DEEP Manufacturing Unveils ‘HexBot’ – Transforming Ultra Large-Scale Metal Component Part Production
- Robert Robinson
- May 28
- 2 min read
HexBot offers speed, scale, and customisation on a level “never achieved before”.
DEEP Manufacturing Limited has unveiled a revolutionary new robotic system – the HexBot – setting a new benchmark for ultra large-scale metal part production and offering transformative potential across the energy, offshore, and maritime sectors.
These industries - where scale, precision, and the ability to deliver custom components at speed are critical - stand to benefit significantly from this innovation. Whether it’s fabricating structural parts for offshore wind platforms, subsea energy infrastructure, or shipbuilding applications, HexBot introduces new manufacturing capabilities that directly address longstanding engineering and operational challenges.
The six-arm synchronised Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) system operates in perfect unison to create components on an unprecedented scale. Each robotic arm can independently produce metallic parts up to three meters in diameter, while the full HexBot configuration can manufacture components as large as 6.2 meters in diameter and 3.2 meters in height.
The HexBot project marks a major technological milestone in the evolution of large-scale additive manufacturing (AM). By delivering complex, high-integrity components faster and with more flexibility than traditional processes allow, DEEP Manufacturing cements its position as a global leader in advanced manufacturing solutions tailored to the unique demands of the offshore, maritime, and energy sectors.
The company is currently in discussions with a number of UK and U.S.-based partners to explore Joint Industry Projects (JIPs) aimed at accelerating WAAM adoption and helping shape global industry standards.
CEO Peter Richards said: “HexBot pushes the boundaries of what’s possible in ultra large-scale additive manufacturing, offering speed, scale, and customisation on a level never achieved before.
“This is a uniquely capable system backed by our world-class technical expertise - one that’s not only delivering on DEEP’s vision but also contributing to the advancement of manufacturing as a whole.
“It’s a challenging and uncertain time for many industries, but advances in technology - particularly additive manufacturing, and more specifically WAAM - have the potential to empower companies not just to survive, but to thrive in difficult conditions.”
From Internal Innovation to Industry Opportunity
Launched in January, DEEP Manufacturing was established as a specialist division of DEEP, which is developing next-generation underwater pressure vessels to support the creation of subsea human habitats. These ambitious structures demand highly customised, large-scale metal components, produced with extreme precision and at speeds beyond the reach of conventional manufacturing.
Confronted with a lack of existing solutions that could meet its engineering requirements, DEEP turned to WAAM technology, investing in what has become one of the most advanced and concentrated WAAM operations in the world.
While initially developed to meet internal demands, it quickly became clear that DEEP Manufacturing’s unique capabilities have far wider industry applications. The business is now supporting external clients across offshore, maritime, energy, and aviation sectors - industries where the need for fast, scalable, and structurally sound metal components is constant.
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