LR has announced a new global certification framework which will help manufacturers and end users of equipment achieve ‘best practice’ in additive manufacturing and a route to certification. Accelerating the use of certified products made by additive manufacturing (AM) techniques at a time of low oil prices will help onshore and offshore companies gain commercial advantage through cost efficiencies and repeatable quality engineered components.
AM is being called the ‘next industrial revolution’ in the manufacturing mix. The introduction of Lloyd’s Register’s certification guidelines for metallic AM parts represents a move by the leading integrity, compliance and specialist risk consulting services group, together with engineering research and technology firm TWI, to help industry harness the technology.
Once deployed, AM will enable companies to more efficiently and cost-effectively manufacture complex components and equipment.
Chris Chung, Head of Strategic Research at Lloyd’s Register Energy, says: “As the Lloyd’s Register Energy Technology Radar survey suggests, AM will have a major impact in the oil and gas industry in the next five years. That is why last year, together with TWI and a number of industry partners, we brought together research and development efforts with real-world AM practices.
“Our new certification guidelines, launched today to industry, are already being used by companies in this joint industry project to gain early certification of AM components.”
Source: LR
