US-based
Desktop Metal Inc has announced that its Aidro subsidiary, a ‘pioneer’ in the volume production of next-generation hydraulic and fluid power systems via metal additive manufacturing (AM), has achieved the first-ever global ‘AM Manufacturer’ certification from DNV (the world’s leading risk management and quality assurance society for the oil and gas, and maritime industries), for two-metal printing technologies.
DNV has awarded two certifications — DNV-SE-0568 and DNV-ST-B203 — to Aidro’s facility in Taino, Italy. These certifications, which are recognised globally and were designed to support the mission-critical energy value chain (this includes the maritime and oil and gas industries), follow a rigorous review process by DNV, including an audit of Aidro’s facility, metal AM processes qualification, as well as qualification of parts produced by Aidro using AM methods — the latter including mechanical, microstructural, and macrostructural tests.
To achieve AMC 3 level certification for laser powder-bed fusion, DNV qualified a specific 316L part produced by Aidro for a customer, as well as a 17-4PH part for binder jetting AMC 1 level certification.
Valeria Tirelli, president and CEO of Aidro in Taino, said: “Our team is incredibly proud to receive this global certification for binder jetting and laser powder bed fusion. The rigorous process used by DNV will enhance industry confidence in these additive manufacturing methods and continue to support the transition of the energy, oil and gas, and maritime industries toward AM 2.0. Customers taking the leap into the AM 2.0 future are already realising incredible benefits, including performance enhancements, lighter-weight parts, distributed on-demand manufacturing, and digital inventory that reduces the need for physical stock.”
Ric Fulop, Desktop Metal’s founder and CEO, noted that Aidro’s binder-jetting certification was enabled by the Desktop Metal Shop System printing 17-4PH stainless steel. “This certification showcases the great performance and reliability of the Shop System, and its ability to serve the most demanding industries. We congratulate all our Team DM employees at both Aidro and Desktop Metal who contributed to this achievement.”
Sastry Kandukuri, ‘global practice lead ’on AM at DNV’s Technology Centre in Oslo, Norway, said Aidro’s qualification is an important step for the mission-critical industries to move into a new era of digital manufacturing and congratulated the company for being the world’s first in the industry to receive DNV’s qualification for binder jetting technology (BJT) at AMC 1 level and AMC 3 level for laser beam powder bed fusion technology (PBF-LB).
“We look forward to continuing close cooperation with Aidro to drive the digitalisation shift in manufacturing and providing them and their customers with assurance and confidence in AM products as their use grows across the energy spectrum.”