Floorganise participates in
shared fabrication facility

Non-profit cooperation for a positive social impulse

The Northern maritime sector has always managed to occupy a unique position in the global maritime sector by entering into strategic partnerships, such as Conoship (1952) and Centraalstaal (1972). Based on the cooperative idea of ​​all Northern shipyards, both initiatives ensured a period of prosperity for the Northern shipbuilding and shipping industry.

Fifty years after Groningen and Frisian Conoship yards started working together with computer-controlled steel cutting, there are now great opportunities for the joint production of micropanels in a central robotized 'Shared Facility' for the efficient production of the ship hulls at the individual yards.

The Groninger Maritime Board has taken the initiative to analyze, stimulate and support cooperation in the chain with new impetus and focused on the future of the shipbuilding sector in the North of the Netherlands. Due to global developments in recent decades, the European shipbuilding sector is in danger of losing its position. The Northern maritime sector, where almost the entire chain in the region is represented, has a major interest in the development and efficiency improvement of this sector. The importance of this is recognized by everyone. The collaboration in the chain to implement the necessary innovations, aimed at sustainable growth towards the leading position of the sector at an international level, is essential!

This 'Shared Facility' innovation project is directly based on the findings and recommendations from the 'Inventory study cost reduction in Northern Netherlands Shipbuilding', into the current situation and future ambitions of the Northern maritime industry. This research was carried out in 2019 by Conoship International and Marstrat in collaboration with the companies in the sector, on behalf of the Groninger Maritime Board, supported by the Province of Groningen.

Automated processes

The 'Shared Facility' project consists of various applications: from automated assembly of steel plates and profiles, to welding micropanels together in a central robot line, the 'Shared Facility'. Automated processes improve quality and shorten lead times, so that more ships can be built per yard every year. This increases employment in shipbuilding and among suppliers. Geert Huizinga, FME director, states: “With the 'Smart Industry' program we are strongly committed to smart production lines through digitization and robotization in the chain. With a shared facility in the shipbuilding sector, we can further shape this and strengthen our competitive position.”

Innovation and sustainable construction

Fifty years after Groningen and Frisian Conoship yards started working together with computer-controlled steel cutting, there are now great opportunities for the joint production of micropanels in a central robotized 'Shared Facility' for the ship hulls at the individual yards. This will also make the efficient construction of sustainable ships possible more quickly. “In conjunction with a more efficient production chain and the local development of CO2 reduction technology, a major replacement demand can be foreseen for innovative fossil-free and low-emission ships that can be built in the Northern Netherlands instead of in China,” says Guus van der Bles. , director of development Conoship International.

The application of robotization and automation is necessary to improve the competitive position of the manufacturing industry in the north of the Netherlands on the global playing field, thus creating more employment opportunities. There are a number of important points for attention within this project:

The project has a broad social and economic impact. In the first instance, it is about maintaining employment in the sector and improving the competitive position of the shipbuilding industry in the North of the Netherlands. The application of micropanels from the Shared Facility offers the shipyards the opportunity to build more ships per year with the same number of employees. A large number of suppliers are active in and on every ship under construction, including for the installation of engine room installations and electrical systems, ventilation systems and the application of insulation. Therefore, for more ships per year per yard, more employees are needed at the builders, painters, carpenters, etc. and employment increases there.

The logistics sector, machine builders and training institutes will also notice the positive effect of this. It is therefore about a broad improvement in employment and the concept also extends beyond the Northern Netherlands. In the future, it can also be translated to other sectors such as yacht building. The expected growth in employment in the Northern Netherlands Maritime ecosystem is between 350 and 400 FTE. From a social point of view, digitization and robotization also attract the younger generation, who are thus again becoming interested in the maritime sector.

In summary, the 'Shared facility' project provides a positive social impulse for the Northern Netherlands.

The feasibility study into the 'Shared Facility' will be completed in mid-2022.