On October 18, 2026, Nanjixiong learned that U.S. solid-state additive manufacturing company MELD PrintWorks had announced a new additive manufacturing factory at Falling Branch Corporate Park in Christiansburg, Virginia. The facility will cover 1,115 square meters and is scheduled to enter service in 2027.
AI-generated illustration
The new factory is designed specifically to accommodate larger MELD metal 3D printers and enable mass production of large components in alloys such as aluminum, titanium and copper. The MELD process uses solid-state deposition to form metal parts without melting the underlying alloy, avoiding defects associated with conventional casting.
Company president Larry Vicari said customers in aerospace, defense, automotive and shipbuilding are turning to MELD technology for high-performance components because supply chains for conventional forgings and castings are constrained. The new factory will expand capacity, improve quality control and shorten delivery times.
Nanjixiong observation
Solid-state additive manufacturing has technical advantages when forming highly reflective metals such as copper and aluminum. MELD's expansion indicates that this process is moving from validation toward production, although a facility of just over 1,000 square meters remains mid-sized, and the resulting production capacity is yet to be seen.
Source: VoxelMatters
AI-translated from an article by Kuaixiong on Nanjixiong, originally published on 2026-10-19. Text and images retain the original source attribution.
Read the original Chinese article |
Record number | ©2024 panda3dp Team. Powered by panda3dp
