ENGIE achieved a double success for its additive manufacturing (AM) services in a very busy year for the group. The quality of ENGIE Laborelec’s powder feedstock alloy and ENGIE Fabricom’s workshop facilities at Zwijndrecht was officially recognized by technical and business services organization, Lloyd’s Register.

The recognition followed an audit and assessment of equipment, personnel, processes and procedures by the respected UK-based non-profit organization, whose reputation is built on more than 250 years of independence and a commitment to safety and technical excellence.

“It’s a great result and well deserved, putting the business a significant step ahead when it comes to achieving component qualifications in the future.”

In awarding a materials certificate to ENGIE Laborelec’s first alloy feedstock powder, a selective laser melted SLM316L stainless steel, the Lloyd’s Register surveyor was looking for the quality and consistency crucial to the AM process (also known as 3-D printing).

The sought-after facility qualification was achieved after a full audit of the Zwijndrecht printing facilities, with the Lloyd’s Register surveyor examining auxiliary materials, part handling, maintenance, control and overall capability.The storage and handling of feedstock alloys must also follow approved procedures to ensure appropriate storage conditions, constant powder quality, full traceability as well as health and safety procedures.

ENGIE Fabricom’s Zwijndrecht additive manufacturing printing workshop has achieved facility qualification from technical and business services organization, Lloyd’s Register.

The combination of expertise offered by ENGIE Laborelec and ENGIE Fabricom to guarantee process stability and repeatability was what impressed the Lloyd’s Register surveyor:

“ENGIE Laborelec and ENGIE Fabricom were well prepared for the audit with an extremely professional team, which had expert knowledge of the powder bed fusion process,” said Ms. Matijasevic-Clarke. “It’s a great result and well deserved, putting the business a significant step ahead when it comes to achieving component qualifications in the future.”

“With robust controls in place, laboratories can reduce variabilities to ensure quality results consistently while proven processes and procedures mean that anyone else coming to work in the facility has clear training and instructions to work to, which is invaluable for any organisation.”

ENGIE Laborelec is one of the first powder labs to achieve certification for an additive manufacturing feedstock alloy.

Coralie Goffin, Director Centralized Generation Department at ENGIE Laborelec commented: “AM is a technology that’s here to stay, with applications across many sectors including power – a key industry for us. This facility qualification demonstrates our expertise in the multiple facets of the SLM technology and our commitment to excellence.” Pieter Hertogs, Section Manager Maintenance, Services & Products at ENGIE Fabricom Zwijndrecht added: “With Lloyd’s Register as a partner helping drive high quality AM work, we are confident that AM will soon be an integral part of the ENGIE group’s high end service offerings aimed at other group companies, and our many industrial customers, to help prepare them for the future and add value to their business processes and operations.”

Pieter Hertogs, Section Manager Maintenance, Services & Products at ENGIE Fabricom Zwijndrecht added: “With Lloyd’s Register as a partner helping drive high quality AM work, we are confident that AM will soon be an integral part of the ENGIE group’s high end service offerings aimed at other group companies, and our many industrial customers, to help prepare them for the future and add value to their business processes and operations.”

This recognition for ENGIE is a major step towards the future validation and certification of high-end components and other parts produced by additive manufacturing. Lloyd’s Register and ENGIE Laborelec have been working together for three years as part of a joint industry project led by Lloyd’s Register and The Welding Institute.

For more about Lloyd’s Register’s additive manufacturing services,
including facility qualification, visit  www.lr.org/additive-manufacturing

For more information about ENGIE Laborelec, visit www.laborelec.com

For more information about ENGIE Fabricom, visit www.engie-fabricom.com