The company has acquired Additive Industries’ MetalFAB1 platform to make these parts for its 500 kW to 80+ MW turbochargers for diesel and gas engines.
Plans are for the new AM process to replace casting and move part fabrication to the digital space, the companies say.
According to Additive Industries, ABB has over 200,000 turbochargers for marine engine and emergency power generation. To ensure availability for the thousands of different turbocharger spare part designs with casting lead times up to nine weeks, a large number of spare parts need to be carried in inventory. With the MetalFAB1 platform, the spare parts manufacturing lead times can be reduced to a week, so spare parts inventory levels can be reduced significantly, the company said.
“[ABB is] committed to drive progress in the domain of digital spare part manufacturing, very relevant in a time where shortening the lead times and limiting logistical movements around the world is key,” said Ian Howe, CEO of Additive Industries.
