Swedish electron-beam metal additive manufacturer Freemelt has been awarded an order from the European Spallation Source (ESS) to manufacture and deliver 7,000 tungsten-based components. The order value is SEK 28 million (about RMB 19.89 million, or roughly USD 2.9 million), with deliveries scheduled over approximately 14 months. ESS is a major European research infrastructure, and its target wheel system imposes special requirements on high-temperature, high-irradiation materials.
The tungsten components serve ESS's target wheel system. Tungsten offers a high melting point, high density and good irradiation resistance, making it a critical material for spallation source targets and other extreme conditions. Freemelt uses electron beam melting (EBM) to print refractory tungsten, addressing its brittleness and machining difficulty. The order continues Freemelt's work in the fusion sector — the company previously secured a contract with F4E to deliver tungsten-based components for fusion experiments.
Technically, EBM suits refractory metals such as tungsten and molybdenum: the high-energy beam melts high-melting-point materials, vacuum processing helps avoid oxidation, and grain structure can be controlled through process parameters. Scaling 7,000 tungsten parts into additive manufacturing points to refractory metals moving from experimentation toward production. Per public information, the delivery runs about 14 months, with the majority scheduled in stages.
From an industry view, this is a concentrated procurement of additively manufactured refractory components by a European research facility, providing order support for EBM in energy and research applications. Its scale and delivery schedule reflect the engineering maturity of AM under extreme heat and irradiation. Order fulfillment and repeat orders rest with Freemelt and ESS disclosures.
