Framatome opens large-scale additive manufacturing center for nuclear and defense
French nuclear company Framatome has inaugurated a significant additive manufacturing center utilizing wire-arc and laser powder bed fusion technologies to support its nuclear and defense projects.
Framatome has officially opened a new additive manufacturing center at its Romans sur Isère site in France. This expansive 6,000 m² facility, representing a €25 million investment, has been operational since May 2026 and is described as the sole facility of its kind in Europe.
The center is dedicated to the metal additive manufacture of mechanical components. It integrates research and development activities, industrial process qualification capabilities, and serves as a training hub for Framatome's internal teams and external partners. The facility is named the Amiral Bernard-Antoine Morio de l’Isle Additive Manufacturing Center.
Utilizing both wire-arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) and laser powder bed fusion (LPBF) technologies, the center can produce metal parts ranging from a few kilograms to several tons, with dimensions from a few millimeters up to five meters in diameter. Framatome anticipates that additive manufacturing will lead to cost reductions, shorter lead times, and improved material and energy efficiency.
MX3D has confirmed its WAAM technology is being deployed at the facility for producing critical components with complex geometries. This includes medium-sized parts like 1-ton impellers and large structures weighing between 20 and 25 tons. Framatome aims to enhance industrial sovereignty, competitiveness in strategic sectors, and secure supply chains through this new additive manufacturing capability.
This development signifies a major step in scaling additive manufacturing for heavy-duty industrial applications, particularly in the nuclear sector. The ability to produce large, multi-ton components with complex geometries using WAAM and LPBF is crucial for next-generation infrastructure and potentially for in-situ manufacturing in demanding environments like space, where mass reduction and on-demand part creation are critical.
Edited by the news editor with AI from the original report — please refer to the original source.