Renishaw, Wotton-Under-Edge, Gloucestershire, UK, has announced that it recently installed a RenAM 500Q Flex metal Additive Manufacturing machine at industrial valve supplier KOSO Kent Introl, headquartered in Brighouse, West Yorkshire, UK. Renishaw has reported that Kent Introl is the first UK-based valve part manufacturer in the oil and gas industry to introduce the technology and that it looks to utilise AM to rapidly develop and produce components for its customers in a more efficient and cost-effective way.
Kent Introl engineers and supplies valves that perform in severe conditions within oil and gas applications. To meet growing industry demand to adopt innovative technologies, increase energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions, the company will explore how AM can help optimise part design, provide on-demand services and improve productivity. The company intends to initially use the RenAM 500Q Flex as part of its research and development of new parts. To meet the changing needs of customers the team also looks to experiment with AM to understand how to diversify production to deliver rapid part development.
The RenAM 500Q Flex system uses Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB) to produce components with intricate geometries that are difficult to achieve using traditional manufacturing techniques. It features four 500 W lasers and automated powder handling capabilities to help engineers reduce build time and increase productivity. The system also has additional flexibility that enables users to quickly change metal powders, which can be beneficial in research and development applications where different parts are tested.
