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French Nuclear Giant Framatome Inaugurates Additive Manufacturing Hub for WAAM and LPBF

2026-07-02 · Impact score: 36

Framatome, a French nuclear technology leader, has officially inaugurated its additive manufacturing center in Romans-sur-Isère. With an investment of €26 million, the facility has been operational since May 2026 and is the only industrial site in Europe to deploy both Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) and Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) — two cutting-edge metal 3D printing processes. Spanning 4,500 square meters and employing around 20 staff, the center integrates production, R&D, process qualification, and training, aiming to strengthen supply chain security and industrial sovereignty in the nuclear and defense sectors. By combining WAAM’s capability to produce large, efficient components with LPBF’s precision for complex parts, the facility can manufacture components ranging from a few kilograms to several tons, and from just millimeters up to 5 meters in diameter. This hub represents a strategic push by the nuclear industry to move additive manufacturing from the lab to industrial-scale production.

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法国Framatome核能增材制造中心落成，覆盖WAAM+LPBF双工艺

法国核电技术巨头Framatome位于Romans-sur-Isère的增材制造中心正式落成。该中心耗资2600万欧元，自2026年5月已投入运营，是欧洲唯一同时部署线弧增材制造（WAAM）和激光粉末床熔融（LPBF）两大前沿金属3D打印工艺的工业化设施。中心占地面积4500平方米，目前雇佣约20名员工，集生产、研发、工艺鉴定与培训于一体，旨在强化核能与国防领域的供应链安全与工业主权。通过结合WAAM的高效大型构件制造能力与LPBF的高精度复杂零件制造能力，中心可生产从几公斤到数吨、尺寸从几毫米到直径5米的各类部件。该中心是核电巨头将增材制造从实验室推向工业化量产的战略性布局。

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