DNV GL
DNV GL metal part
DNV GL, a global risk assurance and risk management company, is to establish a Global Additive Manufacturing Centre of Excellence in Singapore.
The facility will provide a location for the research and development of additive manufacturing (AM) to be conducted. In particular, this R&D will focus on the oil & gas and the offshore & marine (O&M) sectors.
Supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), DNV GL will consider qualification and certification, as well as provide training in AM for engineers. In the O&M sector, adoption of AM has been slow because of the challenges surrounding certification, according to DNV GL. The company, thus, wants to provide the industry with technical standards and guidelines to qualify and certify AM equipment, process, products and materials.
“The establishment of the centre is timely due to the rising interest in adopting additive manufacturing,” commented Remi Eriksen, Group President & CEO, DNV GL. “With our long track record in R&D and strong position in developing industry technical standards, DNV GL’s Global Additive Manufacturing Centre of Excellence will play a catalytic role in the oil & gas [and] offshore & marine sector.”
Investing in the development of competence for AM’s application in the oil & gas and O&M industries, DNV GL will also work alongside local research institutes and other partners to accelerate the use of 3D printing technologies. Through the Centre of Excellence, DNV GL is collaborating with Sembcorp Marine, SIMTech and NAMIC to develop and certify laser aided additive manufacturing (LAAM) technology and its application in the manufacture of large-scale structures for new-build vessels in Singapore. Aurora Labs will help to develop an AM certification standard to cover the whole value chain, from powders to parts, validating the technical performance of the technology. Meanwhile, a joint industry project will look to define clear requirements for additively manufactured parts, and DNV GL has also partnered with ‘key stakeholders’ to develop project guidelines concerning the use of AM in the oil & gas and O&M industries.
“DNV GL’s Global Additive Manufacturing Centre of Excellence will help enhance the manufacturing competitiveness of Singapore’s marine and offshore engineering industry,” added Lim Kok Kiang, Assistant Managing Director of Singapore EDB. “This [Centre of Excellence] will join a growing ecosystem of advanced manufacturing technology providers in Singapore, attracted by our vibrant and diversified manufacturing sector. We welcome this investment from DNV GL and look forward to our continued partnership.”