After 60 years in operation, the cracks began to show.
Ahead of its scheduled winter maintenance shutdown, damage to the Soo Lock ship arrestor system caused concern for the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). USACE managed to temporarily repair the system, but would need a more long-term solution for when the lock reopened in March.
The long lead times associated with the conventional casting method used to produce the parts – and the $1.1 trillion impact on the US economy – meant an alternative approach would be required.
USACE turned to additive manufacturing, leveraging Lincoln Electric’s wire-arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) technology.
