3. Processes

Two decisive factors determine the choice of composite transformation processes in naval shipbuilding: firstly, the size of the structures to be built, which can reach or even exceed 50 m for hulls (usually more than 100 t of composites), and secondly, the lack of series production, since, with rare exceptions, major structures do not exceed 10 to 15 units. These two factors, reinforced by limited material performance requirements, have long confined naval composites to "mundane", low-mechanization, labor-intensive processes. Wet contact molding is the most significant example. But let there be no mistake: a commonplace process does not exclude a high degree of technical sophistication when it comes to building structures as complex as the hulls of naval vessels.

However, changing technical and economic requirements are leading to far-reaching changes in transformation...