Freemelt Wins Contract to Supply 7,000 Tungsten Tiles
The 28 million SEK order supports the European Spallation Source and will be delivered over the next 14 months.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Materials Science
Live Poll
Does a company securing a new major contract increase your confidence in its long-term growth?
Freemelt has secured a 28 million SEK contract to produce 7,000 tungsten tiles for the European Spallation Source. This industrial order marks a significant manufacturing commitment for the materials science company over the next 14 months.
Why it matters
The order represents a major scaling event for high-temperature material fabrication within the European scientific research ecosystem. It highlights the continued integration of specialized metal additive manufacturing into large-scale research infrastructure projects.
The 28 million SEK order covers the production of 7,000 tungsten components. Delivery is phased over 14 months to support the European Spallation Source facility.
The players
Freemelt
A developer of electron beam powder bed fusion additive manufacturing technology focused on high-performance industrial metals.
European Spallation Source
A multi-disciplinary research facility currently under construction in Europe that utilizes a linear proton accelerator for advanced neutron science.
The details
Freemelt utilizes electron beam powder bed fusion to fabricate these tungsten components. This process involves using a high-energy electron beam to melt metal powder layer by layer, which is particularly effective for refractory metals like tungsten that possess extremely high melting points. Tungsten is chosen for this application due to its thermal stability and performance under extreme conditions within a spallation research environment.
Timeline
Next 14 months: Delivery period for the 7,000 tungsten tiles.
2027: Planned delivery for the majority of the component order.
The Tech Race
The contract follows the ongoing construction and equipment procurement phases of the European Spallation Source. It marks a shift for industrial additive manufacturing suppliers as they move from pilot research components to mass-production delivery for major global physics facilities.
The 14-month delivery window ensures a steady supply of specialized components for the facility. This production milestone does not directly change current workflows for commercial industries but demonstrates the scaling capability of electron beam manufacturing for high-spec research.
The takeaway
This manufacturing agreement validates the ability of additive manufacturing to supply high-volume, high-heat components for scientific infrastructure. Readers should watch for the 2027 delivery milestone to gauge the facility's progress toward full operational capacity.
Further reading
For more on the latest developments in high-performance materials, explore our coverage of Materials Science.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Redeye.
Live Poll
Does a company securing a new major contract increase your confidence in its long-term growth?
