DNV GL Opens Additive Manufacturing Centre of Excellence in Singapore

Quality assurance and risk management company DNV GL has done a lot of work to encourage the adoption of 3D printing in the offshore and marine (O&M) sector, which has been relatively slow to adopt the technology due to challenges with qualification and certification. A few months ago, DNV GL made a commitment to help transform the industry in Singapore through 3D printing and other technologies. Now the company is taking on Singapore’s O&M industry again with the establishment of a Global Additive Manufacturing Centre of Excellence in the country.

The center will serve as an incubator and testbed for research and development of additive manufacturing for the O&M sector, and will focus on developing competence including qualification, certification and training for 3D printing. DNV GL intends for the facility to become its global competence and service delivery center for assurance and advisory services in 3D printing and related technologies for ship, offshore, and oil and gas industry sectors. The company will invest in competence development and work with local institutes and industry partners to advance additive manufacturing.

Remi Eriksen

“The establishment of the centre is timely due to the rising interest in adopting additive manufacturing,” said Remi Eriksen, Group President and 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, offshore and marine sector.”

The center will also help Singapore to become a leader in additive manufacturing, which it is well on its way to becoming already. The country was extremely busy building the industry last year, opening an additive manufacturing center in May and another in July, and this center will be another step towards establishing it as a global hub for 3D printing.

“DNV GL’s Global Additive Manufacturing Centre of Excellence (CoE) will help enhance the manufacturing competitiveness of Singapore’s marine and offshore engineering industry,” said Lim Kok Kiang, Assistant Managing Director of Singapore EDB. “This CoE 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.”

“We are committed to building a centre that will contribute to helping Singapore create a vibrant additive manufacturing ecosystem,” said Brice Le Gallo, Regional Manager, South East Asia and Australia, DNV GL. “The competence and knowledge gained through research and development and advisory engagement with our customers will support Singapore to maintain its competitive edge in the global offshore & marine market.”

The center will serve as a base for the recently established collaboration between DNV GL and Sembcorp Marine, SIMTech and NAMIC, which will work to develop and certify laser assisted additive manufacturing (LAAM) technology in fabricating large-scale structures for newbuild vessels in Singapore. DNV GL is also working with Aurora Labs to develop an AM certification standard that will cover the full value chain from powders to parts, as well as certification of technical performance and independent endorsement of Aurora Labs’ processes and products. In addition, a joint industry project is in the works to define clear requirements for 3D printed parts. DNV GL is working with key stakeholders to develop project guidelines facilitating the safe introduction of additive manufacturing to the oil and gas and maritime industry.

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[Source/Images: DNV GL]