AddUp becomes the first 3D printer manufacturer to receive the ASTM AM Safety Certification, and why it matters?
The Atomic Layers: S5E5 (00121)
Atomic Layer of the Day:
The French AddUp, established by Michelin and Fives, has become the first 3D printer manufacturer to achieve the ASTM Additive Manufacturing Safety Certification. This is a groundbreaking moment, marking a new era in safety standards for the 3D printing industry.
The ASTM AMS certification was awarded after an audit that evaluated various aspects, including equipment handling procedures, waste management, machine installation, and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). The audit was conducted by the Safety Equipment Institute (SEI) at the AddUp Solution Center, a facility designed to meet the strictest safety requirements. The center offers dedicated spaces for working with PBF and DED technologies, a metallurgy laboratory, a training area, and a post-processing department.
Why is ASTM certification so important? Primarily, it sets safety standards that have been lacking in the rapidly developing industry. By participating in defining these protocols, AddUp has not only created a safe working environment but also paved the way for other companies. The AddUp center implements best practices for dust management, air quality control, and fire protection.
For the 3D printing sector, this translates to increased trust in fields such as aerospace, medicine, and defense, where safety is crucial. The lack of clear standards has previously been a challenge for the entire industry. The ASTM AMS certification establishes a "gold standard" that will serve as a foundation for the future growth of the sector.
And finally - a commonly overlooked and undervalued barrier to the large-scale adoption of AM in high-budget industrial sectors (such as defense, aerospace, or energy) is precisely the issue of certifications, standards, and regulations. Despite nearly 40 years of development, the AM industry still operates in some areas without any regulations or guidelines. Therefore, every initiative in this area is crucial.
It's not about bureaucratizing AM or creating artificial certifying bodies, but rather about reaching a point where norms and fulfilled boundary conditions determine who excels in a particular area.
Atomic Layer from the Past:
12-05-2016: Craftbot released the CraftBot XL.
News & Gossips:
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