Additive manufacturing · Overview
Additive manufacturing in piping: what can be printed, what cannot – and why
The 3D printer has arrived in maintenance departments, at valve manufacturers and in test centres – and the question comes up on every site: can a flange, a tee, a spare part simply be printed? The honest answer has two halves. Technically, a great deal is possible. Normatively, a printed part is not a standard part, and a printed pressure-retaining part needs an appraisal that nobody needs for the stock part. This overview gives the short answer per component class, separates technical from normative reasons and leads to the three technical pages, the suitability matrix and the enquiry helper.
- Guiding principle
- “Printed is not standardised – and standardised is not always necessary.”
- Standard parts
- Flange, elbow, tee, reducer, pipe: from stock, not printed
- Printed with good reason
- Special parts with internal channels, spare parts for pumps and valves, impellers
- Repair
- Build-up welding under the rules of welding
- Rules
- PED Annex I No. 4 · DIN/TS 17026 · E DIN EN 13445-14 (draft) · ASME PTB-13 · API 20S
- Zickwolff
- does not print – explains and supplies the standard part
The short answer per component
Can flanges be printed? Technically yes, up to about DN 100 in the build volume – normatively no: EN 1092-1 knows forgings, castings and plate as product forms; a printed flange is not a flange to the standard. Fittings? The same – EN 10253 makes elbows, tees and reducers from pipe or plate. Pipes? Neither build volume nor sense. Spare parts for pumps and valves? Yes – via the manufacturer who has qualified the part; KSB has produced TÜV-certified parts under the Pressure Equipment Directive since 2020. A special part that exists nowhere else? Yes, with a particular material appraisal – that is where the real benefit lies. A repair? Yes, for decades: build-up welding is additive manufacturing under the rules of welding.
| Component | laser powder bed fusion (metal) | electron beam powder bed fusion (metal) | laser directed energy deposition (powder) | wire arc additive manufacturing | binder jetting (metal, sintered) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| flange | with restrictions / only with individual appraisal not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval | not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval | with restrictions / only with individual appraisal not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval | with restrictions / only with individual appraisal not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval | not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval |
| elbow | with restrictions / only with individual appraisal not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval | not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval | not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval | with restrictions / only with individual appraisal not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval | not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval |
| tee | with restrictions / only with individual appraisal with restrictions / only with individual appraisal | not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval with restrictions / only with individual appraisal | not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval with restrictions / only with individual appraisal | with restrictions / only with individual appraisal with restrictions / only with individual appraisal | not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval with restrictions / only with individual appraisal |
| reducer | not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval | not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval | not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval | not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval | not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval |
| pipe | not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval | not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval | not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval | with restrictions / only with individual appraisal not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval | not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval |
| valve body | possible / permitted with restrictions / only with individual appraisal | with restrictions / only with individual appraisal with restrictions / only with individual appraisal | with restrictions / only with individual appraisal with restrictions / only with individual appraisal | with restrictions / only with individual appraisal with restrictions / only with individual appraisal | not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval with restrictions / only with individual appraisal |
| valve trim | possible / permitted possible / permitted | with restrictions / only with individual appraisal possible / permitted | possible / permitted possible / permitted | with restrictions / only with individual appraisal possible / permitted | with restrictions / only with individual appraisal possible / permitted |
| impeller | possible / permitted possible / permitted | with restrictions / only with individual appraisal possible / permitted | with restrictions / only with individual appraisal possible / permitted | with restrictions / only with individual appraisal possible / permitted | with restrictions / only with individual appraisal possible / permitted |
| special fitting or manifold | possible / permitted with restrictions / only with individual appraisal | with restrictions / only with individual appraisal with restrictions / only with individual appraisal | with restrictions / only with individual appraisal with restrictions / only with individual appraisal | possible / permitted with restrictions / only with individual appraisal | with restrictions / only with individual appraisal with restrictions / only with individual appraisal |
| repair by build-up | not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval | not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval | possible / permitted possible / permitted | possible / permitted possible / permitted | not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval not worthwhile / no standard part, no approval |
Green means: possible, or permitted, or no standard part needed. Yellow: with restrictions, or only with a particular material appraisal or manufacturer qualification. Red: not worthwhile, or no standard part and no approval. The suitability matrix shows the reason and our recommendation for every cell; the technical pages explain the processes, the component classes and the rules.
Why two answers: technical and normative
The technical question is: can the part be built in the geometry, the material and the quality the application demands? That is decided by build volume, deposition rate, surface, residual porosity, anisotropy and inspectability – and by the economics against the forged or rolled part. The normative question is: may the part be installed where it is meant to go? That is decided by the product standard (does it know the product form?), by pressure equipment law (is the material permitted under Annex I No. 4?), by the certificate (what does a 3.1 certificate attest without a product standard?) and – for drinking water – by the material assessment. The two questions have different answers, and whoever mixes them draws wrong conclusions: a flange is technically printable and still not a flange normatively; an impeller is normatively free and technically the showcase.
What this means for purchasing. For everything that has a product standard and lies in our stock, the printing question is answered quickly: the standard part is forged, rolled or cast, certified to EN 10204 and available in every size – from stock or to order. For everything else – special part, spare part without drawing, repair – the technical pages show the route: conventional special manufacture, additive manufacturing with an appraisal, build-up welding. Zickwolff does not print; we explain what is possible and supply what is standardised.
Three rules of thumb
- Printed is not standardised. An additively manufactured part is not a standard part, even when dimensions and material number match – the product standard does not know the product form. (Rule of thumb)
- Three questions before every enquiry: drawing, material, approval. Is there a drawing or a sample, which material condition is needed, does the part have to pass an assessment under the PED or AD 2000? (Rule of thumb)
- Repair yes, buy the standard part. Build-up welding on an existing part runs under the rules of welding; for flange, elbow and pipe the stock part is faster, cheaper and standardised. (Rule of thumb)
Where the rules stand
The rules are moving: the German pre-standard DIN/TS 17026 has applied since 2020, the European draft E DIN EN 13445-14 has been available since January 2025 and is intended to become the harmonised standard under the Pressure Equipment Directive; in the USA, PTB-13, Code Case 3020 and API 20S are in force. The table is checked every six months; status and date are given per row.
| Rule | Scope | Status | Subject | Relevance to piping |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Richtlinie 2014/68/EU (DGRL) Pressure Equipment Directive | EU | in force | Annex I No. 4: materials for pressure parts via harmonised standards, European material approval or particular material appraisal | for additively built pressure parts only the third route exists today – there are no harmonised material standards for metal powder |
| DIN/TS 17026:2020-10 Unfired pressure vessels – additional requirements for pressure equipment fabricated with additive manufacturing | DE | in force | material and process qualification, testing of additively built pressure parts (technical specification, 70 pages) | the German reference for a certifier assessing a printed pressure part – forerunner of EN 13445-14 |
| E DIN EN 13445-14:2025-01 Unfired pressure vessels – Part 14: additive manufacturing (draft) | EU | draft | future harmonised standard under the PED for additively built pressure equipment (draft, 201 pages) | once published, the presumption of conformity replaces the individual appraisal for what the standard covers |
| ISO/ASTM 52900:2021 Additive manufacturing – general principles – fundamentals and vocabulary | INT | in force | terms and the seven process categories (PBF, DED, BJT, MEX, MJT, SHL, VPP) | the vocabulary of every specification, offer and appraisal |
| EN 1092-1 Flanges and their joints – circular flanges, PN designated – steel flanges | EU | in force | product forms forging, casting and plate with their material standards | an additively built flange is not a flange to this standard |
| EN 10253-2 / EN 10253-4 Butt-welding pipe fittings – non alloy and ferritic alloy steels / austenitic and austenitic-ferritic steels | EU | in force | fittings made from pipe or plate, with inspection and certification | no additively built product form in the standard |
| EN 10204:2004 Metallic products – types of inspection documents | EU | in force | inspection certificate 3.1 / 3.2 independent of the product form | a 3.1 certificate can be issued for a printed part – but it certifies properties without a product standard behind them |
| ASME PTB-13-2021 Criteria for pressure retaining metallic components using additive manufacturing | US | in force | basis for ASME code cases on powder bed fusion and directed energy deposition | the ASME counterpart to DIN/TS 17026 – the second standards world |
| ASME Code Case 3020 Directed energy deposition (wire arc) for pressure retaining components | US | in force | qualification of wire arc additive manufacturing under Section IX (QW-600) | large steel parts by build-up welding become code-compliant in the ASME world |
| API Std 20S, 2. Ausgabe Additively manufactured metallic components for use in the petroleum and natural gas industries | US | in force | qualification levels (AMSL) by criticality, PBF and DED, NDT annex | what an oil and gas operator will ask for on a printed spare part |
| DNV-ST-B203 Additive manufacturing of metallic and polymer parts | INT | in force | procurement, qualification, quality management, production and testing of AM parts for maritime and offshore | third rule set beside EN and ASME – classification society |
| UBA-Bewertungsgrundlage metallene Werkstoffe (§ 15 TrinkwV) Evaluation basis for metallic materials in contact with drinking water (positive list) | DE | in force | positive list by chemical composition and migration test to EN 15664-1 – no manufacturing route named | a printed part from a listed material is neither covered nor excluded – status open |
Further reading
This topic: Processes and materials · Metal and steel: component classes · Rules and approval · Suitability matrix · Enquiry helper for special parts.
From our range: Materials · Certificates to EN 10204 · Test methods · Guide to standards · Flanges · Valves.
Frequently asked questions on additive manufacturing in piping
May 3D-printed flanges or fittings be installed in pressure piping?
Only with approval and material certification - printed is not standardised; the suitability matrix shows where printed parts make sense today and where the standard part stays.
Can I have a flange to EN 1092-1 printed?
Technically up to about DN 100 in the powder bed, with the sealing face machined afterwards. Normatively no: EN 1092-1 refers to forgings, castings and plate – a printed flange is not a flange to this standard and, as a pressure-retaining part, cannot be used without a particular material appraisal. The forged flange from stock is cheaper by orders of magnitude.
What about spare parts for which no drawing exists any more?
A spare part without a drawing comes about by measuring, material identification and a new drawing – then made conventionally or additively. For pumps and valves the manufacturer is the right contact, because he has qualified his part; for standard parts the stock is the answer.
Is a 3.1 certificate possible for a printed part?
Yes – EN 10204 is independent of the product form. But the certificate attests only the tested properties; without a product standard behind it, the inspector has to decide whether they are sufficient for the service. For pressure-retaining parts the material appraisal under the PED is added.
Does Zickwolff print?
No. We explain what is technically and normatively possible and supply the standardised stock part – flanges, fittings, pipes, valves. For special parts we name the route (special manufacture, additive manufacturing with appraisal, build-up welding) but do not broker printing services.
Does this also apply to plastics?
Printed plastic parts are practical for gauges, models, brackets and protective caps; for pressure lines and drinking water they are neither tight nor approved – see Processes and materials.
Standard part instead of print – from stock
Tell us component, standard, material and size – we supply flanges, fittings, pipes and valves with certificates, from stock or to order. For special parts the enquiry helper shows which route fits.
Send an inquiryYour inquiry to Zickwolff
Send us what you have – designation, standard, quantity, date. We will clarify the rest with you.
One item or a question
Send inquiry
Not in stock? We procure it – single items too.
Designation, standard and quantity are enough.
Several items
Send bill of materials
200 items? One parts list is enough – we deliver complete.
Attach it as a file.
Helpful if already known: project and country, date needed, certificates, packaging and language of the packing lists. If anything is missing, we will ask.
It is urgent
Request express
When do you need it? Express delivery, to the site if required.
Tell us by when you need the material – we will tell you what is possible.
Technical basis: ISO/ASTM 52900 (terminology), DIN/TS 17026:2020-10 and E DIN EN 13445-14:2025-01 (scopes), Directive 2014/68/EU Annex I No. 4, EN 1092-1, EN 10253, EN 10216/10217, EN 10204, ASME PTB-13-2021, API Std 20S (2025), DNV-ST-B203 (2025), UBA assessment basis for metallic materials (2026) – each from the freely accessible scopes and legal texts; manufacturer statement KSB on certified production (2020). Suitability assessments are ours; the binding assessment of a pressure-retaining part lies with the notified body and the manufacturer. No prices, no delivery promise. Information without guarantee.