Displaying items by tag: protolabs

The world’s leading digital manufacturer is setting its sights on a £multi-million opportunity after it secured a prestigious supplier accreditation for the aerospace, security, space and defence industries.

Having supported the sector for several years, Protolabs is now officially recognised as a fully compliant and credible supplier to major businesses within the associated industries.

JOSCAR (Joint Supply Chain Accreditation Register) is valued by many of the largest purchasers in the stated industries, such as BAE Systems, NATS, Rolls Royce, Airbus and the MOD.

The global accreditation indicates that organisations have successfully gone through an invite only process that demonstrates commitment, reliability, technical ability and capacity, as well as helping purchasers meet the growing and diverse nature of regulatory requirements when it comes to managing third party risk in the supply chain.

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Bjoern Klaas, Vice President and Managing Director of Protolabs Europe, commented: “We are delighted to have achieved JOSCAR accreditation, joining an elite group of global suppliers in the process.

“It is testament to the quality and reliability of our output and our capacity to deliver prototypes and production parts in such a way that is valued by our customers in aerospace, security, space and defence industries.”

He continued: “We take great pride in achieving excellence in this way, whether being at the forefront of innovation or providing a trusted digital manufacturing service to the industrial supply chain.”

Protolabs, which was founded in 1999 and has been established in Europe since 2005, offers world-leading 3D printing, CNC machining and injection moulding services to design engineers.

Klaas went on to add: “We are already a well-established service provider to the aerospace supply chain, but this accreditation, alongside our ISO 9001 quality award, will further cement our reputation in the wider security and defence industries.

“In addition, we recently became one of the first manufacturers in the EMEA region to achieve DNV certification, bringing new levels of assurance relevant to maritime and offshore industries, as well as the broader defence sector and JOSCAR-associated industries.”

Inconel 718, the DNV-certified 3D printed metal, is a high-strength, corrosion-resistant nickel chromium that hardens with age, making it the ideal choice for fabricating complex parts.

It can be used within extreme hot and cold temperature limits and is founded in numerous components in the aerospace, maritime and defence space.

For further information, please visit www.protolabs.co.uk

ABOUT PROTOLABS

Protolabs is the world-leading digital manufacturing source for custom prototypes and low-volume production parts. The technology-enabled company uses advanced 3D printing, CNC machining and injection moulding technologies to produce parts within days. The result is an unprecedented speed-to-market value for product designers and engineers worldwide.

Aspects:

  • An automated quoting system and proprietary software translate digital 3D CAD models into instructions for high-speed manufacturing equipment by creating a digital twin of the desired part. The result is parts that are produced in a fully digitalized fashion and shipped in 1 to 15 days.
  • The company is anchored by three flagship services: injection moulding, CNC machining and 3D printing (additive manufacturing).
  • Injection moulding is used for quick-turn prototyping, bridge tooling and low-volume production of up to 10,000+ parts as well as for end of life parts at lower volume. More than 100 thermoplastics resins, metal and liquid silicone rubber are offered.
  • Protolabs uses three and five-axis indexed milling and turning to machine engineering-grade plastic and metal prototypes and functional end-use parts in quantities of less than 200.
  • Additive manufacturing employs advanced 3D printing technologies that can create extremely accurate prototypes with complex geometries. Additive parts are built by stereolithography, selective laser sintering, Multi Jet Fusion, PolyJet and direct metal laser sintering processes, and in a range a plastics and metals.
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The oilfield services sector is radically restructuring to survive in a world moving towards net-zero carbon emissions, according to a new industry report released today.

Almost three quarters (73%) of the UK respondents to ‘Decision Time’ – a Protolabs report that explores the challenges and opportunities for Europe’s oilfield services sector – are already redefining what their core business should be due to energy transition.

The majority of business leaders in the sector who took part in the research see sustainability as an opportunity, with 77% saying sustainability is a way to differentiate and grow their business, and with 80% saying that experience in sustainability gives European businesses an edge in global markets.

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The research saw more than 180 senior leaders from oilfield services companies across Europe, including Welltec and Swire Energy Services, interviewed by digital manufacturer Protolabs which delivers a range of services to the sector.

 The research found that most highlighted the need to innovate in order to survive. Within the next 12 months, 87% of UK respondents plan to implement robotics and automation and 83% plan to engage in Manufacturing-as-a-Service (MaaS) – 3D printing and on-demand manufacturing to streamline component production.

“Innovation and technology are hallmarks of oilfield services, which is encouraging given the extraordinary pressures on the sector,” explained Bjoern Klaas, Vice President and Managing Director of Protolabs Europe.

“The sector’s appetite to secure a long-term future means companies are branching out into other industries and extending their capabilities. With energy transition revolutionising the sector, combined with a much lower profit environment, it is imperative that companies continue to innovate and embrace renewable markets.”

Protolabs, the world-leading digital manufacturer of custom prototypes and low-volume production parts, completed the ‘Decision Time’ survey in summer 2021.

The results from the survey also indicate a clear departure from fossil fuels, with respondents expecting the majority of their portfolio to be non-oil and gas business. Klaas added: “The ‘Decision Time’ report shows that respondents expect to have shifted 64% of their projects to new energy or non-energy business within the next five years, compared with 56% of projects today. This, too, is testament to the willingness to meet the challenges faced by the sector.”

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The opportunities for oilfield services

42% of respondents across Europe see new renewable energy technology as the greatest energy transition opportunity for their business over the next two to three years. And 22% consider CO2 management as the greatest energy transition opportunity over the same timeframe. But also, 31% consider innovation in enhanced oil recovery to be key to growth over the next 12 months.

Klaas concluded: “That the oilfield services sector, and the wider energy sector, will transition to renewable energy is well understood. But this report makes clear the transition already being undertaken along the supply chain.

“Companies in the sector appreciate the value of environmental credibility, not only to secure their own reputation and funding, but also in response to the legislative need to cut down on emissions and the competitive need to be sustainable within the global marketplace.

“And it’s the same for Europe’s battery industry: our ‘In Charge’ report earlier this year showed that 58% of respondents believe sustainability principles will give European battery makers an edge in the international market. Also mirroring our battery industry report, 83% of UK respondents to the ‘Decision Time’ report say they are planning to move their supply chain closer to their manufacturing base within the next 12 months.

“This is an important tactic when considering the need to rely on innovation, create a leaner business and turn to Manufacturing-as-a-Service to deliver an operation that will flourish in the new era.”

To view the full report, please visit https://get.protolabs.co.uk/oil-and-gas/decision-time/

Published in Oil & Gas
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