Keppel Offshore and Marine (Keppel O&M) is using a 3D printing technology to produce high-value components for the offshore industry, with the technology accelerating production times, resulting to projects being quicker completed.
Specifically, the additive manufacturing (AM) technology enables Keppel to print high-value components for offshore products with significantly faster production times and more economically.
Moreover, 3D printing can alleviate resource constraints, reduce the carbon footprint associated with manufacturing and provide long-term cost savings.
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The company was issued certification in partnership with Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) and the A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research) Singapore Institute of ManufacturingTechnology (SIMTech) by the Lloyd’s Register (LR) Certification for its Laser Aided Additive Manufacturing (LAAM) system to produce offshore grade steel. This certification conforms to the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) A131 requirements following an audit and successful mechanical testing.
The collaboration of the company with NTU Singapore, also enabled NTU researchers tests more than 50 specimens of 3D-printed offshore grade steel, checking them on their material yield, tensile, elongation, fatigue and toughness properties. Coupled with an optimised 3D printing process, the material properties of the steel were found to have high standards that exceeded ASTM requirements.
Mr Aziz Merchant, Executive Director, Keppel Marine & Deepwater Technology, stated that
This certification is the first step for us to produce high-value components essential to the offshore and marine structures. Additive manufacturing (AM) or 3D printing as it is more commonly known will speed up production times which in turn can help bring projects to completion much quicker.
