EPU 46 Carbon 3D – the winning choice for olympic rowing
Filippi & Prototek: innovation and performance in elite rowing
With EPU 46 Carbon 3D, Filippi and Prototek have joined forces to reshape the sport of rowing, a discipline of precision where every fraction of a second and every technical detail matter. To push boundaries, Filippi Boatyard, a global icon in competitive rowing, decided to revolutionize one of the most crucial yet often overlooked elements of the racing experience: the rowing seat.
Through its collaboration with Prototek, and the integration of 3D printing using Carbon’s Digital Light Synthesis™ (DLS) technology, Filippi has transformed this essential component, enhancing ergonomics, durability, and on-water performance.
Filippi: a benchmark in rowing excellence
Founded in 1980 in Donoratico, Italy, Filippi has become a world leader in the design and manufacture of Olympic-class rowing boats. Known for its white-and-blue hulls, the company combines innovative design, high-grade materials, and advanced production technologies.
Today, Filippi boats represent 60 – 70 % of those used in major international competitions and are trusted by rowing federations across the world.
At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Filippi athletes achieved extraordinary results, winning 64 % of all medals (9 gold, 9 silver, 9 bronze out of 14 events). Even more impressive: 55 % of these medals were won in boats equipped with the new Performance configuration, launched only at the beginning of 2024.
Each Performance boat features a 3D-printed seat produced by Prototek as a standard component, a remarkable result given how quickly this innovation was adopted by national teams during their Olympic preparations.
This result is even more significant considering that, in just a few months, many international federations chose to test and adopt this new configuration, a change far from guaranteed in the demanding path of Olympic preparation.
EPU 46 Carbon 3D: the hidden element that makes the difference
In rowing dynamics, the seat is the athlete’s key contact point with the boat.
An inadequate support can compromise energy transfer, increase fatigue, and reduce overall efficiency.
The solution: a high-performance seat printed in EPU 46 Carbon 3D – Black Edition.
The Advantages of EPU 46 Carbon 3D.
- Dynamic flexibility and support – for the ideal balance between comfort and stability.
- Shock absorption – reducing strain on joints and spine during repeated strokes.
- Extreme resistance – perfectly suited for humid environments and continuous mechanical stress.
- Customizable design – tailored ergonomics for each athlete’s individual morphology and rowing style.
This innovative material provides a lightweight, robust structure capable of enduring demanding conditions while delivering maximum responsiveness on the water.
What are the advantages of EPU 46 Carbon 3D?
Flexible yet dynamically supportive – achieving a perfect balance between comfort and stability.
Excellent impact absorption – reducing joint and spine burden during repeated strokes.
Extreme durability – able to withstand humid environments and repeated loading cycles.
Customisable design – optimised to adapt to the specific needs of each athlete.
Filippi and Prototek: beyond traditional manufacturing
3D printing is not merely a technological choice, it represents a revolution in the design and production of high-performance sports components.
Leveraging Carbon’s Digital Light Synthesis™ process, Prototek developed a rapid, efficient, and fully customizable manufacturing solution, drastically reducing testing and optimization time.
This technology eliminated the constraints of conventional production, enabling unprecedented design freedom and unmatched precision.
Through real-world testing in collaboration with Filippi, one of the world’s most respected rowing boat builders, Prototek engineers fine-tuned components optimized for performance, durability, and lightness.
The flexibility of EPU 46 Carbon 3D and additive manufacturing also made it possible to adapt each seat to the specific needs of individual athletes, enhancing personalization and biomechanical efficiency.
This project perfectly illustrates how the synergy between technological innovation and craftsmanship excellence can produce world-class results.
Innovation that drives athletes further
Drawing on decades of experience, Filippi continues to push the boundaries of innovation, demonstrating how technology can amplify athletic performance.
By leveraging the advantages of EPU 46 Carbon 3D printing, rowers benefit from a seat designed to accompany every stroke, transforming energy into speed.
Each component is engineered with extreme precision, considering the athlete’s biomechanics to maximize efficiency and minimize physical stress during both training and competition.
The integration of advanced materials, custom design, and rapid prototyping enables the development of products perfectly tuned to specific conditions of use.
In a sport where milliseconds define victory, innovation becomes a strategic ally.
Filippi and Prototek prove that technology and sport can evolve together, continually redefining the limits of human performance.
Would you like to explore how EPU 46 Carbon 3D can enhance your industry’s products or performance components?
Contact our additive manufacturing specialists for a technical consultation and discover how Prototek can help you design and produce next-generation 3D-printed parts for sports, marine, and industrial applications.
