TWI becomes UK’s first qualified Additive Manufacturing (AM) facility

The TWI Technology Centre (Yorkshire) has become the first Additive Manufacturing (AM) facility in the UK to secure a signed facility qualification from Lloyds Register (LR) for the manufacture of components in Stainless Steel 316L on its EOS M290 laser powder bed fusion (PBF-LB) system.

PBF-LB is an AM process used to produce geometrically complex components that are difficult, expensive or impossible to create via conventional manufacturing. Following an extensive independent audit, the site was awarded a facility qualification from LR covering the entire end-to-end process including design, materials, manufacture, post-processing and inspection.

Paul Goodwin, PPL and PBF Lead at TWI said: “PBF-LB is increasingly being used in industry, but its uptake has been hindered by a lack of understanding of the process, particularly in terms of controlling the quality and reproducibility of the parts made and how to qualify and certify these parts for use. The achievement of the facility qualification allows TWI to support industry on their journey towards part qualification and pre-audit facility checks for additively manufactured parts. We are now engaging with stakeholders regarding future work and additional developments to strengthen the facility qualification, including the addition of other materials and PBF-LB systems.”

David Hardacre, Lead Specialist at LR added: An LR qualification provides independent third-party assurance to an AM facility and demonstrates a real commitment to the highest levels of consistent quality and safety.