Navy Halved Valve Production Time With Additive Parts

Manufacturers facing obsolete legacy parts can reduce lead times by adopting additive manufacturing processes.

Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Manufacturing

Isometric editorial illustration of a metallic valve body component, representing an advanced manufacturing solution for aging naval equipment. — The U.S. Navy successfully replaced an obsolete submarine valve by using additive manufacturing, cutting lead times from 16 months to nine. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The US Navy successfully installed an additively manufactured valve body on a Seawolf-class submarine to replace a component no longer in production. This move reduced the lead time to nine months, significantly faster than the 16-month projection for traditional casting methods.

Why it matters

Operators managing aging equipment often face supply chain dead-ends when original manufacturers cease production, creating massive downtime risks. By proving that 3D-printed components can meet existing certification standards, the Navy demonstrates a viable path for businesses to source obsolete parts.

The production time was cut to 9 months, an improvement over the 16-month lead time required for traditional casting. The component replaced a valve that had not been manufactured in over 10 years.

The players

Penn United

A precision manufacturing firm specializing in complex tooling and components.

VACCO Industries

A designer and manufacturer of specialized valves and fluid control products for defense and space applications.

Puget Sound Naval Shipyard

A major naval maintenance facility responsible for the repair and modernization of fleet submarines.

The details

Technicians used legacy drawings to design the replacement valve, which was produced using Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion. Penn United manufactured the copper-nickel body in Cabot, Pennsylvania, before VACCO Industries completed final machining and testing in South El Monte, California. Puget Sound Naval Shipyard handled the hydrostatic testing and final installation, ensuring the part met all unchanged certification requirements.

Ten years ago marked the end of the original manufacturer's production cycle.
October 2026 saw the installation and subsequent return of the submarine to active duty.

Market Landscape

This project follows a pattern set by the military's current additive manufacturing certification standards for critical hardware. It marks a departure from traditional reliance on original casting molds for parts that have reached the end of their manufacturing lifecycle.

Operators dealing with discontinued parts should assess whether legacy drawings can be digitized for additive production. Focus on suppliers capable of integrating 3D-printed components into existing assembly and testing workflows to maintain compliance.

The takeaway

Legacy part obsolescence no longer requires a total system overhaul if your engineering team can leverage additive manufacturing. Track the success of these certified parts to determine if your own equipment maintenance cycles could benefit from similar fabrication methods.