Company Profile of KSB Group
KSB Group was founded in 1871 in Germany and has grown into a global leader in the manufacturing of pumps and valves. Headquartered in Frankenthal (Pfalz), Germany, KSB operates in over 150 countries and employs more than 16,000 people.
Over 20 years of experience with additive manufacturing
To enable other companies to draw on KSB’s many years of experience in additive manufacturing, KSB SE & Co. KGaA set up a consulting and testing centre for additive manufacturing at its Pegnitz location in 2018. Its portfolio of services ranges from advice on selecting the right equipment to developing design skills and production expertise as well as testing materials and components.
In addition, KSB now offers interested customers the opportunity to have additively manufactured components produced in Pegnitz under the banner of “Parts On Demand”. This innovative service enables individual components, prototypes and small batches to be produced quickly and accurately. KSB uses modern additive manufacturing processes and rapid casting to produce high-quality components from a variety of materials, including high-alloy metals. On request, these components are supplied with TÜV and DNV certificates, guaranteeing the highest levels of quality and safety.
A particular advantage of Parts On Demand is the facility to order spare parts as required, which is particularly important for the oil and gas industry. This helps to reduce physical stocks in spare parts warehouses and significantly shortens delivery times for new pumps or valves.
KSB was the first ever manufacturer to receive TÜV certification for additive manufacturing of components subject to the European Pressure Equipment Directive. In addition, KSB’s additive manufacturing centre was awarded a DNV Facility Qualification Certificate in February 2024. The "Qualification of Manufacturer" certificate to DNV-SE-0568 and DNV-ST-B203 at Level AMC 3 was awarded for the impeller part family. All other additive manufacturing facilities have been approved as Level AMC 1 for all part families. This certification facilitates the swift supply of spare parts to system operators in the oil and gas industry and the power station sector.
KSB began working with additive manufacturing methods more than 20 years ago. It soon became clear that with this technology the design process is geared towards the function of the component. First, the designer determines which functions a component needs to have. The geometry is then designed according to these specifications, opening up a whole new level of design freedom for developers. When using conventional machining processes, the designer always has to take the available production methods into consideration in the component's design.
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