Freemelt cooperates with US university to promote electron beam 3D printing

The Swedish company Freemelt is intensifying its activities in the USA through a partnership with the Center for Additive Manufacturing and Logistics (CAMAL) at North Carolina State University. The aim of the collaboration is to establish an application center that supports industrial customers with development projects and feasibility studies. Freemelt’s electron beam powder bed fusion (E-PBF) technology will be evaluated and further developed for series production.

CAMAL is one of the leading facilities for additive manufacturing in the USA. The center has been researching E-PBF technology since 2003 and has made a name for itself with pioneering material studies. The close collaboration between academia, industry and government at CAMAL is designed to drive innovation and strengthen manufacturing capabilities in the U.S.

“Partnering with NC State University, through its renowned CAMAL center, is a vital step in our U.S. expansion. The Application Center will meet the growing demand for feasibility studies and proof-of-concept projects, helping companies transition to serial production and advancing our position in critical sectors such as defense, energy, and medical technology”, says Daniel Gidlund, CEO Freemelt.

As part of the cooperation, a Freemelt ONE machine will be operated at CAMAL. The first joint feasibility study is based on a customer inquiry from North America. This customer would like to test Freemelt’s E-PBF technology for the production of high-temperature resistant metals. Future projects at the application center will be funded by companies interested in Freemelt’s industrial eMELT machine.

The partnership aims to strengthen Freemelt’s position in key industries such as defense, energy and medical technology. By utilizing CAMAL’s extensive expertise, the company hopes to accelerate the adoption of E-PBF technology in the U.S. and increase the competitiveness of the domestic manufacturing industry. Freemelt sees the cooperation as an efficient way to further expand the potential of its technology and make it usable for industrial applications.