Certification positions the company as the only DNV-approved WAAM manufacturer in Europe, unlocking new opportunities for offshore, maritime, and subsea sectors.

September 25, 2025 - DEEP Manufacturing Ltd, the large-scale additive manufacturing specialist launched earlier this year, has been granted full Approval of Manufacture (AoM) from classification society DNV, making it one of only a handful of manufacturers worldwide - and the only one in Europe - to fully meet DNV's standard for Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM).

This milestone builds on DEEP Manufacturing's earlier Approval in Principle (AiP) from DNV Maritime and represents a critical step in validating WAAM as a safe, reliable, and commercially viable process for mission-critical applications. The Approval covers the use of WAAM for the production of pressure vessels, pressure vessels for human occupancy, and hull structures and equipment, underscoring DEEP Manufacturing's ability to meet the most rigorous international standards.

DNV's AoM programme is designed to verify a manufacturer's ability to consistently produce materials and products to given specifications and in accordance with rule requirements. Peter Richards, CEO of DEEP Manufacturing, described the certification as a "landmark achievement" for both the company and for the wider adoption of WAAM.

He added: "Being one of the few manufacturers globally, and the only in Europe, to secure this level of approval demonstrates both the maturity of our technology and the trust placed in our processes. It proves that DEEP Manufacturing is ready to deliver large, safety-critical WAAM components to the highest standards."

Thorsten Lohmann, Head of Materials & Welding at DNV Maritime, added: "We are very pleased to award this new AoM for WAAM to DEEP Manufacturing. This recognition is built on a productive and longstanding cooperation, and we thank DEEP Manufacturing for their trust and choosing DNV as their classification partner.

"WAAM and Additive Manufacturing (AM) techniques have made great strides over the past several years, creating new potential efficiencies in logistics and supply chains, as well as maintenance and repair. At DNV we are committed to enabling these technologies through our evolving AM rules, to ensure that we build this segment on a foundation of expert and independent safety and quality standards."

By demonstrating that Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing can meet the most stringent international safety and quality benchmarks, DEEP Manufacturing is helping accelerate the shift toward more flexible, cost-efficient, and sustainable production methods. The certification gives operators across offshore, maritime, and subsea sectors the confidence to deploy large-scale WAAM components in mission-critical environments where reliability is paramount.

Peter continued: "We are entering a new era of manufacturing for the offshore, maritime, and energy industries, and our focus is on helping customers embrace innovation and build more adaptable, resilient operations. This milestone marks a tipping point for the industry - the moment to fully unlock the advantages that Additive Manufacturing can deliver."

About DEEP Manufacturing
DEEP Manufacturing is launched in January 2025 and is based in Avonmouth, Bristol. Initially developed to support the underwater pressure vessel requirements of DEEP, the ocean technology and exploration company, DEEP Manufacturing was created to bring advanced WAAM capability to a wider market. Today, the business combines technical expertise with rapid production capacity to manufacture large-format metal components faster, more sustainably, and at lower life-of-project costs than conventional methods.
DEEP Manufacturing now operates one of the largest concentrations of WAAM systems globally at its Advanced Manufacturing Centre of Excellence in Avonmouth, UK. Since the start of the year, the company has secured major contract wins in both energy and aerospace, achieved JOSCAR registration and Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation - underlining compliance for defence and security - and, just last week, announced its key role in the government-backed Digitally Enabled Efficient Propeller (D.E.E.P) project, which will benchmark additive manufacturing technologies against traditional casting.
For more information on the company: https://www.deepmanufacturing.com/

About Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM)
WAAM enables the manufacture of large-scale metal components with complex geometries. Unlike powder based additive manufacturing, WAAM uses an electric arc to melt wire feedstock, with 98% of the wire material being deposited into the component, minimising waste and improving sustainability. Compared to traditional manufacturing techniques, such as forging, WAAM offers greater speed of production, along with being able to support a higher degree of design complexity. WAAM's significant benefits were first realised in the automotive, aeronautical and military sectors. It is now the subsea supply chain solution for pressure vessel manufacturing.
DNV in the maritime industry
DNV is the world's leading classification society and a recognized advisor for the maritime industry. We enhance safety, quality, energy efficiency and environmental performance of the global shipping industry - across all vessel types and offshore structures. We invest heavily in research and development to find solutions, together with the industry, that address strategic, operational or regulatory challenges. For more information visit: www.dnv.com/maritime