• As a worldwide technology leader, Accenture provides strong cybersecurity expertise to defence additive manufacturing for DISCMAM, ensuring that the solutions created adhere to compliance and technical standards.

The development of a cyber-secure digital supply chain for additive manufacturing presents a significant challenge for DISCMAM. This project aims not only to achieve operational success but also to enhance the innovation capacity of the defense sector, fostering the adoption of cutting-edge technologies.

In this context, cybersecurity is a top priority for the project, supported by a team of experts from Accenture, a global technology company with extensive experience in strategic security. This partner ensures that the project aligns seamlessly with essential technical standards, cybersecurity protocols, and compliance requirements, tailoring digital solutions to meet stringent defence specifications. Moreover, they will guarantee the design of robust strategies to protect every aspect of the additive manufacturing process, enhancing resilience throughout the entire production lifecycle.

Accenture: Technological leadership and cybersecurity expertise

Accenture has established itself as a leading global professional services company, empowering some of the world’s foremost organizations to build their digital core and optimize operations. With a focus on accelerating revenue growth and enhancing services, Accenture creates tangible value at speed and scale.

In today’s rapidly evolving technological landscape, the company stands out as a leader in driving change, leveraging strong relationships within a vast ecosystem. By combining its expertise in technology, cloud, data, and artificial intelligence with extensive industry experience and functional knowledge, the company offers unmatched global delivery capabilities. Thus, Accenture’s comprehensive suite of services spans Strategy & Consulting, Technology, Operations, Industry X, and Song.

Among its teams, DISCMAM is supported by a group of highly skilled professionals leveraging their extensive experience in managing cybersecurity projects. Mariano García Guerrero, the Security Delivery Manager at Accenture, orchestrates the company’s resources to ensure the successful achievement of all project objectives.

The project also benefits from the technical focus of Jose Miguel Colmena de Celis, Security Cloud Manager at the company, who designs cutting-edge security solutions tailored to the unique challenges posed by additive manufacturing scenarios. His deep expertise in cloud security is instrumental in addressing the specific security needs of this innovative technology.

Completing the multidisciplinary group is Egilde Sequera De Valery, a Senior Security Analyst, who brings invaluable expertise in security compliance to the project.

Together, this exceptional working group is committed to reinforcing cybersecurity measures within DISCMAM’s digital supply chain, ultimately enhancing the resilience and safety of additive manufacturing processes.

Challenges in establishing innovative cybersecurity solutions

Accenture is committed to bring a robust cybersecurity perspective to additive manufacturing in defence contexts as part of its role in the DISCMAM project. This involves identifying potential digital threats that could compromise the environment and crafting innovative cybersecurity solutions to effectively mitigate these risks, ensuring secure and resilient operations.

As the initiative approaches its first anniversary, one of the biggest challenges of the company has been uncovering the technical requirements needed for IT solutions in defence settings. This task is particularly complex due to the sensitive nature of the information involved.

Additionally, the Accenture technicians have invested considerable effort into understanding the IT processes involved in additive manufacturing use cases. This comprehensive understanding is vital to developing effective and tailored cybersecurity solutions for these advanced manufacturing scenarios.

Designing a cybersecurity architecture for these services often requires implementing changes in the AM process to ensure all risks are addressed.

As García Guerrero outlines,

“Traditionally, AM scenarios are managed locally, with on-site IT systems and human specialists in a controlled environment. The challenge in this project is to transform the AM process so it can be operated remotely while maintaining cybersecurity in a more open and interconnected environment”.

• DISCMAM project held its third meeting in Frankfurt to review progress of recent months project work and set the stage for the challenges of 2025.
• During the initial phase, the project has reached an important achievement: the definition of on-site maintenance scenarios and the selection of use cases.  

The DISCMAM project, funded by the European Defence Fund (EDF), completed its first year of progress with a significant anniversary meeting in Frankfurt, Germany, on November 21, 2024. This gathering of consortium partners — including leading technical and research institutions— reviewed the project’s achievements over the past year and discussed key research and execution plans for the future.

Progress and strategic achievements

The first 12 months of the DISCMAM project have been pivotal in establishing the foundation for its continuation over the next two years. Aligned with the project’s objectives and through close cross-border collaboration among all partners, significant progress has been achieved. Notably, the first major milestone —the identification of scenarios and the selection of components or use cases aligned with these scenarios— has been reached. Five use cases have been defined, three for spare parts manufacturing and two for parts repair; those include an air compressor cover, a fuel filter housing, a phalanx maintenance tool, a front pulley and a joint shaft flange.

During this initial period, the goal has been to enhance efficiency and equipment readiness in military operations through the manufacture and repair of spare parts by two selected Additive Manufacturing (AM) technologies: Laser Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB) and Laser Directed Energy Deposition (DED-LB).

Additionally, based on the selected scenarios and use cases, an on-site maintenance plan has been developed, together with the data flow characteristics required to establish a secure digital pathway. This plan addresses logistical considerations, ensures robust data protection, and aims to provide rapid responses to specific types of equipment failures and challenges on on-site maintenance and logistic supply chain.

Further work has been carried out to collate information regarding the specifications and requirements of the parts together with processing and post-processing steps for the selected use cases.

Reflecting on a year of project work, the project coordinator at LORTEK, stated:

“We are pleased to report that the project is making good progress. While the future outlook is challenging, we are confident of achieving our goals in a timely and efficient manner”.

In the coming months, DISCMAM anticipate implementing monitoring solutions and cybersecure digital pathways, as well as making progress on scanning technologies and the initial fabrication or reparation of the previously described use cases. These developments will drive the project’s mission to revolutionize maintenance and manufacturing processes in defence contexts

DISCMAM at FORMNEXT 2024

The third in-person consortium meeting since the project began in December 2023 was strategically aligned with the location of FORMNEXT convention in Frankfurt, the leading global event for additive manufacturing and industrial 3D printing. The project was proudly represented by its coordinator LORTEK with an own booth, while the project partners EULER and ADAXIS complementary highlighted the project work they are in lead of at their booths from November 19 to 22 at Formnext expo.

This meeting point offered DISCMAM an invaluable platform to highlight its objectives and achievements, connect with leading experts in AM, explore potential collaborations, engage stakeholders, and gain insights into emerging technological trends. These opportunities will significantly enhance the project’s ability to innovate and redefine logistics capabilities in the defence sector as the project advances toward initial trials, validation and field military interoperability exercise scheduled for 2025.

Adaxis and Euler participated in the FORMNEXT 2024 event, showcasing their latest innovative technologies.

• Funded by the EDF, these disruptive European projects focus on exploring new technologies for defence applications to enhance operational efficiency and improve logistics.
• Both initiatives share partners involved in each project, creating a robust knowledge base and shared practices.

The European Defence Fund (EDF), established by the European Commission, is a key initiative aimed at bolstering the European Union’s defence capabilities through financial support for research, development, and innovation in the defence sector.

The primary objective of the EDF is to enhance the EU’s strategic autonomy by fostering the development of cutting-edge and compatible defence technologies and equipment. This initiative addresses a rapidly changing global security landscape, where Europe seeks to strengthen its defence capabilities in the face of evolving threats, ranging from cyber warfare to conventional defence challenges.

A notable example of the funding provided by the EDF can be seen in two significant projects: ROLIAC (EDF 2021) and DISCMAM (EDF 2022). Both initiatives focus on researching disruptive technologies for defence applications, aiming to enhance operational efficiency and logistical competencies.

A shared mission: Innovation and autonomy in the European defence sector

The ROLIAC and DISCMAM projects share a common mission: advancing the European defence sector through cutting-edge innovation. Both initiatives focus on Additive Manufacturing (AM) to revolutionize the defence industry by applying advanced manufacturing and digital technologies that have yet to be fully utilized in defence applications. Furthermore, their aim is to support European defence autonomy by reducing reliance on external sources and strengthening Europe’s independent defence capabilities, while optimizing resources and reducing logistical costs. Despite these shared goals, each project offers a unique approach and distinct contributions.

DISCMAM aims “to develop solutions for on-site AM of metallic parts, encompassing both repair and spare parts manufacturing operations. The solutions will be designed in a manner that facilitates ease of use for operators in military environment and deployable scenarios, while ensuring secure communication pathways”, explained Juan Carlos Pereira, coordinator of the initiative.

In contrast, ROLIAC investigates the design and manufacture of lightweight, high-performance military components using novel materials and additive manufacturing techniques. The goal is to enhance the structural performance of critical systems by developing an emergency wheel for the land forces, cargo bay door hinge assemblies for the air force, and large-scale antenna mounts for satellites to the navy. As highlighted by Anders Bæk Hjermitslev project lead of ROLIAC: “the project will develop and demonstrate AM as a robust technology for the defence industry, providing new and better solutions compared to traditional manufacturing”. 

Expert defence consortium driving collaborative innovation

Cross-border collaboration is a cornerstone of both European initiatives, playing a crucial role in achieving their ambitious objectives. These projects bring together international consortia from various EU countries, supported by several Ministries of Defence, underscoring a unified effort to boost the region’s defence ecosystem.

A key aspect is the shared partnership among the two project’s consortiums, which facilitates a robust knowledge base that significantly benefits the development and implementation of both projects. Among the prominent partners are Lortek (Spain), Danish Technological Institute (Denmark), CenSec (Denmark), and Eindhoven University of Technology (Netherlands).

The active involvement of project partners ensures smooth cooperation within European initiatives, setting the stage for future cross-border business ventures. Crucially, the participation of SMEs, industrial partners, mid-sized companies, defence clusters, and research and technology organizations (RTOs) are essential for establishing horizontal collaborations, thus providing access to new markets and potential customers.

SMEs, in particular, hold a pivotal role in both initiatives, contributing to all phases of development and innovation. Their participation not only enhances the overall outcomes but also reinforces the broader European defence ecosystem, ensuring sustained growth and resilience.

Expected impacts

All in all, the two EU projects aim to shape the future of defence logistics. As Anders Bæk Hjermitslev explained, “With ROLIAC, we strive to unlock the potential of additive manufacturing for the defence sector. This technology has the potential to be a game-changer, offering not only robust and resilient supply chains but also the ability to design ultra-lightweight, high-performance components and leverage novel materials that redefine mechanical capabilities”. In this sense, DISCMAM seeks to transform the capabilities of deployed defence forces through innovative technologies, establishing a new business model for remote-assisted on-site maintenance operations.

The joint efforts between these initiatives underscore the commitment to advancing Europe’s defence capabilities while fostering research and innovation, increasing autonomy, enhancing supply chain resilience, and promoting environmental sustainability in defence operations. Their collective impact will ensure that Europe not only addresses current challenges in defence but also prepares for future threats in a rapidly evolving sector.

Stay tuned for updates on our collaborative effort with ROLIAC as we join forces to shape the future of the defence industry!

• The Danish Technological Institute (DTI) will enhance the DISCMAM project with its 3D printing expertise and provide key consultancy, drawing on its role in defence initiatives across Europe.

DISCMAM presents ambitious goals for its three-year project aimed at transforming defence logistics through on-site metal additive manufacturing innovation. To achieve this change and shape the future of defence logistics, ensuring effective integration and collaboration among diverse stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle is one of the project’s key aspects. Behind this significant challenge and the issues posed by technological advancements is the Danish Technological Institute , an independent Research and Technology Organization (RTO) with over 35 years of experience in 3D printing and active involvement in numerous national and international projects.

Leveraging knowledge for technological growth, DTI’s commitment to innovation

Established in 1906, the Danish Tecnologial Institute is dedicated to promoting and securing the utilization of technological advancements for the benefit of businesses and society through development, consultancy, and the dissemination of knowledge. DTI focuses on creating practical, industry-ready solutions that address the needs of companies and markets, thereby accelerating development and reducing risks for individual businesses.

The Institute plays a crucial role in the DISCMAM project by leveraging its specialized expertise in Additive Manufacturing (AM). DTI works in collaboration with other consortium partners to ensure the successful achievement of the project’s goals. On the technical management side, Daniel Ferreira, Technical Consultant at DTI, is responsible for coordinating the work conducted in the project. This enables the project to develop highly tailored solutions for this field. In the technical area, Riccardo Tonello, R&D Consultant at DTI, from the Industrial 3D Printing Centre, supports the technical aspects of the project from DTI’s end.

Strategic consultancy and advanced 3D printing

DTI is a driving force behind the DISCMAM project, offering technological leadership and deep expertise in AM (3D Printing). The institute is leveraging its extensive experience in Laser Powder Bed Fusion (PBF-LB) to help the consortium with process optimization, definition of procedures, and best practices for quality assurance of parts for defence. Over the coming months, this support will enable Fieldmade, the system integrator, to improve its NOMAD® series solution, equipping these systems with more functionality that aligns with the current needs and challenges in defence.

In addition to its leadership in 3D printing, DTI provides vital technical consultancy and guidance within the defence sector. They actively participate in several defence-related initiatives across Europe and NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). To drive the progress of the project, the team behind DTI is tackling significant challenges during the initial 18 months.

According to Ferreira:

“A major focus is ensuring effective integration and collaboration among diverse stakeholders. This includes managing interdisciplinary teams from multiple countries, aligning various research activities with project goals, and overcoming technical hurdles in developing and implementing new technologies”.

Moreover, maintaining a balance between innovation and practical applicability poses an important hurdle. Aligning civilian technologies with military applications requires a high degree of innovation and simplification to make them easy to operate for everyone.

Global research expertise powering DISCMAM

The DISCMAM partner has a proven track record of participating in international research and development projects, including those funded by the EU’s Horizon Europe, such as DILAPRO (Digital Laser Production), where the objectives are the development of 2 pieces of software (DILAFACT and DILACERT) to improve Laser Manufacturing technologies, Eurostars, and other European initiatives.

Over the past five years, the Institute has been involved in numerous national and international projects, focusing on various technological advancements and their industrial applications. In defence, DTI is coordinating the Robust and Light AM Components for Military Systems (ROLIAC) project. This initiative is designing and manufacturing lightweight military-grade parts with novel materials for three military use-cases: A light metal emergency wheel, a cargo bay-door hinge, and a large-scale antenna mount for satellites.

DTI emphasizes the importance of collaboration between industry and research institutions. Best practices include establishing clear communication channels, setting realistic goals, and ensuring that all stakeholders are engaged throughout the project lifecycle. Additionally, DTI advocates for the use of state-of-the-art facilities and equipment to achieve high-impact results and foster innovation. These practices are particularly relevant for defence projects such as DISCMAM, where technological advancement and collaboration are key to success.

• Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) excels in supply chain management, covering additive manufacturing in military supply chains, game theory, and mathematical optimization.

The research component is fundamental to the success of the DISCMAM project, as it drives innovation and ensures the integration of the latest technological advancements throughout the development process. Central to this effort is the involvement of highly regarded research partners, such as the Eindhoven University of Technology, whose expertise and cutting-edge contributions from the research and technological fields play an important role in advancing in the project.

Established in 1956 through a partnership between industry, local government, and academia, TU/e exemplifies a unique combination of scientific inquiry and practical, hands-on methods, making it an invaluable partner in advancing the project’s goals.    

TU/e, leading the charge in research and industry collaboration

Eindhoven University of Technology is a pioneering research institution renowned for its strong academic collaborations with industry. The university’s research efforts focus on addressing key societal challenges in Health, Energy, and Smart Mobility. Through close partnerships with high-tech industries, clinical hospitals, and government bodies, the university drives scientific innovation and knowledge transfer. 

The research team working on DISCMAM is part of the Industrial Engineering and Innovation Sciences Department, with a specific interest in the topics of Homeland Security, defence, supply chain management, and game theory. The group includes dr. ir. Rob Basten, Niccolò Maccarini, MSc, dr. ir. Loe Schlicher and dr. Marco Slikker.

This highly skilled team has also been deeply involved in other projects. Alongside other (PhD) researchers, they have conducted studies on optimizing military supply chains. Specifically, they have developed mathematical models to identify the best conditions for using additive manufacturing to produce spare parts, thereby enhancing equipment availability and reducing costs.

Innovative Intellectual Property solutions

TU/e has been actively involved in the project’s initial ambitious goal since its early stages, focusing on defining maintenance plans for various scenarios.

Looking ahead, their mission involves addressing the challenge of enabling military organizations to utilize external Intellectual Property (IP). This requires studying viable contracting options between an IP owner and a defence organization, with the goal of effectively sharing the value created by additive manufacturing and protecting IP rights.

But, what is the key innovative aspect of this work?

“The outcome of the university’s study will identify what the opportunities are to come to a satisfactory compensation mechanism for the IP owner, encouraging them to share digital images of spare parts with military organisations. For this, we need to innovatively combine game theoretical aspects with spare parts management”, explained Maccarini.

The role of TU/e in the ROLIAC Project

The project is backed by a consolidated consortium with proven experience in European projects, positioning it strongly within the sector. TU/e contributes extensive expertise as a partner in the European Defence Fund (EDF) project ROLIAC (Robust and Light AM Components for Military Systems), which is led by our partner, the Danish Technological Institute. This initiative focuses on leveraging the benefits of additive manufacturing for metal components within military supply chains.

As part of the ROLIAC project, the educational entity developed a decision support tool designed to determine the optimal placement of printing facilities within a military supply chain. This tool is available for use by Ministries of Defence (MODs). As mentioned by Schlicher: “It would be beneficial to develop a tool for the DISCMAM project, which focuses on Intellectual Property licensing, to assist MODs in managing IP more effectively”.

• Fieldmade aims to develop a digital thread tailored to the defence sector’s requirements, leveraging sensor and measurement data to minimize the need for on-site expertise.

During the initial phase of DISCMAM, the technological activities conducted by the partners have been crucial for ensuring the project’s direction and positioning. In this early period, Fieldmade has been actively involved. As a technology leader specializing in deployed powder-based additive manufacturing (AM) systems, Fieldmade’s expertise has been essential in defining requirements and validating solutions developed in the project. Their ongoing involvement in the coming years will remain a key factor of the project’s success.

Fieldmade, at the forefront of technological advancements in the defence sector

Fieldmade is a Norwegian technology company specializing in mobile digital production methods and digital value networks in the energy, mining, shipping and defence sector. The company has extensive in-house engineering competencies for reverse engineering and design for additive manufacturing. This expertise supports the efficient operation of its deployable AM micro factories, known as the NOMAD® Series.

DISCMAM benefits from the support of a highly skilled team at Fieldmade. Each member contributes valuable expertise to ensure the achievement of the project’s objectives. In the management area, Nina Rooijakkers, from the Digitalization team, oversees the project from Fieldmade’s end. Meanwhile, Nils Knofius, Head of Digitalization, has a crucial role on the project management board. He ensures that DISCMAM’s objectives are aligned with Fieldmade’s broader Research & Development (R&D) goals.

On the technical side, Tobias Rønneberg, Head of Quality at Fieldmade, is responsible for coordinating the technical work conducted in the project. Additionally, Josh Corps, Product Design and Development Engineer at the company, leverages his extensive experience in the military sector. Corps provides indispensable insights into typical usage scenarios of additive manufacturing within the military domain. His expertise also helps identify requirements for future usage scenarios unique to the defense sector. This enables the DISCMAM project to develop highly tailored solutions for this field.

Requirements for a digital thread and AM application scenarios

Fieldmade, with its goal to bring additive manufacturing to the field, offers a specific background that enables defining requirements and validating solutions developed in DISCMAM.

As Rooijakkers explains:

“In the project, Fieldmade’s focus is the development of a digital thread tailored to the defence sector’s requirements, as well as leveraging sensor and measurement data to minimize the need for on-site expertise”.

At the project’s outset, the company played an important role by supporting the consortium to define application scenarios of additive manufacturing in the defence sector that each come along with a set of unique challenges. For example, enabling additive manufacturing during a peace keeping mission poses different requirements than during times of conflict. Additionally, the company was responsible for setting the requirements for the digital thread, which can be significantly different from the civilian sector. For instance, several application scenarios cannot rely on a steady connection. This requires the use of autonomous data spaces that can be synchronized on-demand.

R&D activities and value chain collaboration

As a technology company, Fieldmade has the responsibility to stay at the forefront of technological advancements. Recognizing this commitment, Fieldmade puts large emphasis on R&D activities that are partially supported via European and national funding. Across the board a key success factor is the close collaboration with the user. To that purpose, the company regularly seeks opportunities to reassess their priorities and determine the most effective technological approach.

Given Fieldmade’s position to collaborate closely with partners across the value chain, our partner offers deep insights into practical challenges to the DISCMAM project.

• Lortek, Competence Centre in Metal Additive Manufacturing (AM) and Joining Technologies, coordinates DISCMAM, ensuring the final success of the project.

The DISCMAM project has assembled a multidisciplinary consortium aimed at establishing a pioneering business model for remote assisted on-site maintenance operations. Leading this ambitious initiative is LORTEK, serving as the project coordinator and managing various technical tasks with a team of highly specialized researchers throughout the three-year project.

Lortek’s contribution to DISCMAM: leading coordination, management and technical innovation

Founded in 2002, Lortek is a private technology center integrated into the Mondragon Corporation as a cooperative. Specializing in generating knowledge on manufacturing processes and their digitalization, Lortek’s mission is to transfer this knowledge to the industrial sector, enhancing competitiveness, reducing environmental impact, and promoting sustainability.

Within DISCMAM, the areas of expertise of LORTEK in Digitalization Technologies and Metal Additive Manufacturing will collaborate. The project involves the participation of highly specialized researchers from the company, including Dr. Juan Carlos Pereira as coordinator, Dr. Marta Muñiz Mangas from the Additive Manufacturing Technologies Group at LORTEK, and Dr. Miriam García, European project manager at the company.

As project coordinator of DISCMAM, Pereira outlines:

“Our role is to focus on the project objectives by ensuring that the project runs smoothly, that we are on track to achieve our goals, and that all team members are informed and focused on their objectives”.

In addition, LORTEK plays an important role in technical tasks related to DED-LB/M methodologies for repairing damaged parts on-site, including 3D scanning and process monitoring systems. This ensures that DISCMAM uses a highly efficient repair technology that can later be applied in the field with a deployable concept.

Collaboration with other EU initiatives

LORTEK, recognized as a Competence Centre in metal AM and joining technologies, boasts extensive experience in EU projects. Over the past decade, LORTEK has coordinated 10 European projects, including 5 related to AM, and participated in 10 others, of which 6 were AM-related. The organization has actively participated in European programs such as H2020/HE, Clean Aviation, Interreg, and EDF. Currently, LORTEK participates in an EDF-2021 funded project named ROLIAC within the defense domain, with our partner DISCMAM, Danish Technological Institute, serving as the coordinator.

The participation of the centre in these diverse projects and initiatives has enabled it to accumulate a set of best practices that it will apply in DISCMAM and continually review. These practices include:

• Implementing a secure infrastructure to protect sensitive information
• Improving operational efficiency by embracing technological advancements like remote assistance and additive manufacturing,
• Investing in research and development to stay at the forefront of emerging technologies.

Moving Forward: Challenges on the horizon

As DISCMAM has already reached its midpoint and sets its sights on the future, the entity is working intensively on creating the project management plan and procedures to ensure the project’s success.

LORTEK, in continuous coordination with the other nine partners of the consortium, is also defining usage scenarios and creating maintenance plans, specifying requirements for selected use cases, and participating in selecting process monitoring systems to include in PBF-LB and DED-LB for developing project innovations. Furthermore, LORTEK actively collaborates to define data flow and IT requirements for the secure digital thread that will be developed in the coming years.

• Project partners convened at the TU/e facilities to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the project’s progress during the initial six-month period, focusing on achievements and planning strategies to tackle future challenges.

The second Consortium Meeting of DISCMAM took place at the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e) Campus in Eindhoven (Netherlands) on the 21st of May, 2024. Hosted by TU/e representatives, the meeting saw the participation of consortium partners from various organizations and institutions involved in the project.

During the gathering, attendees exchanged recent advancements achieved within the first six months and engaged in collaborative discussions aiming to steer progress towards the project’s primary goal: to establish a secure digital thread for remote assistance in defence field operations.

Progress, insights, and next steps

The meeting began with a warm welcome from Rob Basten, the TU/e representative, followed by Juan Carlos Pereira, the project coordinator, and Marta Muñiz, both from Lortek, initiating a day of extensive discussions and decision-making. During this session, DISCMAM organized both the consortium meeting and the second Project Technical Committee to present the current project status and share various ideas to achieve the final objective of DISCMAM.

The first presentation by Lortek focused on management aspects, providing updates on project status, ongoing technical work, and forthcoming milestones and deliverables to ensure agile and effective project progress aligned with predetermined objectives.

Technical presentations by TU/e, Innotec Security, Part of Accenture, Fieldmade, and Lortek stimulated in-depth discussions on preliminary results, maintenance plans for rapid response to equipment failures, and specifications for parts to be manufactured or repaired using metal additive manufacturing (AM). The morning session concluded with an exciting visit to the TU/e facilities, where various activities and the latest machinery in use were showcased.

Guided tour of the TU/e facilities.

Concluding the gathering, partners Zabala Innovation and CenSec provided comprehensive insights into numerous communication and dissemination actions undertaken during the project’s initial phase, including stakeholder analysis and engagement strategies. These efforts encompassed the creation of the official project website, social media campaigns on LinkedIn, and supporting communication materials to enhance the project’s visibility on an international scale.

The session concluded on a positive note, marking significant progress under DISCMAM. While the research is still in its early stages, pivotal strategic decisions have been reached, and forthcoming challenges identified for the upcoming months. Consortium members were encouraged to maintain the productive conversations initiated at the project’s onset and remain dedicated to achieving DISCMAM’s ambitious goals.

• The project, funded by the European Commission with 3.67 million euros, involves a consortium of 10 entities from 5 European countries. 
• DISCMAM will develop a secure digital platform for the repair and spare parts using metal additive manufacturing. 

The DISCMAM project has officially kicked off with its ambitious plan to evolve the digital supply chain dedicated to on-site maintenance of military operations. This initiative, supported by the European Commission and funded with 3.67 million euros over three years through the European Defence Fund, aims to shape the future of defence logistics. 

At the project launch event held on January 17th at the facilities of the technological centre LORTEK located in Gipuzkoa Spain, the project coordinator, presented its innovative approach centred around metal additive manufacturing. This reliable digital method seeks to enhance efficiency in military maintenance by enabling the repair and manufacturing of spare parts on-site. 

DISCMAM aims to establish a robust digital method for repairing and manufacturing spare parts using additive manufacturing technologies. In the words of Dr Juan Carlos Pereira, project coordinator and Senior Researcher in Metal Additive Manufacturing at LORTEK: 

“DISCMAM proposes the possibility of establishing a secure digital path for remote support of military operations, applied on site to the necessary maintenance operations of land, air and naval systems. The focus will be on the use of metal additive manufacturing for the repair and replacement of parts where they are needed and demanded”. 

The project brings together the expertise of 10 European entities: LORTEK, INNOTEC SYSTEM, OPTIMUS 3D, and ZABALA INNOVATION in Spain, ADAXIS in France, CENSEC, EULER3D APS, TEKNOLOGISK INSTITUT in Denmark, FIELDMADE in Norway, and TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT EINDHOVEN in the Netherlands. 

In addition to the proposed improvements, the DISCMAM project not only seeks to advance significantly in the digital supply chain for on-site maintenance in defence but also aims to strengthen the capabilities of the European defence sector against constantly evolving challenges.

In this regard, the initiative is expected to streamline the repair process, as well as to reinforce autonomy in military operations and create a reliable digital supply chain capable of efficiently and safely repairing and manufacturing spare parts. European collaboration between entities involved in the project will contribute to ensuring the different points of view, experience and multidisciplinary teams, enriching the project and preparing it for future applications in defence.