levels of aging equipment that’s no longer supported by its manufacturer.

Leaders in such military operations shouldn’t have to be worrying about getting parts if an armoured personnel carrier breaks down or when they’re far from a supply depot.

Additive manufacturing (AM) is a promising solution to these decades‑old problems. Also known as 3D printing, it enables complex parts to be produced at volume—and because it uses deployable technology and common raw materials to produce any number of specialized parts, it’s portable and versatile.

The key benefits of additive manufacturing are:
- Increased functionality
- Increased service levels
- Reduced costs
- Reduced risk

This type of manufacturing is particularly well-suited to organizations—such as the Government of Canada—that operate large, complex equipment fleets because it can help extend the service life of those assets, simplify inventory planning, and improve support to assets operating in remote locations.

For more information, read Remote operations? Aging equipment? No problem.