LONDON, UK – March 5, 2019 – Element Materials Technology (Element), one of the world’s leading independent providers of testing, inspection and certification services, has launched an additive manufacturing center of excellence in North West Europe.
Element has invested in new equipment, developed new analyzing techniques and launched new services to expand its capabilities for testing additive manufactured (3D printing) at its Antwerp, Belgium laboratory, bringing customers faster response times and access to a number of services which are unique in Europe.
The laboratory has expanded its scope for chemical analysis for additive manufacturing following investments in a fusion analyzer, microwave destruction system and equipment to carry out inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Combining three major analysis techniques, combustion, fusion and ICP-OES, experts at the facility are now able to analyze a total of 40 elements in a wide variety of metal alloys and will add another 10 elements, as well as aluminum alloys, in the near future.
Matt Hopkinson, EVP of Oil & Gas and Infrastructure at Element, commented: “The additive manufacturing industry is thriving and our investment is in direct response to the increased need of our customers for testing of 3D printed materials.
Our engaged experts are at the forefront of additive manufacturing testing techniques and the new methods they have developed, which are unique to the European region, alongside the investment in equipment will save our customers time and money as they now have access to our skills and services right on their doorstep.’’
The new center for excellence is a BELAC (NEN-EN-ISO/IEC17025) accredited metallics laboratory that offers a complete range of materials testing and research services. It specializes in delivering metallography, weld testing services, corrosion testing services, chemical analysis services and failure analysis services to the oil & gas industry.
About Element
Element is one of the world’s leading independent providers of materials and product qualification testing, inspection and certification services to the global Aerospace; Transportation & Industrials; Fire & Building Products; and Oil & Gas and Infrastructure sectors, where failure in service is simply not an option.
We exist to help our customers to make certain that the materials, products and systems that they make are safe, quality, compliant and ultimately fit for purpose, leveraging 200 years of testing experience and our global testing capabilities.
Media contacts:
Bora Trimcev, Communications Manager
T: +44 (0) 203 540 1820
E: bora.trimcev@element.com
Devan LaBrash, Pagoda Public Relations
T: +44 (0) 131 556 0770
E: devan.labrash@pagodapr.com
“Our engaged experts are at the forefront of additive manufacturing testing techniques and the new methods they have developed will save our customers time and money as they now have access to our skills and services right on their doorstep.”
Matt Hopkinson
EVP, OIL & GAS AND INFRASTRUCTURE