French Nuclear Giant Framatome Inaugurates Additive Manufacturing Center with WAAM and LPBF Capabilities
Framatome, a French nuclear technology leader, has officially inaugurated its additive manufacturing center in Romans-sur-Isère. The €26 million facility, operational since May 2026, is the only industrial site in Europe to deploy both Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) and Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) metal 3D printing technologies. Spanning 4,500 m² and employing around 20 staff, the center integrates production, R&D, process qualification, and training. It aims to strengthen supply chain security and industrial sovereignty in the nuclear and defense sectors. By combining WAAM for efficient large-scale components with LPBF for high-precision complex parts, the center can produce components ranging from a few kilograms to several tons, and from a few millimeters to five meters in diameter. This marks a strategic move by the nuclear giant to advance additive manufacturing from lab-scale to industrial serial production.
2026-07-02
Conflux and Dallara Collaborate to Develop Additively Manufactured Liquid Hydrogen Heat Exchanger
Australian Conflux Technology has partnered with race car builder Dallara to develop a liquid hydrogen-to-coolant heat exchanger for next-generation hydrogen internal combustion engine endurance racing cars. In the pre-study phase, the teams are addressing cryogenic thermal management challenges, including preventing coolant freezing at ultra-low temperatures, controlling hydrogen embrittlement risks, and optimizing weight and thermal performance within extremely tight packaging constraints. The heat exchanger is a critical subsystem of the liquid hydrogen storage and delivery system, directly influencing pump selection, system packaging, total mass, and integration with existing cooling circuits. The project supports the Le Mans 24 Hours organizer's hydrogen roadmap toward 2030, aiming to supply a validated liquid hydrogen ICE technology platform for future manufacturers and teams. Conflux's additive manufacturing heat exchanger capabilities complement Dallara's race car systems engineering expertise, representing a frontier breakthrough for AM in extreme thermal management applications.
2026-07-02
Phillips Integrates Hybrid and Additive Manufacturing into New AMS Division, Focused on Integrated Solutions
US-based Phillips Corporation has renamed its hybrid manufacturing division to Phillips Advanced Manufacturing Solutions (AMS), expanding its scope from hybrid machine tools to standalone additive systems, robotic-assisted metal fabrication, and mobile production solutions. The new division positions additive manufacturing as a continuous process chain, offering systems that combine material deposition and subtractive post-processing, as well as large-format robotic deposition welding integrated with subsequent machining cells. Partner portfolio includes Meltio, Fronius, Laserline, InssTek, and MX3D, covering wire-based, laser-based, and robotic large-format metal additive processes. This restructuring reflects the 3D printing market's shift from standalone equipment to integrated solutions combining hardware, software, application technology, and services.
2026-07-02