• DISCMAM returned to AM Village for the second consecutive year, strengthening its presence in Europe’s leading Additive Manufacturing event.
• The workshop engaged 25 participants, including key representatives from European Ministries of Defence and the Spanish Air Force.

AM Village 2026 positioned itself once again as a key meeting point for the European Additive Manufacturing ecosystem, bringing together over 800 participants from more than 120 organisations at the Albacete Air Base (Spain). This five-day event provided a unique space where collaboration, innovation and cutting-edge Additive Manufacturing technologies came together, gathering.

DISCMAM had a strong presence throughout the event, particularly during the workshop session, which achieved excellent engagement with around 25 attendees. Representatives from the consortium — Juan Carlos Pereira (LORTEK), Daniel Ferreira (Teknologisk Institut), Nils Knofius and Tobias Rønneberg (Fieldmade) — actively contributed, fostering discussions around the project’s approach and results.

From theory to practice: DISCMAM in action at AM Village

The AM Village programme featured more than 160 activities, including briefings, seminars, workshops, demonstrations and hands-on sessions. On 17 March in the afternoon, DISCMAM partners played a leading role by hosting the workshop SW15: “Quality assurance and quality control methods in on-site PBF-LB metal AM: bridging digital manufacturing for the defence sector”.

The session attracted strong interest from attendees, including representatives from the Ministries of Defence of Belgium, Denmark, Portugal and Germany, as well as the Spanish Air Force. It provided a valuable platform to exchange views on quality assurance and control (QA/QC), standardisation and the digital tools being developed within the project.

Discussions highlighted a key takeaway: achieving reliable and consistent quality in deployed manufacturing environments remains one of the main challenges — and priorities — for operational effectiveness.

As part of DISCMAM’s participation, Fieldmade led a dedicated demonstration showcasing an on-site metal AM hub using PBF-LB technology through the NOMAD®03 system. This activity provided participants with a real-life view of how DISCMAM solutions can be deployed in operational environments, complementing the discussions held during the workshop.

To further demonstrate these capabilities in practice, one of the project’s parts — the Unimog Compressor Cover — was used to demonstrate:

• Fast on-site quality assurance using Plastometrex equipment available on-site.
• Post-processing operations supported by Rösler equipment.

As highlighted by Daniel Ferreira:

“We successfully demonstrated to many stakeholders that quality assurance in on-site deployed AM is essential. We managed to identify a defective part — not distinguishable by visual inspection — using fast on-site QA methodologies within the Fieldmade Nomad®3 containerised solution”.

This effective demonstration was further recognised with Fieldmade AS receiving the “Best Performance” award at the event, underlining the significant contribution of DISCMAM’s digital solutions to ensuring high-quality on-site spare parts manufacturing within portable and containerised environments.

AM Village 2026: Driving European AM forward

The third edition of AM Village once again met expectations, reinforcing its role as a key meeting point for the European AM community. The event was jointly organised by the European Defence Agency (EDA) and the Spanish Air and Space Force.

In the words of Martin Huber, Project Manager for Logistics & Additive Manufacturing at EDA: “AM Village is a space where practice overrides theory and collaboration overrides competition — a true capability-driven environment shaped by and for the AM community”.

AM Village 2026 fostered collaboration, synergies and the exchange of experiences in the use of Additive Manufacturing in the field at an unprecedented scale. Beyond technological advancements, the event clearly highlighted a shared direction: advancing towards resilient, field-ready supply chains and qualified AM parts at scale.

In this context, initiatives like DISCMAM contribute directly to this mission by developing secure digital supply chains and enabling on-site manufacturing capabilities, supporting Europe’s technological autonomy and operational readiness.

Juan Carlos Pereira (project coordinator) concludes regarding this event:

“The interactions between DISCMAM partners and military stakeholders’ highlights the importance of advancing secure digital supply chains and on-site metal additive manufacturing capabilities to strengthen operational efficiency across Europe. This latest edition of AM Village has seen an unprecedented increase in collaboration, synergies, and the exchange of experiences regarding the use of additive manufacturing in the defence sector”.

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• The EDF project DISCMAM was represented by Anders Laustsen (CenSec), Daniel Ferreira (DTI) and Nils Knofius (Fieldmade), strengthening its visibility, expanding its network and reinforcing its positioning within the sector through strategic presentations on 3D printing.

On 25 February, the IBA Business Academy Kolding hosted 35 companies and stakeholders working with 3D printing and additive manufacturing across the defence, space and security sectors.

The workshop, co-organised by IBA and CenSec and titled “3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing (AM) – Application in the Defence Industry”, provided an excellent platform for DISCMAM to present its objectives and technological approach.

The event also created valuable opportunities to exchange insights and connect with related initiatives such as INNOWSWAMP, fostering collaboration and reinforcing the European innovation ecosystem supported by the EDF.

DISCMAM contributions to digital and mobile AM

DISCMAM was prominently featured during the workshop through the active participation of several consortium partners. Their contributions provided both strategic and technical perspectives on digitalisation, mobility and on-site manufacturing in demanding operational environments.

Anders Laustsen, Cluster Manager at CenSec, contributed to the introduction of the session, framing the discussion around the growing importance of advanced manufacturing technologies and cross-sector collaboration. Building on this introduction, Daniel Ferreira, project manager at the Danish Technological Instute (DTI), delivered a comprehensive presentation outlining the project’s mission, objectives and the DISCMAM solution framework.

Reflecting on the strategic relevance of the initiative, Daniel Ferreira emphasised:

“DISCMAM is a strategic project in the defence domain and additive manufacturing as it opens a lot of manufacturing opportunities. The main goal is bringing digital capabilities into the manufacturing processes specifically additive manufacturing. The overall ambition in DISCMAM is increasing the digital level and maturity in the deployable level in additive manufacturing technologies and bringing these developments into the defence industry”.

Turning from strategic vision to operational implementation, the session delivered by Nils Knofius, Head of Digitalisation at Fieldmade, was titled “Mobile Additive Manufacturing Solutions & Digitisation of Part Portfolios”. His contribution focused on the operational integration of additive manufacturing into defence supply chains, highlighting two key priorities: increasing end-user readiness and reducing supply chain complexity and lead times. Explaining the practical meaning of mobility in this context, Nils Knofius stated: “On the mobility aspect, we can deploy additive manufacturing equipment at different locations and also redeploy”.

When asked why mobility is becoming increasingly important in additive manufacturing, he further added:

“It’s all about flexibility reacting to different situations that the battlefield may entail and being able to anticipate where certain capabilities particularly AM can bring the biggest value”.

Together, these contributions demonstrated how DISCMAM advances digital maturity, operational flexibility and secure manufacturing processes. By strengthening the digital supply chain for on-site metal additive manufacturing, the project contributes to more agile and resilient defence logistics across Europe.

The growing potential of 3D printing in defence

The central focus of the workshop was the application of 3D printing within the defence sector. Across all sessions, the message was consistent: additive manufacturing represents a technology with significant and growing potential. Speakers highlighted how 3D printing can transform logistics and maintenance processes. The ability to produce spare parts while reducing long delivery times offers clear advantages. In operational environments, non-critical components can be manufactured rapidly on site, increasing flexibility and responsiveness.

The Danish Ministry of Defence Acquisition and Logistics Organisation (FMI) highlighted the strong opportunities in this area, while industry representatives confirmed their readiness to support further development.

At the same time, participants acknowledged that certain aspects require further clarification. These include the management of rights and permissions related to printing spare parts, as well as the need for more comprehensive digital service packages. Providing integrated digital solutions would enable organisations to manufacture spare parts independently while ensuring secure, compliant and efficient processes. In this context, visibility remains essential for projects such as DISCMAM.

As noted by Daniel Ferreira:

“It’s very important for DISCMAM to gain visibility in the defence domain. We’re making a great effort to bring the project’s message to the right audiences. We have been present at this event and will participate in more events such as AM Village”.

Overall, the workshop reinforced a shared understanding: additive manufacturing is not only a promising technology, but a strategic enabler of digitally driven, secure and resilient supply chains in the European defence sector.

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• The joint workshop, organised by CenSec, brings together Fieldmade and the Danish Technological Instute (DTI) to share DISCMAM results, explore mobile additive manufacturing solutions and build synergies with initiatives including the new EDF project INNOWSWAMP.

From digital design to on-site production, additive manufacturing is opening new pathways for more resilient and responsive supply chains. On 25 February 2026, this transformation will be at the centre of discussion in Kolding, Denmark, during the workshop “3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing – Application in the Defence Industry”, where the DISCMAM project will share its latest developments and practical insights.

The workshop, organised by CenSec in collaboration with IBA – University of Applied Sciences Kolding, will take place from 09:30 to 15:10 at the IBA International Business Academy. It will bring together companies, knowledge institutions, organisations and subject-matter experts working with 3D printing and additive manufacturing technologies, with a particular focus on their application in the defence, aerospace and security sectors.

DISCMAM at the workshop: technical insights and networking

The DISCMAM Project will be represented in different sessions of the workshop programme, offering an opportunity to present key technological developments and to exchange knowledge with other European initiatives working in the field of additive manufacturing. The workshop will start at 09:30 and will feature a full morning programme combining project presentations, technical sessions and networking opportunities.

The programme will open with a welcome and introduction by Anders Laustsen, Cluster Manager at CenSec, together with Alberte Kirstine Schou-Larsen, Project Manager at CenSec.

At 10:10, the session “3D printing solutions to defence challenges – Cases from the European Defence Fund projects DISCMAM and INNOWSWAMP” will take place, with contributions from Daniel Ferreira and Riccardo Tonello from DTI. Ferreira will present the DISCMAM project and the progress achieved to date, while Tonello will introduce INNOWSWAMP, a European Defence Fund project launched earlier this year. This session will also provide an opportunity to explore synergies between the two initiatives and discuss their complementary approaches.

Later in the programme, at 11:00, Nils Knofius, Head of Digitalisation at Fieldmade, will present “Mobile Additive Manufacturing Solutions & Digitisation of part portfolios”, focusing on deployable additive manufacturing solutions and the role of digitisation in enabling more efficient management of part portfolios.

The event will conclude with a guided tour of IBA Business Academy, offering participants the opportunity to visit the facilities where 3D printing is taught and applied across plastics, metals and composite materials.

Beyond the technical sessions, the event also serves as a networking platform and a source of inspiration for companies that are either already working with additive manufacturing technologies or exploring their potential application in the defence, aerospace and security sectors. For DISCMAM, the workshop provides a valuable opportunity to exchange experiences and strengthen cooperation with key stakeholders. As Anders Laustsen points out:

“From CenSec’s perspective, we hope this workshop will result in increased awareness of the many possibilities that 3D printing and on-site metal AM can bring to the defence and security sectors in both Denmark and the rest of Europe. The workshop is also a great opportunity to present the DISCMAM project to a broad group of companies, researchers, and government organisations in Denmark”.

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The full programme is already available, and registration is open for those interested in attending.

• The DISCMAM project will organise an interactive joint workshop with the DILAPRO project at AM Village 2026, together with a live on-site metal AM quality workflow demonstration by Fieldmade.

The agenda of AM Village 2026 is now set, confirming a comprehensive and high-level programme that reinforces the ambition of positioning additive manufacturing (AM) as a strategic pillar of European defence. In this context, the DISCMAM project will play an active role in the upcoming edition, contributing with technical content and live demonstrations focused on on-site metal AM, digital manufacturing and quality assurance.

This progress follows the second preparatory meeting, held on 27 and 28 January 2026 at the School of Aeronautical and Space Engineering of the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM). The gathering served to align the final structure of the programme, which will include more than 120 activities, such as expert briefings, seminars, workshops and capability demonstrations, bringing together European industry, research, academia and public authorities.

DISCMAM interactive workshop at AM Village 2026

During this second preparatory meeting, DISCMAM officially confirmed its participation in AM Village 2026, marking an important milestone for the project in a decisive year focused on showcasing integrated solutions and tangible results.

Juan Carlos Pereira, DISCMAM Project coordinator from LORTEK, took part in the meeting to present the final content of the DISCMAM workshop, as well as the Fieldmade demonstration, both of which will form part of the official programme of the event. Also Dr. Nils Knofius (FIELDMADE) and Daniel Ferreira (DTI) attend this meeting supporting the workshop proposal.

As part of its contribution, the project will organise an interactive workshop on Tuesday 17 March (afternoon). The session will showcase how the integration of digital manufacturing, metal additive production and intelligent certification systems can transform manufacturing ecosystems.

The workshop is titled “Quality assurance and Quality control methods in on-site PBF-LB metal AM bridging digital manufacturing for the defence sector”, which include Insights from two flagship European projects: DISCMAM (a European Defence Fund project) and DILAPRO (a Horizon Europe project) solutions and alignment with standards and qualification systems. The initiative brings together joint efforts with RTOs (LORTEK, CRM Group, DTI, and EWF), industry partners (Fieldmade, Euler, QualifiedAM and Plastometrex), and relevant stakeholders (Belgium, Danish, Spain, Czech Republic, The Netherlands and Portuguese MoDs).

Beyond technical dissemination, the workshop aims to foster cross-sector dialogue between civil and defence industries on topics such as systems integration, digitalisation, standardisation and resilience. It will also encourage interaction with ministries of defence, logistics platforms and European R&D, industrial and certification stakeholders, reinforcing collaboration at European level.

Fieldmade live on-site metal AM demonstration

In addition, Fieldmade will deliver an interactive demonstration of an on-site metal AM quality workflow, offering participants a live view of a full end-to-end process from printing to certification. The demonstration will feature the NOMAD®03 PBF-LB system, together with integrated solutions such as Euler, in-process monitoring and in-machine non-destructive testing (NDT), highlighting the potential of deployable metal AM solutions in demanding operational environments.

The third edition of AM Village, taking place from 16 to 20 March 2026 at the Albacete Air Base (Spain), represents a key moment in DISCMAM’s roadmap, offering an ideal platform to demonstrate how digital manufacturing, metal additive production and intelligent certification systems can be effectively integrated in defence and industrial contexts.

Organised jointly by the European Defence Agency (EDA) and the Spanish Air and Space Force, AM Village 2026 will once again serve as a key European forum to exchange experiences and advance additive manufacturing as an enabling technology for strengthening European defence capabilities.

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• LORTEK, EULER, and ADAXIS participated in the 2025 edition, meeting with key stakeholders and showcasing their innovations within the DISCMAM project.

For the second year in a row, the DISCMAM project partners has taken part in FORMNEXT, one of the world’s leading events for additive manufacturing (AM) and industrial 3D printing. The fair once again provided a key opportunity for the project to strengthen its presence in the AM sector and to share the latest highlights and innovations developed by its partners.

Held from 18–21 November 2025 in Frankfurt, Germany, this year’s edition welcomed Spain as the official partner country. Representatives from LORTEK, EULER, and ADAXIS attended with their own exhibition booths, offering visitors the chance to learn more about their technologies and the progress of the DISCMAM project. Their participation not only highlighted each partner’s expertise but also served as a collective showcase of how DISCMAM is advancing secure, intelligent, and data-driven manufacturing.

FORMNEXT 2025: Facts, figures, and highlights

FORMNEXT 2025 has confirmed its role as the leading global meeting point for additive manufacturing and next-generation production. This year’s event hosted more than 34,000 visitors and featured around 149 talks and presentations by 210 speakers — offering a rich programme on the latest AM technologies, materials, and applications.

Throughout the four days, the DISCMAM partners engaged with visitors, industry experts, and research institutions across the vibrant exhibitor area. The event gathered over 850 exhibitors, covering all aspects of the AM value chain — from materials and AM systems to software, quality management, post-processing, and workforce development.

For DISCMAM, FORMNEXT represented an important opportunity to share progress and engage, because experts in metal AM for MoDs and stakeholders also attend the fair. With one year of project work still ahead, the event allowed the consortium to highlight several key achievements, including:

• The design of a cybersecure digital pathway pilot.
• The definition of monitoring systems and manufacturing workflows for DED-LB and PBF-LB processes.
• The development of semi-automatic 3D scanning procedures for repair and manufacturing.
• The improvement of PBF-LB scanning strategies to optimise manufacturing quality.
• The virtualisation and path planning strategies for repair methodologies in the DED-LB wire LORTEK cell.

Spain leads as Formnext 2025 partner country

In the 2025 edition, Spain was selected as Formnext’s partner country, highlighting the nation’s growing influence in the global additive manufacturing landscape. Following a strong presence in 2024 with around 30 exhibitors, Spain’s participation this year further demonstrated the country’s capacity for innovation and technological leadership.

The Spanish AM sector currently employs more than 1,200 professionals and continues to expand at double-digit growth rates annually. This momentum reflects the overall strength of Spain’s manufacturing industry, which — according to Eurostat and cited in Metal AM Magazine — has grown by 7.3% since 2014, while other major European economies such as France and Germany have remained stagnant or even declined.

This thriving ecosystem, built upon a highly skilled workforce and a strong industrial base, positions Spain as one of Europe’s most dynamic and promising players in the field of additive manufacturing.

Following its successful participation at FORMNEXT 2025, the DISCMAM project will continue its journey of collaboration and knowledge sharing through different workshops and technical events planned for the coming months.

The road ahead will lead to the AM Village 2026, and event organised by EDA and hosted by the Sain Air Force, which will take place from 16–20 March 2026 in Albacete, Spain. This major event will mark the next milestone for DISCMAM, offering another key platform to showcase results and strengthen connections within the additive manufacturing community through a dedicated workshop and with interaction with MoDs and military technical personnel.

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On the road to AM Village 2026: DISCMAM joins the first preparatory meeting in Albacete, Spain

• DISCMAM partners (LORTEK, Fieldmade, DTI, Optimus3D and Euler) proposed a dedicated workshop focused on the project’s solution, including a live on-site demonstration.

The DISCMAM Project took part in the first Preparatory Meeting for AM Village 2026, held from 21^st to 23^rd October 2025 in Albacete, Spain. Hosted by the Spain Air Force and organised by EDA. Following its successful participation in the 2024 edition, the project joined representatives from industry (Fieldmade, Optimus3D and Euler) and research institutions (LORTEK and DTI) to contribute ideas and prepare the groundwork for the upcoming AM Village 2026. During the event, interactions and rounds of networking took place with other companies and research centers that will join DISCMAM proposal.

Shaping the AM Village agenda with DISCMAM

Over three days, the meeting brought together experts and stakeholders from across Europe to align efforts and define priorities for the next edition.

The first day featured an introduction to the objectives of AM Village 2026, an overview of ongoing national additive manufacturing (AM) initiatives, and a discussion round on emerging military use cases.

On the second day, discussions focused on industry and academia capability briefings, technical sessions, and the initial drafting of the 2026 workshop agenda. During these sessions, the DISCMAM partners presented their proposal for a dedicated workshop that would highlight the project’s latest advances, including a live on-site demonstration of the DISCMAM solution and its capabilities.

The proposal also considered opportunities for technical briefings and direct interaction with the armed forces, enabling dialogue with various European Ministries of Defence (MODs) about the project’s ongoing applications in the military domain. The initiative received very positive feedback from participants, reflecting strong interest in the project’s contributions.

The meeting concluded on October 23^rd, 2025, with a visit to the Albacete Air Base, the future site and main venue of AM Village 2026, followed by the official closure of the preparatory event.

AM Village 2026: What’s ahead?

The 3rd AM Village Workshop will take place from 16 to 20 March 2026 at the Albacete Air Base, organised jointly by the European Defence Agency (EDA) and the Spanish Air and Space Force.

The main objectives of this edition are to:

• Identify military use cases where additive manufacturing can provide efficient and scalable solutions.
• Strengthen cooperation between industry, academia, and defence stakeholders.
• Showcase live demonstrations of cutting-edge AM technologies — from rapid repairs and 3D scanning to full-scale manufacturing capability demonstrations.

With more than 600 participants expected, AM Village 2026 will offer a unique setting to explore how additive manufacturing can reshape defence logistics and operational readiness across Europe.

This first preparatory meeting has set the foundation for a successful edition, reinforcing collaboration and shaping use cases that demonstrate the transformative potential of AM technologies in the defence sector.

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For more information, visit the EDA website:

• DISCMAM, represented by CenSec, had the opportunity to engage with over 60 leading experts and professionals from the industry.

On 30 March, the EDF Project DISCMAM took part in the “3D Printing in Production – Subcontractor to the Defence Industry” event, which gathered around 60 experts from leading Danish companies, innovation clusters, research institutions, and professionals working in the fields of 3D printing and additive manufacturing.

Hosted at MARTEC (Maritime and Transport Engineering College) in Frederikshavn, Denmark, the event was organized by our project partner CenSec, in collaboration with Danish AM Hub, MARTEC, and Erhvervshus Nord.

Insights from the event

The gathering featured a series of engaging talks from industry experts, providing valuable insights into the growing role of 3D printing in Denmark’s defence sector. Attendees also had the opportunity to connect in a dynamic matchmaking area, fostering networking and collaboration with key players in the field.

Key takeaways from the morning sessions included:

• How 3D printing can become a profitable business for a company.
• Repair and lifetime extension through laser cladding – opportunities and challenges.
• 3D printing with operational impact
• Possibilities and limitations of 3D printing in defence and security.
• Powder-based metal additive manufacturing: powder feedstock development and applications.
• Optimizing 3D-printed components for the defence industry: post-processing and colouring techniques.
• Programmable foam: custom-fit, impact absorption, and advanced protection for defence.

In the afternoon, DISCMAM, represented by our colleague Anders Laustsen, participated in the exhibition area. This was a valuable opportunity to showcase the project’s mission, objectives, and progress. Besides promoting DISCMAM, Jeppe Skinnerup Byskov from our project partner, the Danish Technological Institute, presented at the event, highlighting their work with additive manufacturing as well as their involvement in our sister EDF project, ROLIAC.

By participating in this key sector event, DISCMAM not only increased its visibility but also reinforced its commitment to advancing the use of additive manufacturing solutions in the defence industry.

As Anders Laustsen explains:

“From CenSec’s side the event was a great opportunity both for promoting the work being done in the DISCMAM project towards a broad range of people working with additive manufacturing in Denmark, as well as highlighting the possibilities of using 3D print technologies in the military field”.

Find out more about the event program:

Stay tuned to follow the progress of the project!

• The European Defence Fund (EDF) project DISCMAM was featured at the 3rd European Military Additive Manufacturing Symposium, with the consortium presenting and showcasing the project at a joint booth with the EDF ROLIAC project, providing a valuable opportunity to highlight progress and engage with key stakeholders across Europe.

The DISCMAM project was presented at the 3rd European Military Additive Manufacturing Symposium, held from April 8-9 in Bonn, Germany. The event featured the participation of DISCMAM partners Lortek, the Danish Technological Institute (DTI), Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) and Fieldmade, offering an excellent platform to showcase the project’s research, gain insights, and engage with industry professionals, armed forces, academia and research on the application of Additive Manufacturing (AM) in military settings.

Organized by the German Association for Defence (DWT) and supported by the European Defence Agency (EDA), the symposium attracted around 500 attendees, including professionals from the defence industry, armed forces, academia, and research sectors.

DISCMAM on stage at the Symposium

The third edition of the symposium focused on addressing military requirements and challenges, with the main goal of fostering a shared understanding of AM’s benefits and limitations. The event also aimed to promote sustainable cooperation among stakeholders to realize AM’s potential in military applications. As our partner Daniel Ferreira from DTI highlighted: “At the AM Symposium, the latest developments from the DISCMAM project were showcased, including innovative manual, automatic, and semi-automatic 3D scanning strategies applied to real-world components in collaboration with Ministries of Defence (MoDs)”.

The symposium was structured with multiple simultaneous activities, including keynote speaker interventions, poster presentations, and parallel sessions. DISCMAM was presented in two of these sessions, with its representatives sharing valuable insights into the future of AM in defence.

On April 9, Daniel Ferreira from DTI participated in Session A3, titled “AM meets Military II: Considerations from Research & Industry Perspectives”.

Daniel Ferreira featured a presentation on “Automating 3D scanning and reverse engineering to boost on-site military metal additive manufacturing for spare parts and repair“.

As he stated:

“The session focused on engaging with key stakeholders: Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), researchers, armed forces, and procurement agencies to drive awareness and adoption of these technologies. Building these synergies is essential to ensure the solutions address real needs, while keeping procurement agencies informed about the possibilities, from manufacturing new parts to repairing or creating temporary replacements, for streamlined and effective implementation. This highlights the belief that collaboration across sectors is crucial for turning cutting-edge research into practical solutions that meet the demands of modern applications”.

On the same day, Niccolò Maccarini, PhD researcher at TU/e, participated in Session C3, which focused on “Supply Chains, Cyber Security, Factory Planning, and Cost-effective Cooperation”. The session featured Maccarini’s presentation on “Joint Procurement of Additively Manufactured Spare Parts for the Defence Sector“.

After attending the Symposium, Maccarini emphasized:

“Participating to the AM Symposium was a great opportunity to disseminate the results of our research among professionals in the defence field, while receiving valuable insights from their experience as well as promising possibilities of future collaboration”.

DISCMAM and ROLIAC join forces

The DISCMAM and ROLIAC projects continue to strengthen their synergy, taking advantage of this prominent event to collaborate at a joint booth, featuring the presence of our principal project coordinator, Juan Carlos Pereira and Marta Muñiz, from Lortek, Nils Knofius (Fieldmade) and Rob Basten (Tu/e). This collaboration highlighted the complementary approaches of both projects in advancing additive manufacturing technologies within the defence sector.

Funded under the EDF calls, the two projects initiated their partnership to plan joint dissemination and communication activities and establish effective collaboration. Both initiatives focus is on researching disruptive technologies for defence applications, aiming to enhance operational efficiency and logistical capabilities. In this sense, the symposium served as an excellent opportunity to reinforce these synergies, connect with key stakeholders across Europe, and exchange ideas on innovation and implementation in the defence sector.

• The AM Village gathered around 400 professionals from the Additive Manufacturting sector.
• DISCMAM representatives held a workshop to showcase the project’s objectives, use cases, and solutions that will be developed over the course of the project.

From May 13th to 17th, the ‘Additive Manufacturing Village 2024’ (AM Village 2024) brought together around 400 leading Additive Manufacturing experts from the EU Armed Forces, defence industry, research centres, and academia to discuss and advance cutting-edge industrial Additive Manufacturing (AM) capabilities.

The event took place in Tournai, Belgium, organized by the European Defence Agency (EDA) in collaboration with the Multinational Logistic Coordination Center (MLCC, Czech Armed Forces), and hosted by the Belgium Defence Logistic School (Belgium Army). The focus was on testing and demonstrating deployable AM technology and tailored manufacturing methods for military applications.

DISCMAM Workshop: showcasing cutting-edge solutions

The AM Village featured five days of 16 seminars and capability workshops, 30 presentations on additive manufacturing-specific topics, 12 demonstrations, and hands-on interactions among participants. This second edition of the event aimed to build on the findings from the 2023 first edition, further reviewing industrial AM capabilities and demonstrating deployable AM technology and manufacturing methods for diverse military use cases.

Members from the DISCMAM project, including Marta Muñiz Mangas (Lortek), Nina Rooijakkers, Véronique Zijlstra and Nils Knofius (Fieldmade), Niccolò Maccarini (TU/e), and Daniel Ferreira (Danish Technological Institute), organized and delivered Workshop 12 titled ‘Metal Additive Manufacturing Technologies and Digital Solutions to Enable On-Site Maintenance in Defence’ on the afternoon of May 15th.

During the seminar, our representatives introduce their entities and expertise in the sector and showcased DISCMAM’s innovative solution and objectives, setting the foundation for a new business model aimed at remote-assisted on-site maintenance operations.

“Our participation the AM Village has been an opportunity to meet and exchange experiences with leading experts in the field. It allowed us to better understand our project objectives and the real needs in the field, and to continue to work together to push the boundaries and accelerate the adoption of AM technology within the Armed Forces”.

Marta Muñiz, Lortek.

Following our participation in the AM Village, and with almost six months of project progress, DISCMAM will meet at the next consortium meeting to evaluate the developments made so far and plan the next steps for transforming military logistics with on-site metal additive manufacturing innovations. We remain committed to continuing our collaboration and advancing the integration of AM technology within military operations.