Freemelt has signed a EUR 300,000 contract with Fusion for Energy (F4E), the European Union organisation responsible for Europe's contribution to ITER, to develop manufacturing methods for tungsten-based fusion components. F4E awarded the work through a competitive procurement process.
The contract falls under F4E's Technology Development Programme, which aims to accelerate the industrialisation of critical fusion technologies. Work covers powder processing and material optimisation. The stated objective is to improve production efficiency and reduce manufacturing costs ahead of future industrial deployment in fusion energy.
Tungsten is a key fusion reactor material because it withstands extreme temperatures and harsh operating conditions. Making parts from it is still complex and costly, and Freemelt says the sector needs production methods that combine performance, scalability and cost efficiency. For manufacturing engineers working with high melting point metals, the pairing of this development contract with a volume order, described below, shows tungsten 3D printing moving toward series production.
"The contract is an important validation of our expertise in tungsten processing and additive manufacturing," said Daniel Gidlund, CEO of Freemelt. He added that it shows the company can compete for and win strategically important development projects that support the future industrialization of fusion energy technologies.
The contract builds on earlier collaborations between Freemelt and F4E in tungsten development and material research. Freemelt also recently received an F4E order with a base value of SEK 55 million to manufacture and deliver more than 30,000 tungsten-based fusion components for the JT-60SA fusion experiment.
Fusion is one of Freemelt's strategic growth markets. Its Production Systems business builds application expertise, process know-how and material knowledge with customers and research organisations, and that knowledge can then support industrialization work in its Manufacturing business. Freemelt says the contract and the JT-60SA order fit its ambition to build Europe's industrial platform for qualified advanced metal components.
