.jpg)
The U.S. Army awarded Automation Alley member Meltio the xTechInternational Advanced Manufacturing and Materials Award, solidifying the company as a “strategic technology partner” in the current and future development plans of the defense industry worldwide. The award saw 300 international technology firms located outside of the U.S. apply for the award. This year’s theme was Advanced Manufacturing and Materials.
Founded in 2019, Meltio is a Spain-based international additive manufacturing technology firm that specializes in directed energy deposition (DED) for the creation of metal parts layer by layer by laser fused deposition.
“The award we have received is a recognition to Meltio's professionals and gives reliability to our technology,” CEO of Meltio Ángel Llavero López de Villalta. “For us, the military sector is a sector that allows us to bring together all the applications of our disruptive metal 3D printing technology. And it is an opportunity for Meltio to develop a dual application for the civil and military sector.”
.png)
This isn’t Meltio’s first foray into the U.S. defense industry — Earlier this year, a Phillips Additive Hybrid system featuring Meltio’s DED technology was deployed on the US Bataan warship to aid in onboard manufacturing, enabling the rapid manufacturing of replacement parts that would otherwise require the ship to dock or be supplied by another vessel.
“The introduction of additive manufacturing (AM) into naval operations supports readiness and self-sufficiency,” said Rear Adm. Brendan McLane, commander, Naval Surface Force Atlantic.
The Phillips Additive Hybrid system prints in 316L stainless steel, a common material in US Navy ships as well as other welding wire materials. The components comprising the “hybrid” system are a Haas CNC Machine and the Meltio’s DED technology. These two methods work in concert to machine new parts with subtractive and additive methods. In turn, the hybrid method provides sailors with industrial-level manufacturing capabilities to supplement systems instead of procuring new ones at a steep cost.
“Our technology has the potential to transform different sectors thanks to metal additive manufacturing such as supply chains, logistics, repair and manufacturing of metal parts compared to other conventional techniques such as forging and machining,” López de Villalta continued.
“There are currently many armies in other countries that have Meltio's metal additive manufacturing technology and we want to stand out as a strategic and technological partner for the military sector, also in Spain.”
To learn more about Meltio, visit www.meltio3d.com.
Sign up today for a free Essential Membership to Automation Alley to keep your finger on the pulse of digital transformation in Michigan and beyond.
