Lloyd’s Register (LR) Energy and TWI launched a joint industry project (JIP) inviting companies from across the world to tackle the current and future issues faced by manufacturers supplying the energy industry. This latest JIP focuses on additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing, and will help to develop standards and deliver safety and consistency across the energy industry.
Called ‘Certification of laser powder additive manufactured components for industrial adoption in the energy and offshore sectors’, the event attracted considerable interest from companies worldwide, and included Shell UK Ltd, FMC Technologies, Scottish Power - Generation Division, Tru-Marine pce Ltd, SPRING Singapore and Technip UK Ltd.
Global trends indicate that the additive manufacturing market is set to grow by 390% in the next seven years, with Lloyd’s Register Energy's recent Technology Radar survey suggesting that additive manufacturing will have a major impact in the oil and gas industry in the next five years.
“Challenges have existed because there has been no standardized way of proving to manufacturers and regulators that printed products are safe,” says Chris Chung, head of strategic research at Lloyd's Register Energy Technology. “There have been risks associated with consistency and quality control, long term performance, data integrity, intellectual property, and in both software and hardware used in high precision manufacturing. The JIP will overcome these issues faced by manufacturers through working together.”
Sponsors of this JIP will be able to gain early adoption of ‘approved’ additive manufacturing practices for their products – a competitive advantage in today’s price sensitive market. Longer term benefits to companies include reduced manufacturing and maintenance costs, faster lead times on complex components, component life extension and increased durability.