Roboze systems receive Japanese fire safety certification for 3D-printed railway components

The use of 3D printing in railway vehicle manufacturing is highly regulated, particularly in Japan, where strict fire protection requirements apply. The Italian company Roboze has now announced that its ARGO 500 HYPERSPEED and ARGO 1000 HYPERMELT systems have received the so-called Nannen-sei certification for the high-performance polymer ULTEM 9085. The approval is granted in accordance with the technical railway standards of the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism MLIT and is a prerequisite for the use of polymer components in vehicle interiors.

The qualification tests were carried out at the Japan Railway Rolling Stock Machinery Association and technically supported by SOLIZE PARTNERS Corporation, a long-standing partner of Roboze in Japan. Among other aspects, the fire behavior and flame propagation of additively manufactured samples were tested, as intended for applications such as panels, air ducts, or covers. According to the test results, the components meet the requirements regardless of whether they were produced via filament extrusion on the ARGO 500 HYPERSPEED or via pellet extrusion on the ARGO 1000 HYPERMELT.

“We are proud to have supported Roboze in the qualification process according to the Nannen-sei standard,” said Junpei Kise, AM service general manager at SOLIZE PARTNERS Corporation. “The Japanese railway sector demands precision, quality and maximum reliability: characteristics we clearly identified in Roboze technology. This certification is an important step toward broader adoption of additive manufacturing in our market.”

With the Nannen-sei certification, Japanese railway manufacturers can integrate additive manufacturing more extensively into existing production and maintenance concepts. The ability to produce certified components on demand and on site reduces lead times and simplifies spare parts supply.

“Achieving Nannen-sei certification in Japan is another important step toward Roboze’s mission of bringing additive manufacturing into the most regulated and high-performance industries,” said Davide Schiena, EMEA Mobility, Aerospace & Defence Business Development Manager at Roboze. “Japan is an extremely rigorous market in terms of safety and reliability. Securing this validation demonstrates the value of our systems and opens new opportunities for international collaboration.”