Lloyd’s Register (LR) and TWI have announced the launch of Fullagar Technologies. The joint venture will deliver innovative inspection systems, products and services.
Fullagar will use the very latest industry research from the National Structural Integrity Research Centre (NSIRC), combining the advanced welding and non-destructive testing techniques (NDT) expertise of TWI with the technical inspection and verification experience of LR.
Remote Inspection, Additive Manufacturing and Digital Manufacturing
LR and TWI’s collaboration has already seen the publication of the first industry guidelines on additive manufacturing in 2016 and Fullagar Technologies will continue its industrial development, including in-process (rather than end product) verification and certification.
Fullagar Technologies will focus on deploying the latest digital technologies in 3 areas:
- Remote inspection of surface and subsurface integrity – Application of remote technologies and smart sensors to enable remote inspection of new and in-service components and assets in hazardous environments.
- Additive manufacturing – Commercialisation of additive manufacturing tools and methodologies including in-process verification and certification.
- Digital (IOT 4.0) manufacturing – Data-driven automation of fabrication methods that have hitherto consisted of manual operations.
Fullagar
The joint venture is named after the first fully welded ocean-going ship in the world, which successfully demonstrated the deployment of new technology in a traditional industry. Classed by LR, the Fullagar was built at Cammell Laird shipyard, Birkenhead, in 1920.
Picture: NX CAM Hybrid Additive Manufacturing – Additive Operations (by Siemens PLM Software).
