3D Metalforge receives Lloyd's Register additive manufacturing facility approval.
Lloyd’s Register (LR) has awarded its fifth additive manufacturing (AM) facility approval to Singapore-based end-to-end AM centre, 3D Metalforge.
First opened last year, 3D Metalforge houses a full range of powder bed fusion and laser metal deposition metal printing services, including design, engineering, material advisory, diagnostics, testing, printing and post-production geared towards industrial sectors including oil and gas, marine, and construction.
LR’s experience in the marine, offshore and industrial manufacturing area was a key factor for 3D Metalforge in choosing Lloyd’s Register’s facility qualification program. LR was also the first classification society to issue formal guidance notes on the use of AM in the marine industry.
“At this juncture, large format 3D printing in the maritime industry is developing rapidly,” Matthew Waterhouse, CEO of 3D Metalforge commented. “Quality and standards can therefore really help by providing a sustainable and practical framework for all partners in the ecosystem to advance AM procedures and technologies in a more structured manner.”
“Singapore has long been a key maritime hub and is rapidly establishing itself as a global leader in additive manufacturing,” said Hussain Quraishi, Strategic Projects Lead at Lloyd’s Register’s Global Technology Centre in Singapore. “We are pleased to be able to qualify 3D Metalforge and work with them to provide our clients in the region the ability to take advantage of the technical and commercial benefits additive manufacturing allows. As an LR-qualified facility with both powder bed fusion and laser metal deposition AM processes available, 3D Metalforge will be able to print both smaller complex parts as well as larger parts demanded by the marine and offshore sectors.”
LR’s has been involved in creating AM-specific certifications and guidance along with its partner organisation, TWI, first releasing a framework for AM metal parts back in 2016, to assist manufacturers and end users in the safe adoption of AM. Most recently, the organisation awarded its facility certification to Australian service bureau, AML Technologies, which focuses on wire-arc additive manufacturing technology (WAAM).
