added-value aluminium, titanium and carbon equipment for the manufacture of civilian and military satellite components,’ Marcello Persico concludes. Ever since the America’s Cup moved


into the foiling world, (now approaching a decade ago believe it or not) the chatter about the growing similarities between the America’s Cup and Formula One has only got louder. Looking ahead to the 2024 event, and it seems that a link between the two is all but a must for the teams. However, the transfer of knowledge and information between the automotive industry and the yachting world is not new to everyone. The company grew during the era when automotive production moved from artisan to mass production to mass excellence. The Persico Group grew with it, developing and adapting all the time. Many would think that as car-making


moved from the near bespoke, artisan work of highly skilled coachbuilders to automated systems, an element of refinement would be lost along with that touch of detail and precision. However, the Persico Group was there as the opposite was seen. To get mass production right, you cannot afford to discard sub-quality components, or rework mistakes. Every item off the automated production line has to be as perfect as the last, and the next. The only way to do this is to tighten tolerances and build to higher levels of exactness than the best artisan coachbuilder ever could.


Automated marine production In the early years of this century production boats and bespoke raceboats were all being built by teams of boatbuilders with every step in the process relying on hand manufacturing processes. Persico had been here before, but now had the experience of designing and manufacturing fully automated production line equipment for the vast majority of the European and American- based car companies. The company has unequalled experience in developing equipment to take a few coloured bags of polymer pellets at one end of a machine and turn out identical, complex car parts at the other, with no artisan in sight. Not only are the fake stitches on the trim of the fake leather always perfectly aligned, but the plush texture and creases in the leather never reveals a flaw or scar. Clients come to Persico Marine for their reputation of manufacturing the most complex of high-end composite parts reliably and consistently. CNC machines are no longer used just to manufacture moulds, but also to trim components, drill for fastenings and precisely locate joints. Plotters are used to cut materials and now ATLs (Automatic Tape Layers) robots are being used to laminate parts. Every step of the process is now seeing automation as a viable solution. All this experience, as well as that


gained from the Persico 69F International Class – which entered the New York Yacht


Club Race Week in Newport with six crews - and the development of the Persico Fly40, has allowed Persico Marine to adopt these automated processes for the next generation of Imoca boats. These increasingly complicated yachts are now the true pinnacle of the offshore and ocean racing world. That focus increases the scrutiny on detail and quality. With LinkedOut, Persico proved beyond


any doubt that they have the necessary skills and knowledge to produce a fast, yet strong and consistently reliable yacht. They are now using that same basic design, with some specific upgrades, for their newest Imoca build. However, this yacht will employ a lot more of the automated processes in manufacture than has been done previously for a one- off. This allows them to reduce the build time where ATL and CNC do not need to take holidays, but most of all it allows for unlimited precision and accuracy. The old adage of measure twice and cut once also doesn’t apply to these machines. The result of using trailblazing machinery such as the ATL robot, nicknamed Lola, is unparalleled quality, a new and higher


standard, one step ahead in terms of building and construction. With ever-higher quality and control


processes in place, reducing the human factor, and ensuring that items are built from the same file they are designed with, Persico is looking to further improve their own and their client’s confidence in their knowledge of what each item is absolutely capable of. With this increased confidence comes the ability to design that into the component from the start, taking a lot of the guess work out of load limits and safety factors, reducing excess and excess weight whilst retaining the levels of strength and reliability desired. With LinkedOut, Persico proved that


it could produce a fast yet strong and consistently reliable Imoca 60.


One step further Persico will also be taking this a step further this year with another Imoca project, focussing on simplicity and


efficiency. To win the Vendée Globe you don’t need the highest top speed, you need the highest average. Here, along with the client and designer, Persico is �


SEAHORSE 81


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