Freemelt

The University of Sheffield Nuclear Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (Nuclear AMRC) is part of the UK’s High-value Manufacturing Catapult, which is funding this project. The Nuclear AMRC helps UK companies win work for large-scale, high-precision manufacturing across the nuclear industry.

Global trends show increased government interest in Fusion where the U.S., Japan, Germany, and the UK have announced programs to support the commercialization of Fusion Energy. The prediction is that the first Fusion Energy power plant will deliver electricity to the grid before 2035(1).

Tungsten is a critical material for the Fusion Energy industry due to its unique properties, including high density, strength, and resistance to extreme temperatures and wear. Traditional manufacturing of tungsten components is challenging and costly, especially when aiming for the highest material properties. Additive Manufacturing (AM) offers a promising solution to these challenges. AM enables the production of tungsten components with complex geometries that are difficult or impossible to achieve with traditional methods. Additionally, AM can reduce material waste, shorten production times, and allow for more flexible manufacturing processes.

Freemelt’s E-PBF (Electron Beam Powder Bed Fusion) technology is particularly attractive as it enables efficient manufacturing of tungsten parts with less design limitations while achieving the highest material properties. This makes it an ideal choice for producing critical components for the Fusion Energy industry.

Freemelt CEO Daniel Gidlund comments:
“This order from Nuclear AMRC re-emphasizes our unique position and capabilities in printing Tungsten, as Nuclear AMRC is one of the world’s leading research institutes in tungsten and Nuclear Energy development. It also strengthens our position and presence within the tungsten and Fusion Energy community in the UK and underscores the critical role that Freemelt's E-PBF technology plays in processing challenging materials like tungsten for Fusion Energy power plants”

Source: 
(1) Fusion Industry Association, under Fusion Industry Investment Passes $6bn – Fusion Industry Association  
www.fusionindustryassociation.org