Protolabs has achieved DNV certification for 3D printed Inconel parts for the oil and gas industry.
The digital manufacturer worked closely with DNV to achieve ‘Qualification of Manufacturer’ certification.
Protolabs is among the first manufacturers in the EMEA region to achieve the certification, and the first certified manufacturer using powder bed fusion technology in its additive process, which gives high resolution and geometrical accuracy.
The certification applies to Protolabs’ direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) technology, specifically for the superalloy Inconel 718 – a high-strength, corrosion-resistant nickel chromium. Combining the exceptional properties of the material with Protolabs’ expertise in DMLS means the company can rapidly produce complex geometries for parts which are exposed to the harsh environments typical of the sector
https://www.qimtek.co.uk/news/engineering-capacity/3d-print-dnv-certified
The latest survey of British Coatings Federation (BCF) members reveals UK coatings manufacturers are increasingly concerned about the effects of the new UK chemical regulations. Almost 80% of respondents believe UK REACH will impact negatively on their businesses, with the fear that there will be a significant reduction in the portfolio of available chemical substances in the UK compared to the EU, and 67% of respondents fear higher costs in the future where suppliers pass on the costs of complying with UK REACH. Worryingly, 19% of respondents are already reporting that EU suppliers no longer want to export to the UK.
The survey also reports challenges for the sector’s UK exporters – 60% fear that having to abide by EU REACH and CLP rules as a ‘third country’ will impact on their business competitiveness, and more than four in ten respondents (43%) reported increased operating costs of over 5%, with one in ten (9%) citing a figure of more than 10%. These additional cost estimates have increased considerably since the last BCF Brexit Impact Survey at the end of January. On top of these non-tariff costs, the majority of BCF members are still encountering delays to shipping between UK and the EU, and between GB and NI.