GE Oil & Gas Begins New Manufacturing Lines

GE Oil & Gas has reported implementation of two advanced manufacturing lines in its Italian plant, using robots to optimize and accelerate cycle times.

A new nozzle production line is the company’s first completely automated line, and a new additive manufacturing line will use laser technology to 3D print end burners for gas turbine combustion chambers.

The nozzle production line utilizes two anthropomorphic robots capable of employing 10 different technologies including electrical discharge machining, measurement and laser beam welding. Components previously purchased from third-party suppliers can now be produced in-house. GE Oil & Gas sees additive manufacturing, utilized heavily in the aviation, medical and design industries, representing the next frontier for energy manufacturing.

“The opportunities for the application of additive manufacturing and 3D printing in the oil and gas industry are only just starting to be explored, and it will require an ongoing rethink of component design and production approach,” said Massimiliano Cecconi, an executive of GE Oil & Gas Materials & Manufacturing Technologies. “GE Oil & Gas is fostering the development of this technology to produce complex components for gas turbines while cutting costs, boosting performance and reducing emissions.”

Currently in use, the new production lines will be fully operational by 2017.

GE Oil & Gas is a provider of land and offshore drilling, power generation and refinery solutions for the oil and gas sector.