Mel Composites materials, technical support enhances Aresa fishing vessel production efficiency

Source | Mel Composites, Aresa Shipyards

Mel Composites (Barcelona, Spain) has successfully expanded its long-term collaboration with Aresa Shipyards (Arenys de Mar, Barcelona) by delivering comprehensive composite materials and technical support for a series of four commercial fishing vessels.

The latest project showcases Mel Composites’ ability to optimize production workflows through specialized engineering services and pre-processed structural components. Taking responsibility for mold preparation and consulting on the engineering and design for the main deck, upper deck and structural hull and deck bulkheads, Mel enabled Aresa to reduce build time and significantly improve production efficiency.

“Our approach goes beyond simply supplying materials,” explains Eduardo Galofre, CEO at Mel Composites. “We leverage decades of composite expertise to provide complete solutions that address the technical and production challenges our clients face. With Aresa, we’ve created a workflow that enables their team to focus on hull construction, while we optimize and manage the build of the complex internal structures.”

The fishing vessels feature glass fiber sandwich bulkheads manufactured using vacuum infusion with Mel Composites’ Aircell HR80 PVC core, which was precision-cut using CNC technology to integrate all necessary reinforcements into a single infusion process. The company’s technical team specified grooved foam core that eliminated the need for mesh vacuum consumables, reducing material waste and processing time.

Mel Composites partnered with Fibervent (Tarragano, Spain) for the composites manufacturing, with all components carefully engineered with transverse and longitudinal support beams included as part of the single-shot resin infusion process. This coordinated approach allowed internal structures to be produced off-site and delivered just in time for integration into the hulls, optimizing Aresa’s production schedule.

The collaboration follows Mel’s successful work on Aresa’s Black Falcon V2.0, a 15.2-meter high-speed interceptor vessel capable of exceeding 65 knots with its four 450-horsepower Yamaha engines. For this project, Mel provided a complete package of infusion support, kitted materials and consumables.

As a comprehensive composite solutions provider, Mel Composites supplies the full range of materials required for advanced marine applications, including resins, reinforcements, foam cores, consumables, tools and equipment. This single-source approach simplifies procurement, ensures material compatibility and provides clients with a single point of contact for technical support.

The company also has expanded its in-house production capability for pre-processed structural cores and kit manufacturing to serve marine manufacturers.