AddUp Achieves ASTM Additive Manufacturing Safety Certification

AddUp, an original equipment manufacturer, has received the ASTM Additive Manufacturing Safety (AMS) Certification. 

AddUp played a pivotal role in the creation of the AMS certification program, according to AddUp. Over the past few years, AddUp has partnered closely with ASTM, helping to define the safety protocols and guidelines that ensure safe operation in AM facilities. 

 “When we set up our own AM facility, we realized there were no clear standards for the industry,” Austin Kron, AddUp’s director of Operations & Field Service, says. “We wanted to help create a roadmap for others, showing how to do it safely and effectively. We take pride in being the gold standard for AM safety.”

The audit process for this certification included an evaluation of AddUp’s AM facility, with attention to personal protective equipment, machine installation and grounding, powder handling, hazardous waste disposal, and facility cleanliness. AddUp's team guided ASTM through the various safety measures needed in an AM facility, drawing on their experiences from setting up a state-of-the-art facility at their North American headquarters in Cincinnati. 

For this audit, conducted by the Safety Equipment Institute (SEI), AddUp volunteered to be the inaugural company audited for AMS certification and worked closely with SEI auditors to ensure that each requirement was met and understood. The audit served to educate and provide feedback to SEI, reinforcing why each safety protocol is essential for AM operations.

“AddUp’s commitment to safety has been exemplary,” says Paul Bates, senior lead, Training and Certification Programs at ASTM International AM CoE. “Their involvement in helping us define the guidelines for this certification and their willingness to open their doors for the first-ever AMS audit speaks volumes about their leadership in the AM industry. AddUp has set a new standard for AM safety, and we are grateful for their dedication.”

The AddUp Solution Center, established in 2021 in Cincinnati, OH, served as the model facility for the audit. This center is equipped with dedicated AM workspaces, including powder bed fusion (PBF) and directed energy deposition (DED) machines, as well as a metallurgical lab, training facility, and post-process machining department. In addition to serving as a demonstration facility, it offers AM printing services, consulting, and training to customers. The facility is ISO 9001, AS 9100 certified, and ITAR and CMMC compliant.

The AddUp Solution Center incorporates static control measures, oxygen exposure prevention for reactive materials, fire suppression systems, dust cloud mitigation, air quality controls, and rigorous employee training protocols. 

In addition to achieving this certification, AddUp offers consulting services through its LevelUp Service Solutions program. The program provides expert advice to manufacturers looking to establish their own AM facilities. To learn more, visit: https://addupsolutions.com/consulting.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.