DNV has released to B.F.E. Bonney Forge the CE marking for a pressure vessel (3D printed gate valve 1 ½” class 150 in ASTM F3184 S31603) printed with Additive Manufacturing (AM) technology by a team from Shell at the qualified 3DP facility of the Energy Transition Campus Amsterdam.
B.F.E. Bonney Forge is one of the first European companies to secure certification for a spare part intended for field operations by applying AM technology. This achievement signifies a major milestone in the manufacturing landscape, demonstrating this innovative technology’s potential to reshape the future of pressure equipment under the Pressure Equipment Directive 2014/68/EU (PED).
The collaboration builds upon the successes of the same Shell team that, in 2021, unveiled the world’s first CE certified pressure vessel, albeit for research and development purposes. The fruitful partnership with B.F.E. Bonney Forge now paves the way for the future certification of functional pressure equipment manufactured with AM technology. The initial 2021 valve set a high bar with its exceptional performance across all metrics. Inspired by this success, Shell and B.F.E. Bonney Forge embarked on an innovative journey to create a gate valve with an unprecedented design, all thanks to cutting-edge AM technology.
The destination of this gate valve is the Shell Energy and Chemicals Park Rotterdam, where it will be installed. This pioneering work is poised to showcase the myriad benefits and, more importantly, the safety associated with valves manufactured using AM technology. It sets the stage for the commercial production of pre-qualified pressure components with AM technology, assuring adherence to rigorous quality standards. These components will play a pivotal role in ensuring the safe operation of equipment within the energy sector.
