ROSATOM launches its first Additive Technologies Center in Russia
January 18, 2021
RusAT LLC, Moscow, Russia, an enterprise of TVEL Fuel Company and ROSATOM’s integrator for Additive Manufacturing, has opened its first Additive Technologies Center (ATC) at the site of the Moscow Polymetal Plant.
The ATC has been created as the first model of a facility combining development, engineering and manufacturing. It is said to be unique for its combination of shop floors for Additive Manufacturing (AM) machine assembling, manufacturing and post-processing, as well as the laboratory for product research and sample testing. With this, RusAT engineers will be able to check the adopted design and technological solutions immediately after equipment launch and promptly make adjustments to its design.
The ATC is equipped with AM machines of ROSATOM’s own design and production, including a Rusmelt 300M, Rusmelt 600M and Rusmelt 600 RM for metal Additive Manufacturing using the Laser Beam Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB) process. The Rusmelt 600M machine has a 600 x 600 mm build area and all machines feature Russian software with parameters and characteristics that meet international standards.
The second stage of the ATC facility will house machines for metal and plastic Additive Manufacturing. The range of testing and auxiliary equipment will also be expanded.
“Opening of the first Additive Technologies Center underlines the role of ROSATOM in creating a new technological paradigm in our country,” stated Alexey Likhachev, Director General of ROSATOM. “This is an extraordinary milestone not just for the nuclear industry, but on a national scale as well. There is a lot of work ahead to create a whole network of such centres, primarily in the cities and regions of Rosatom enterprises operation.”
“The next such centre will be established in Novouralsk on the basis of NPO Centrotech, another enterprise of TVEL Fuel Company,” he continued. “Development and application of these technologies has a great meaning for the entire nuclear industry. We have solutions for using Additive Manufacturing, from separate elements of some products to essential supplies of equipment.”
Natalia Nikipelova, president of TVEL JSC, commented, “It is fundamentally important that it is the first such facility in Russia operating Russian-made equipment. All of it has was developed by our engineers. The equipment of the 3D-printers was manufactured at NPO Centrotech, the complete machines have been assembled at the site in Moscow. They run on Russian software. The first installation for the production of powders for 3D-printing has been recently launched at NPO Centrotech.”
“ROSATOM has chosen the path of developing the full product line of equipment and services for additive manufacturing, being a manufacturer and a customer at the same time. This centre features a fully 3D-printed anti-debris filter for a nuclear fuel assembly. It required fewer materials than traditional manufacturing, and it has a design that would be impossible to reproduce with other methods.”
“By introducing additive technologies in our own business, we show an example for other industries. In fact, we are creating another new industry in Russia with its own centres, expertise, staff and linked universities,” concluded Nikipelova.
“The First Additive Technologies Center of ROSATOM is a pilot platform where we will develop the best technological proposals and business solutions for our clients,” noted Mikhail Turundaev, Director General of RusAT.
“After debugging the printing modes, we will take orders. By the end of 2021, we plan to launch a full production cycle for AM products. At the current stage of the AM market, the equipment that has been installed at the ATC and will be installed in 2021, will completely cover the needs of our customers. As for financial indicators, after launch of the second stage, the planned revenue of CAT would exceed 300 million rubles by 2030.”
