Elica Yard increases production capabilities
Elica Yard, an emerging name in luxury yacht manufacturing, has enhanced its production capabilities with the installation of a 5-axis CNC gantry milling machine — the Poseidon by CMS. The machine should increase the yard’s ability to rapidly introduce new models and modifications to existing lines and improve its time-to-market efficiency.
The Elica shipyard is situated on the bank of the Danube River, and the investment in the Poseidon is part of a strategic approach to establish Elica as a leader in precision manufacturing within the yachting sector.
While similar machines are found in large industrial shipyards, Elica Yard is among a select group of manufacturers leveraging this technology to drive innovation and adaptability. By integrating Poseidon into its operations, Elica Yard aims to offer the agility of a boutique boatbuilder with the technological capabilities of much larger competitors.
Elica Yard is a part of Elica Group, which boasts 30 years in the manufacturing industry.
Elica Yard has set up a dedicated CNC department, creating a standalone business unit to cater to external clients. Industries utilising composites, including architecture and advanced manufacturing, are now within the yard’s scope, with recent architectural projects already demonstrating the versatility of its CNC capabilities.
With an impressive working area of 16x6x4 metres, the Poseidon has a Z-axis height of four metres, a capability few shipyards can match, says Elica.
The machine is specifically designed for milling soft materials, including wood, tooling paste and aluminium, making it ideal for producing plugs, direct moulds and prototypes. By delivering tighter tolerances and smoother finishes, the Poseidon is designed to significantly reduce the need for manual finishing, streamlining production and enhancing cost efficiency.
Kaloyan Radulov, co-owner and general manager at Elica Yard, says: “Previously, we relied on subcontracting or the use of KUKA robotic arms for similar tasks, but the addition of the Poseidon has allowed us to bring these processes in-house, providing greater control over production timelines and quality. This enables us to offer reduced time-to-market for new products, including our upcoming larger models of power catamarans, and to swiftly implement design changes to meet evolving market demands.”
