Meltio’s Directed Energy Deposition optimises fire suppression component
June 24, 2025
Meltio, Linares, Spain, has highlighted the use of its Directed Energy Deposition (DED) Additive Manufacturing technology to produce a closed impeller for a fire suppression system.
These closed impellers must operate non-stop to ensure the system is pressurised and ready to function when needed. The impeller must go from zero to full speeds in seconds, forcing torque through the entire system. Once running, the component faces constant wear from vibration, erosion and corrosive flow, meaning it will degrade over time.
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When Meltio was contracted to produce these components via DED, its customer reimagined the impeller in stainless steel 316L as opposed to the bronze traditionally used, thereby improving mechanical and corrosion resistance. The customer modified the impeller design for Additive Manufacturing and made use of Meltio’s Radial 360 toolpath strategy to manufacture the component, enabling optimised geometry.
While the first build was functional, machining the complex geometry proved challenging; surface quality under the build supports wasn’t optimal and rounded zones needed post-processing due to overgrowth.
To overcome these issues, Meltio broke the manufacturing into two build stages, adding a machining pass in between. Using its positioning system allows Meltio to ensure the parts stay aligned.
By shifting from traditional casting to metal Additive Manufacturing, the customer was able to eliminate inventory backlogs and long waits for replacement parts, as the technology enables rapid as-needed production.
