Spanish company Meltio has been officially validated by the French Navy for its Wire-Laser Directed Energy Deposition (DED) additive manufacturing technology. This noteworthy accomplishment signifies the company’s achievement of being the third national army to validate the technology, following the Spanish Army and the US Navy.
The validation from the French Navy follows a series of successful experiments conducted in May, where the technology was utilized in military operations. The French Navy had previously conducted adoption tests for the metal AM process. Subsequent to the successful validation, the French Navy plans to further integrate Meltio’s solution in additional experiments and ultimately incorporate metal AM systems on Navy ships.
As part of the validation process, a Meltio wire-laser DED system was installed at the French Navy’s logistics department in Toulon and was utilized in the “Ursa Minor” exercise, a high-intensity operational maintenance naval exercise organized by the Fleet Support Service (FSS). The experiment included the use of the 3D printer in a repair exercise for the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, which was deemed a success.
Jean-Marc Quenez, Director of Innovation and Additive Manufacturing at the FSS of the French Ministry of Defense, elucidated the role of Meltio’s metal 3D printing technology in the exercise, highlighting its reliability and ease of use by engineers. He also conveyed the intent of the French Army to integrate this type of metal 3D printer on board in the future.
Meltio’s technology, which employs a DED-based process using wire as feedstock, has garnered attention from the defense sector. This technology is currently in use aboard a US Navy ship, where it has been leveraged to produce spare parts and repair existing metal equipment. Aboard the USS Bataan, the crew successfully 3D printed a replacement metal plate for a ballast air compressor in just five days, significantly expediting the process in contrast to sourcing the part through Navy supply channels while at sea.
The validation of Meltio’s DED additive manufacturing technology by the French Navy serves as a notable milestone, solidifying the company’s position as a frontrunner in the field of metal additive manufacturing within the defense industry. This achievement also underscores the reliability and efficacy of Meltio’s technology in addressing the repair and manufacturing requirements of military equipment.