Japan Approves Roboze 3D Printers for Onboard Railway Components
Roboze, an Italian manufacturer specializing in 3D printing high-performance polymers and composites, has announced that its ARGO 500 HYPERSPEED and ARGO 1000 HYPERMELT 3D printers have obtained Japanese Nannen-sei certification for ULTEM 9085 material in extrusion processes (filaments and pellets). In Japan’s railway industry, this certification refers to the combustion resistance required for materials and components used on board (panels, coatings, air ducts, and other non-structural elements mentioned in the qualification process).
This goal, achieved in accordance with MLIT standards and with technical support from SOLIZE PARTNERS Corporation, allows 3D printing to be used for internal components of railway vehicles, such as panels and air ducts, ensuring the maximum safety levels required by Japanese regulations.
Technological Consistency and Reliability of Industrial Processes
Qualification tests conducted by the Japan Railway Rolling Stock Machinery Association have confirmed that Roboze technology guarantees consistency in terms of performance, both with filament extrusion using the ARGO 500 and with pellet extrusion using the ARGO 1000. This uniformity reflects the maturity of a system capable of ensuring quality and repeatability, even in highly regulated sectors. “We are proud to have supported Roboze in the qualification process according to the Nannen-sei standard,” said Junpei Kise, AM Service General Manager at SOLIZE PARTNERS Corporation. “The Japanese railway sector demands precision, quality and maximum reliability: characteristics we clearly identified in Roboze technology. This certification is an important step toward broader adoption of additive manufacturing in our market.”
On-Demand Production and Impact on Rail Logistics
The integration of ARGO machines enables rail manufacturers to adopt a more agile production approach, reducing lead times and logistics costs through on-demand parts production. The availability of lightweight, high-performance components also optimizes vehicle lifecycle and maintenance. Davide Schiena, EMEA Mobility, Aerospace & Defense Business Development Manager at Roboze, emphasized the strategic importance of this operation, stating: “Achieving Nannen-sei certification in Japan is another important step toward Roboze’s mission of bringing additive manufacturing into the most regulated and high-performance industries. Japan is an extremely rigorous market in terms of safety and reliability. Securing this validation demonstrates the value of our systems and opens new opportunities for international collaboration.”
Ultimately, the adoption of ARGO systems will significantly accelerate the creation of new components and enable more streamlined operational models capable of reflecting the strict standards of robustness and precision that make Japan’s railway sector one of the most rigorous in the world.
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*Cover Photo Credit: Roboze
