Close Menu
AM ChronicleAM Chronicle
  • Content
    • News
    • Insights
    • Case Studies
    • AM Infocast
  • Focus Regions
    • India
    • Asia Pacific
    • Middle East
    • North America
    • Europe
  • Industries
    • Automotive
    • Aerospace
    • Defence
    • Energy
    • Construction
    • Healthcare
    • Tooling
    • Engineering
  • Training
  • Magazine
    • Digital Issues
    • Print Subscription
  • Events
Facebook Instagram YouTube LinkedIn
  • About us
  • Media Kit
  • Contact us
Facebook Instagram YouTube LinkedIn
AM ChronicleAM Chronicle
  • Content
    1. News
    2. Insights
    3. Case Studies
    4. AM Infocast
    5. View All
    World's tallest 3D-printed tower unveiled in Switzerland, Photo by Birdviewpicture

    World’s Tallest 3D-Printed Tower Constructed at Swiss Alps

    May 22, 2025
    Altair Supports MAM4HP Project to Advance Additive Manufacturing in Italy

    Altair Supports MAM4HP Project to Advance Additive Manufacturing in Italy

    May 20, 2025
    The new standard in 3D concrete printing: Saint-Gobain Weber certified by Kiwa!

    The new standard in 3D concrete printing: Saint-Gobain Weber certified by Kiwa!

    May 20, 2025
    Image credit: Philips

    Philips Unveils 3D-Printable Components for Product Repair, Promoting Sustainability

    May 19, 2025
    Credits: Outokumpu

    Outokumpu launches stainless steel metal powder in additive manufacturing for aerospace and aviation industry applications

    May 22, 2025
    Why Bioprinting Innovations can elevate healthcare and industrial AM

    Why Bioprinting Innovations can elevate healthcare and industrial AM

    May 21, 2025
    Why Additive Manufacturing Excels in Some Applications but Fails in Others?

    Why Additive Manufacturing Excels in Some Applications but Fails in Others?

    May 21, 2025
    Source: CEAD

    CEAD Set to Launch 3D-Printed Boat Manufacturing Facility

    May 19, 2025
    Formlabs fuse 1+

    How Imaginarium Helped Kaash Studio Scale with the Right 3D Printing Technology

    April 12, 2025
    The Formlabs Fuse 1+ 30W

    Kaash Studio Optimized Service Bureau Operations with Formlabs 3D Printers- Case Study

    January 30, 2025
    Namthaja Unveils Worlds First 3D Printed Marine Gangway

    Worlds First 3D Printed Marine Gangway unveiled by Namthaja

    August 8, 2024
    RusselSmith Material Performance Improvement Whitepaper

    RusselSmith Whitepaper : Improving Material Performance with Microstructural Refinement

    May 9, 2024
    Sustainable Production of Metal Powder for Additive Manufacturing

    Sustainable Production of Metal Powder for Additive Manufacturing with Bruce Bradshaw

    February 15, 2024
    Meeting Evolving Customer Demands in the Additive Manufacturing Industry with Tyler Reid

    Meeting Evolving Customer Demands in the Additive Manufacturing Industry with Tyler Reid

    February 9, 2024
    Innovation is at the heart of AMUG with Diana Kalisz

    Innovation is at the heart of AMUG with Diana Kalisz

    March 7, 2023
    3D Printing Workshops at AMUG with Edward Graham

    3D Printing Workshops at AMUG with Edward Graham

    March 7, 2023
    Credits: Outokumpu

    Outokumpu launches stainless steel metal powder in additive manufacturing for aerospace and aviation industry applications

    May 22, 2025
    World's tallest 3D-printed tower unveiled in Switzerland, Photo by Birdviewpicture

    World’s Tallest 3D-Printed Tower Constructed at Swiss Alps

    May 22, 2025
    Why Bioprinting Innovations can elevate healthcare and industrial AM

    Why Bioprinting Innovations can elevate healthcare and industrial AM

    May 21, 2025
    Why Additive Manufacturing Excels in Some Applications but Fails in Others?

    Why Additive Manufacturing Excels in Some Applications but Fails in Others?

    May 21, 2025
  • Focus Regions
    • India
    • Asia Pacific
    • Middle East
    • North America
    • Europe
  • Industries
    • Automotive
    • Aerospace
    • Defence
    • Energy
    • Construction
    • Healthcare
    • Tooling
    • Engineering
  • Training
  • Magazine
    • Digital Issues
    • Print Subscription
  • Events
Subscribe
AM ChronicleAM Chronicle
Home » News

Ricardo undertakes study for IMI Critical Engineering

News By AM Chronicle EditorSeptember 27, 20234 Mins Read
278775
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Pinterest Email Copy Link

Ricardo plc, a global strategic environmental and engineering consulting company has undertaken an in-depth life cycle assessment of aftermarket valve components, which has concluded that additive manufacturing has a significantly lower impact on the environment.

Commissioned by IMI Critical Engineering for its additive manufacturing technology Retrofit3D, the study identified opportunities to reduce the climate change impact of certain replacement valve parts. As part of this process, the valves’ global warming potential can now be reduced by between 85% – 96% depending on valve size and repair scenario.

IMI Critical Engineering designs and manufactures highly specialised valves and actuators to help control the flow of steam, gas and liquids serving the oil and gas, petrochemicals, water and power industries. The valves used in these sectors are subject to harsh operating conditions, which can lead to deleterious phenomena such as erosion or cavitation. When this type of damage is found, upgrades are required in the form of a new disk stack.

Ricardo was asked by IMI Critical Engineering to apply its expertise in life cycle assessments to determine the environmental impact of three replacement scenarios for two different valve sizes (large and small). These scenarios included: replacement of disk stack via only traditional manufacturing methods; replacement of the full valve via traditional manufacturing methods; and replacement of the disk stack only via additive manufacturing.

The life cycle assessment found that the additive disk stack replacement manufactured by Retrofit3D was the preferable scenario across all the environmental indicators analysed. The small valve resulted in 146kg of carbon dioxide equivalent when the Retrofit3D additive manufacturing process was used to produce the replacement disk stack. The large valve resulted in 1360kg of carbon dioxide equivalent using the same process.

All calculations were based on an assumed system lifetime of ten years. For the large valve, this represented a 96% climate change impact saving when compared with replacement of the full valve via traditional manufacturing, and a 94% saving when compared with replacement of the disk stack only via traditional manufacturing. For the small valve, it represented a saving of 87% and 85% respectively. Any use efficiency savings were not accounted for in this study due to the wide range of potential use scenarios. If these were accounted for, the savings may be higher.

Analysis of the downstream transportation methods for the new valve and components showed that transitioning from air freight to 80% sea freight and 20% road freight would reduce the total climate change impact in all replacement scenarios by 97%.

Sam Hinton, Head of Life cycle Assessment at Ricardo said: “Corporations are increasingly challenged to take active steps to minimise their environmental impacts and communicate this in a robust manner, free from green washing claims. Ricardo has provided IMI Critical Engineering with a thorough life cycle assessment that has been critically reviewed and considers 16 environmental indicators. It identifies that the Retrofit3D solution has the lowest impact of all the scenarios assessed for all 16 indicators. In short, it can achieve the greatest decarbonisation potential, without shifting burdens to other environmental issues. IMI can now communicate the reduced environmental impacts associated with its solution confident in the knowledge that this is backed up by a thorough life cycle assessment of the comparative solutions.”

Bertrand Maillon, Retrofit3D Business Leader at IMI Critical Engineering, added: “3D printing is a game-changing method for valve manufacturing. Improving reliability and performance while offering, in Retrofit3D, a less materially intensive solution is essential for us and our customers. This technology is a disruptor for maintenance, repair and operations and spare parts supply, and promises a great future for innovative flow control solutions.”

This life cycle assessment for IMI Critical Engineering is the latest example of Ricardo applying its deep scientific analysis and significant experience at the forefront of product sustainability to enable clients to develop more sustainable products or demonstrate their advanced environmental credentials. Ricardo is currently working with the manufacturers around the world to quantify and reduce the environmental impacts of their products.

Subscribe to AM Chronicle Newsletter to stay connected:  https://bit.ly/3fBZ1mP 

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3IjhrFq 

Visit for more interesting content on additive manufacturing: https://amchronicle.com

Original Source

3d printing additive manufacturing IMI Critical Engineering life cycle assessment Ricardo Sustainabilility
AM Chronicle Editor

LATEST FROM AM
Credits: Outokumpu Insights

Outokumpu launches stainless steel metal powder in additive manufacturing for aerospace and aviation industry applications

May 22, 20252 Mins Read
World's tallest 3D-printed tower unveiled in Switzerland, Photo by Birdviewpicture News

World’s Tallest 3D-Printed Tower Constructed at Swiss Alps

May 22, 20254 Mins Read
Why Bioprinting Innovations can elevate healthcare and industrial AM Insights

Why Bioprinting Innovations can elevate healthcare and industrial AM

May 21, 20255 Mins Read

CONNECT WITH US

  • 126 A, Dhuruwadi, A. V. Nagvekar Marg, Prabhadevi, Mumbai 400025
  • [email protected]
  • +91 022 24306319
Facebook Instagram YouTube LinkedIn

Newsletter

Subscribe to the AM Chronicle mailer to receive latest tech updates and insights from global industry experts.

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Quick Links

  • News
  • Insights
  • Case Studies
  • AM Training
  • AM Infocast
  • AM Magazine
  • Events

Media

  • Advertise with us
  • Sponsored Articles
  • Media Kit

Events

  • AM Conclave 2025
    24-25 September 2025 | ADNEC, Abu Dhabi
  • AMTECH 2025
    3-4 December 2025 | KTPO, Whitefield, Bengaluru
CNT Expositions & Services LLP
© 2025 CNT Expositions & Services LLP.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.



0 / 75