Products & services

Trimline launches innovative Concept Box – an AI powered design concept creator for enhanced client experience

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Products & services Products & services

Published: 01 June 2023 01 June 2023

Leading marine interior outfitter Trimline has introduced the new Concept Box module within their Trimline App (TAPP) software. This new function, developed in collaboration with their in-house interior designer, aims to assist clients in the early stages of the concept and design process and help bring their visions to life.

Trimline’s clients can now access this useful tool via their client dashboard, where they will have the freedom to categorise their concepts by ship and area, allowing for precise exploration and visualisation of their design ideas.

Clients can now effortlessly convey their design concept ideas by typing into the system, specifying what they envision for their ship's interior. The software then generates stunning design render ideas in real time, presenting clients with visually captivating representations of their concepts.

Nick Farrell, Co-owner of Trimline, expressed his excitement about the latest advancement with TAPP, stating, "We are thrilled to introduce the Concept Box module to our clients. This innovative addition to TAPP empowers our clients to actively participate in the initial design process, helping them articulate their vision with ease. By leveraging cutting-edge technology, we aim to enhance communication between our clients and interior designers."

Trimline's commitment to innovation has earned them a reputation as a leading force in the marine interior outfitting industry. The addition of the Concept Box module further solidifies their position as a pioneer, setting the stage for elevated design interactions and unrivalled customer satisfaction.

The new Concept Box tool is part of Trimline's ongoing work integrating emerging AI technology into its systems and processes, which is already delivering increased efficiencies across the business.

Metalcolour celebrates 50 years

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Products & services Products & services

Published: 30 May 2023 30 May 2023

Metalcolour celebrates 50 years since building its first coil coating line in 1973. The global coil coating group has production units in Sweden, Denmark and Singapore which are providing high quality film laminated and pre-painted steel and aluminum.

Right from the start Metalcolour saw a great need to renew and improve the coil coating business and has over the years developed solutions now considered best practice and standard including fire classified film laminated steel, heat applied protective foil, close tolerances in gloss control and special technical coatings.

The company’s first steps took place in Denmark in 1973 by installing one of the first Gasway coil coating lines in Europe. Since then several other companies have been incorporated into the Metalcolour Group including SSAB Laminated Steel in 2009 and DAMPA, experts in acoustic metal ceilings, in 2012.

“It has been an exciting journey and I am proud to be a part of it since more than 30 years. In all these years we have maintained our core values: High quality, innovation, and flexibility. With strong products we have developed and will continue to grow. The key to the success is our committed and skilled staff”, says Ingemar Forsberg, CEO of Metalcolour in both Sweden and Denmark since 2010.

Delivering to the world’s largest cruise ships

A main focus is coated and laminated metal for the interior of cruise ships and other areas of supply include trains, elevators, and doors. Ingemar Forsberg explains: “Some of the biggest cruise ships being built at the major North European shipyards have a length of more than 350 meters and carry up to 7,600 passengers. Metalcolour has delivered 350,000 square meters of Dobel products used for wall panels, ceilings, doors, and wet units for each of these majestic ships. A surface that corresponds to 50 soccer fields”.

The production units in each country are specialized. Denmark is the heart of the production of the pre-painted metal. Most products within technical coating are delivered to automotive sub-contractors all over the world whereas the decorative pre-painted metal is mainly delivered to building and industrial product manufacturers in Northern Europe. Sweden and Singapore specialize in film laminated steel and aluminum for the global marine and building industry.

“Finding new applications with high demands of our key values will be the way forward for both technical and decorative coating. We will continue to do all we can to keep both existing and new customers happy with their cooperation with Metalcolour. The 50-year long journey will continue”, says Ingemar Forsberg.

ABB unveils revolutionary propulsion concept to significantly increase ship efficiency

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Products & services Products & services

Published: 31 May 2023 31 May 2023

ABB today introduced ABB Dynafin, a new concept representing a revolutionary propulsion system breaking new ground for efficiency in the marine industry. Inspired by the dynamic motions of a whale’s tail, the innovative concept is the result of over a decade of research, development, and testing. ABB’s combined extensive experience and expertise in the marine industry, along with its innovative heritage, are the driving forces behind this new concept. ABB estimates the first prototype to be available in 2025.

“ABB Dynafin shows what is possible when marine engineers pursue radical innovation and progress, inspired by the interplay of evolution and technology,” said Juha Koskela, Division President, ABB Marine & Ports. “This solution is all about operational efficiency and emissions avoidance, leveraging innovations from the brightest minds in marine and propulsion engineering. I want to thank the whole team for their persistence, resilience, innovativeness, and years of hard work.”

The new propulsion concept features a main electric motor that powers a large wheel rotating at a moderate 30-80 rounds per minute. Vertical blades, each controlled by an individual motor and control system, extend from the wheel. The combined motion of the wheel and blades generates propulsion and steering forces simultaneously, enabling ground-breaking operational efficiency and precision for ships. The concept follows ABB’s proven design philosophy in marine propulsion of gearless power transmission.

An independent study of ABB Dynafin from OSK-ShipTech A/S of a passenger vessel design equipped with different propulsion solutions has verified savings in propulsion energy consumption of up to 22 percent compared to conventional shaftline configuration. This can deliver significant savings in fuel consumption and help to avoid emissions. As part of an electric propulsion power system, the concept is also fully compatible with zero-emission battery and fuel cell technologies.

Initially available in the power range of 1–4 MW per unit, the new propulsion concept is particularly effective for medium-sized and smaller vessels, including ferries for passengers and vehicles, offshore support vessels operating at wind farms, and yachts. By reducing vibrations and noise levels, the system improves passenger and crew comfort. In addition, the propulsion concept delivers superior maneuverability, and positioning performance, i.e., the capacity of the vessel to maintain the desired position and heading.

The new concept is the latest addition to ABB’s portfolio comprising electric, automated and digital technologies. With its market-leading expertise in electric and hybrid propulsion, the company has been pushing the boundaries of technology, and driving efficiency, performance, and sustainability to new levels through the 30-year plus track record of Azipod® propulsion. The new propulsion concept will complement the existing propulsion portfolio.

The shipping industry contributes to almost 3 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions annually. If it were a country, it would be the sixth largest emitter. However, with about 90 percent of global trade being carried on ships, it is central for the movement of goods. If no action is taken, shipping could be responsible for up to 13 percent of global emissions by 2050. At the same time, the International Maritime Organization has set the goal to cut annual greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50 percent by 2050, against 2008 levels. While there is consensus in the industry that no single solution can provide a ‘silver bullet’, low-carbon fuels, alternative power sources, data analytics and energy-saving devices all have a part to play, and the role of new innovations may become notable.

Eni and RINA sign partnership to accelerate the energy transition and decarbonisation of maritime transport

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

Category: Products & services Products & services

Published: 29 May 2023 29 May 2023

RINA, an international company specialising in inspection, certification and engineering consultancy, and Eni have signed an agreement to jointly develop initiatives that can contribute to the energy transition and decarbonisation of their respective operations and particularly maritime transport, where RINA and Eni can benefit from each other's expertise.

Specifically, the agreement focuses on the use of HVO (Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil) biofuel produced by Eni in its Venice and Gela bio-refineries, as well as of other energy carriers such as “blue” or “green” hydrogen and ammonia from biogenic, renewable or waste raw materials not competing with the food chain, in the naval sector. Moreover, the partnership encompasses the development of initiatives for the logistics and value chain of new energy carriers, and the adoption of certified methods for the "taxonometric" calculation of the emissions benefits they will generate.

Eni and RINA will also consider carrying out experiments and pilot projects related to the on-board capture of CO2 emissions in order to further contribute to pursuing the naval sector's sustainability goals.

Ugo Salerno, Chairman and CEO of RINA, said: "Cooperation between companies is the way forward towards the common goal of decarbonising industry and transport. By sharing know-how and experience with Eni, we will contribute to developing innovative energy supply models. Our collaboration will begin by focusing on the maritime sector, a diversified and hard-to-abate industry that can draw on initiatives already adopted by other industrial segments to decarbonise operations."

Giuseppe Ricci, Chief Operating Officer for Energy Evolution at Eni, said: "Eni and RINA can make a significant contribution to the decarbonisation of maritime transport with their wealth of expertise and technological capabilities. Following a technology-agnostic approach, we are exploring multiple solutions. Thanks to this agreement, we will have the opportunity to study and develop them in the short, medium and long term, with the objective of making maritime transport more sustainable and meeting the needs of shipowners and logistics operators."