PORTSMOUTH, R.I. (Jan. 24, 9:45 a.m. ET) — New England Boatworks Inc. brought autoclave processing in-house in January after regularly outsourcing the requirement. About 10 percent of its work requires use of an autoclave.
“The purchase decision was based less upon customer demands than our desire to improve overall quality and have the convenience of an on-site autoclave,” said Barry Steinberg, sales manager.
The inside dimensions are 4.5 feet by 16 feet.
Portsmouth-based New England Boatworks makes extensive use of autoclave-curable polymer matrix composites in racing, cruising and motor yachts and, among projects, is building a 72-foot-long IRC-class Mini-Maxi racer that is scheduled for an April launch.
The business employs 115 including 25 in composites processing and boatbuilding and occupies 86,000 square feet on a 21-acre site. “We anticipate a 2-3-percent increase in employment,” Steinberg said.