TÜV SÜD enables PED-compliant certification

The additive manufacturing of metal components is becoming increasingly important, especially for complex pressure equipment such as control valves or diaphragm valves. Despite the economic advantages and technical possibilities, the certification of such components in accordance with the European Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) remains a challenge. The reason for this lies in the specific properties of additively manufactured materials, which differ significantly from conventional materials due to selective laser melting in the powder bed.

The lack of harmonized material standards makes it difficult to prove safety and quality. To overcome this hurdle, TÜV SÜD has developed a procedure based on an individual material assessment, the so-called Particular Material Appraisal (PMA). This test procedure not only evaluates the mechanical properties of the material, but also the entire manufacturing process. The focus here is on the traceability of the material – from the raw material in powder form to the finished product.

One specific example is the certification of an additively manufactured control valve from SAMSON AG. Comprehensive material analyses were carried out as part of the PMA process to ensure that the safety requirements were met. Both destructive and non-destructive tests confirmed the mechanical strength, tightness and functionality of the valve under real operating conditions. The result was a PED-compliant certification that paves the way for the series production of such components.

With the PMA procedure, TÜV SÜD enables the safe and efficient introduction of additively manufactured pressure equipment in industrial and process plants. Manufacturers benefit from faster development cycles and more economical production without compromising on safety. This makes an important contribution to the establishment of additive manufacturing in safety-critical applications.