en.Wedoany.com Reported - The Korean Register (KR) has awarded a manufacturing process certification to AM Solutions, a South Korean additive manufacturing company, recognizing its metal repair technology based on Laser Wire Directed Energy Deposition (LW-DED). This marks the first time KR has verified the safety and reliability of an additive manufacturing repair process for damaged sections of metal structures in South Korea, signaling the expansion of additive manufacturing applications from new component production to maintenance and repair.

Additive manufacturing is regarded as a next-generation production technology in the aerospace, shipbuilding, offshore, and defense sectors due to its ability to rapidly form complex components, but factors such as the lack of certification frameworks, high implementation costs, and limited industrial demand have constrained its practical application.

To address this gap, the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS) issued Recommendation No. 186, "Additive Manufacturing Metallic Parts for Marine and Offshore Applications," last year, providing guidance for the safe application of additive manufacturing in the marine and offshore sectors. KR subsequently revised its own additive manufacturing guidelines, establishing a certification framework covering materials, processes, products, and manufacturing methods. This framework applies not only to newly manufactured components but also to the repair of existing metal structures, laying the groundwork for introducing additive manufacturing into maintenance operations in the maritime and defense industries.

The certified process employs laser wire directed energy deposition technology: a laser melts metal wire and deposits it layer by layer onto the damaged area. This approach repairs only the defective section without requiring replacement or remanufacturing of the entire component, reducing repair time and costs, and can also extend the service life of parts that are discontinued or difficult to procure.

The award ceremony was held on July 28 at the AM Solutions additive manufacturing center in Daejeon, with representatives from the Republic of Korea Navy, KR, the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH), Daejeon Metropolitan City, Daejeon Techno Park, and AM Solutions in attendance.

Sangsoo Kim, Senior Vice President of KR's Naval Business Center, who oversaw the certification project, stated that this certification represents a significant step in advancing additive manufacturing repair technology from new part production to the maintenance of existing metal structures, and is expected to provide new solutions for the repair and maintenance of high-value equipment and structures in the defense and shipbuilding sectors.