Meltio to showcase automotive, industrial applications at Formnext 2026
Meltio, headquartered in Linares, Spain, will showcase several applications of its wire-laser Directed Energy Deposition (DED) technology at this year’s Formnext. The applications are reported to highlight how the company’s metal Additive Manufacturing technology is being used for the real-world production, modification and repair of a wide range of metal components.
The parts on display include an automotive exhaust header, the reinforcement of steel wheels, and the replacement of an obsolete centrifugal pump component.
The stainless steel exhaust header (pictured) was manufactured by DMZ Engineering SRL, based in Pomezia, Italy. The component was designed to withstand the high temperatures and mechanical stresses encountered in automotive applications.
Additive Manufacturing enabled DMZ to produce complex geometries intended to optimise exhaust gas flow from the combustion engine, while reducing assembly time from eight hours to one. The manifold was installed on an Abarth 595, which covered approximately 10,000 km over one year, including 600 km on a race track.
In a separate application, DMZ used Meltio’s DED technology to reinforce a car’s steel wheels by depositing additional steel in selected areas to increase stiffness. According to Meltio, the reinforced steel wheel achieved the same natural frequency as an alloy wheel while retaining a significant weight advantage.
In an industrial maintenance application, IMET3D, based in Lantarón, Spain, used Meltio’s DED technology to manufacture a replacement for an obsolete component following the failure of a critical centrifugal pump.
The replacement enabled the customer to repair the pump without replacing the entire system, addressing a common challenge when spare parts are no longer available.
The component was redesigned and manufactured in stainless steel AISI-316L rather than the original cast iron, providing improved corrosion resistance. Meltio states that the project demonstrates the potential for faster, localised and more cost-effective repair of industrial equipment.
Meltio will showcase these applications at Formnext 2026, where it will also conduct live demonstrations of its wire-laser DED technology at its stand, Hall 12.0, C119.
