Nationwide Additive Manufacturing & Innovation Firm (NAMI), an AM providers bureau primarily based within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) capital of Riyadh, introduced on the AM Conclave in Abu Dhabi (September 13-14) that the corporate has taken a key step in direction of with the ability to qualify components produced with AM for the oil & fuel sector. NAMI is a three way partnership between Dussur, a KSA authorities funding fund, and US 3D printing business pioneer, 3D Programs (NYSE: DDD).
Representatives from DNV, one of many world’s most vital classification societies — particularly for the oil & fuel and maritime sectors — visited the NAMI facility in Riyadh for an audit on September 11, together with Aramco’s Guide Providers Division (Saudi Aramco is among the stakeholders in Dussur). In keeping with a NAMI press launch, the audit entailed “reviewing NAMI’s AM facility documentation, manufacturing, and high quality management procedures, evaluating the effectiveness of traceability of the components by the deployment of NAMI’s AM procedures, and witnessing the Construct Course of Qualification (BPQ) construct”.
This course of adheres to DNV’s Joint Trade Mission (JIP) Section I and Section II tips for the oil & fuel sector, which is able to finally enable NAMI to qualify components for each essential and non-critical purposes. NAMI hopes to realize DNV’s Acceptable Technique of Compliance (AMC) Stage 1 for powder mattress fusion (PBF) components by mid-October, which entails demonstrating success at BPQ, and intends to finish Half Qualification and Manufacturing Specification (AMC Ranges 2 and three) by the tip of this 12 months.
Assuming it continues to succeed on the street to receiving DNV’s AM Facility Certification, NAMI will develop into the primary facility inside 3D Programs’ community to have the ability to qualify oil & fuel components. 3D Programs can be a part of the DNV JIP Section III that started in 2022, an endeavor which not solely goals to construct on the success of the primary two phases by making the qualification course of extra complete, but in addition consists of a number of tracks aiming to quantify and leverage the sustainability potential of AM for the oil & fuel sector.
In a latest put up about Shell’s certification of a 3D printed valve with US producer Bonney Forge, I wrote, “each certification milestone reached [for AM in the oil & gas sector] is a quantum leap for the general panorama.” Due to its affiliation with the world’s strongest oil firm (and “probably the most worthwhile firm within the historical past of the world”), NAMI’s exercise is signaling that the whole oil & fuel sector is about to cross a essential historic threshold in its AM progress. When that occurs, 3D Programs is poised to be a serious beneficiary.
Not many firms have world networks of 3D printers in place and dealing relationships with a few of the world’s largest producers. The truth that 3D Programs does implies that as quickly as qualification occurs, any member of the corporate’s manufacturing community with the appropriate platforms can theoretically develop into suppliers of oil & fuel components. With the worth of oil wanting prefer it’s lastly returning to ranges that can maintain KSA’s long-term infrastructure plans, the progress on this entrance might speed up in a short time now that it’s getting began.
The chances for this are heightened by the truth that this autumn’s refinery upkeep season for the oil & fuel sector appears prefer it’s going to be much less complete than in years previous, as fossil gasoline suppliers throughout the planet look to capitalize on mounting demand. This implies that the upkeep seasons subsequent 12 months could possibly be particularly grueling, which might require maximization of productiveness in each means potential to remain on monitor. It’s a protracted shot that capability for 3D printed oil & fuel components could possibly be far sufficient lengthy to make an impression simply six months to 12 from now, however the world economic system has definitely led to far more sudden outcomes prior to now.
Photographs courtesy of NAMI
Subscribe to Our E-mail E-newsletter
Keep up-to-date on all the most recent information from the 3D printing business and obtain data and presents from third social gathering distributors.
