The U.S. Army scours the globe annually for innovations that will equip American soldiers with game-changing technologies. Established in 2018, the Army xTech Program strives to integrate small businesses and nontraditional vendors into the Army’s science and technology ecosystem. xTech recently announced the top-five winners of its third annual xTechInternational Advanced Manufacturing and Materials prize competition.

Spanish multinational metal additive manufacturing developer Meltio earned fifth place among 137 submissions for its unique and patented metal 3D printing technology. The award recognizes Meltio as a strategic technology partner in current and future military and security plans. This is the first time that a Spanish company has received the award for additive manufacturing, which can solve logistical problems, provide manufacturing autonomy, and improve defense supply chains.

Meltio’s goal is to become a technological reference for 3D printing metal by welding wire — known as directed energy deposition (DED) for creating metal parts layer by layer through laser fused deposition. The company and its U.S. distributor, Phillips Corporation, received the prestigious recognition of the U.S. Army xTechInternational Advanced Manufacturing and Materials, which brings together more than 300 technology companies and academic institutions worldwide.

The award also positions Meltio’s metal additive manufacturing technology, developed in its Linares factory, where it exports to more than 60 countries and employs more than 100 professionals of 14 different nationalities, as a technological and strategic player in the defense sector.

“The award we have received is a recognition to Meltio’s professionals and gives reliability to our technology. For us, the military sector is a sector that allows us to bring together all the applications of our disruptive metal 3D printing technology. And it is an opportunity for Meltio to develop a dual application for the civil and military sector,” said Ángel Llavero López de Villalta, CEO of Meltio. “Our technology has the potential to transform different sectors thanks to metal additive manufacturing such as supply chains, logistics, repair and manufacturing of metal parts compared to other conventional techniques such as forging and machining. There are currently many armies in other countries that have Meltio’s metal additive manufacturing technology and we want to stand out as a strategic and technological partner for the military sector, also in Spain.”

Meltio
meltio3d.com

Phillips Corporation
phillipscorp.com