The Swedish company Freemelt has received another order from Saab to manufacture copper components using additive manufacturing for application tests in the defense industry. This order is part of the second phase of a feasibility study aimed at qualifying copper as a material for 3D printing in safety-critical applications.
The first phase of the study focused on material characterization and testing additive manufacturing processes for highly conductive copper components. The second phase now involves application tests that will serve as a foundation for the subsequent scaling and series production of parts for military systems. Additive manufacturing allows for the production of complex geometries with high precision, which is particularly important for thermally and electrically conductive components in defense technology.
“We are excited to deepen our collaboration with Saab, a global leader in defense and security. Saab’s decision to move to the next phase of the feasibility study is a strong confirmation of the value Freemelt’s technology brings to the manufacturing of critical components. We look forward to continuing to support Saab in their investment in innovative and additive manufacturing,” says Daniel Gidlund, CEO of Freemelt.
In addition to this order, Freemelt is working with Saab Dynamics and Linköping University on a Vinnova-funded research project. The goal is to establish additive manufacturing as a sustainable and reliable production method for the defense industry. By combining industrial requirements with academic research, innovative manufacturing processes are being developed that could complement or, in certain areas, replace conventional manufacturing in the long term.
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