• Through its AdaOne platform, ADAXIS has helped integrate 3D scanning, robotic simulation, DED-LB toolpath generation and real-time process supervision into a continuous digital workflow, demonstrated during the repair of a Unimog joint shaft at LORTEK.

Digitalisation is a key part of the DISCMAM approach to making advanced on-site repair processes more automated, connected and easier to manage. Within the European Defece Fund project, ADAXIS has contributed to this ambition with AdaOne, its software platform for robotic manufacturing and process virtualisation.

We spoke with the ADAXIS team following the demonstration at LORTEK, which focused on the repair of a Unimog joint shaft using DED-LB wire technology and validated the complete digital and manufacturing workflow. In this interview, ADAXIS discusses some of the innovative aspects behind this integrated approach, including the role of the Digital Twin, the connection between virtual planning and physical execution, and how these developments are enabling a continuous digital workflow for advanced on-site repair.

Could you briefly introduce ADAXIS’ role in the DISCMAM demonstration?

ADAXIS is responsible for providing the digital manufacturing environment that enables the preparation, validation, and supervision of the repair process. Through AdaOne, we ensure that all manufacturing operations—including both scanning and additive manufacturing—are properly programmed, simulated, monitored, and executed in a safe and efficient manner.

The demonstration validated the repair of a Unimog joint shaft. How did AdaOne support the complete digital workflow, from 3D scanning and geometry recognition to the final repair operation?

Supporting the digital workflow begins with the scanning operation. AdaOne serves as the central environment for preparing and validating the process, generating and simulating the scanning trajectories while leveraging the combined kinematics of the six-axis robot and the two-axis positioner. This allows the scanning strategy to maximize surface coverage while ensuring safe operation. Through simulation, AdaOne verifies that all required areas are accessible and that the trajectories can be executed without collisions or singularities.

Once the scan data is processed and the repair geometry reconstructed, the resulting model is used in AdaOne as the basis for preparing the additive manufacturing stage. AdaOne generates and simulates the DED-LB repair toolpaths, coordinating the motion of the robot, linear track, and positioner to achieve suitable deposition conditions while maintaining accessibility, process consistency, and safe execution.

One of the key features demonstrated was the virtualization of the robotic cell together with the 3D scan data. How did this Digital Twin help optimize the repair process before manufacturing began?

The Digital Twin supported the repair process at two complementary levels: offline, as a simulation and planning environment, and online, as a real-time representation of the physical cell.

Before manufacturing, the complete robotic cell, including robots, positioner, tooling, and scanned part geometry, could be simulated in AdaOne. This allowed engineers to develop and validate scanning and repair strategies entirely offline, checking robot trajectories, reachability, collisions, and equipment constraints before executing anything on the real system.

Once the process was running, AdaOne connected the Digital Twin to the physical cell, allowing the virtual environment to reflect the actual robot behaviour and process data in real time. This connection between simulation and reality provided continuous visibility of the operation and helped ensure that the planned repair process was correctly executed on the physical component.

The demonstration combined AdaOne with DISCMAM’s secure digital pathway and LORTEK’s remote monitoring system. From ADAXIS’ perspective, what did this successful integration demonstrate?

From ADAXIS’ perspective, the successful integration demonstrated the feasibility of a complete digital repair chain, seamlessly connecting data acquisition, process planning, manufacturing, and monitoring across multiple systems and stakeholders.

Through AdaOne’s Manufacturing Tab, process data from the cell could be visualized and recorded in real time, enabling both onsite and remote operators to monitor robot behaviour and manufacturing parameters throughout the repair process. This demonstrated how an integrated digital workflow can provide the traceability, visibility, and process control required for distributed repair operations.

What do you consider to be the most innovative aspect of AdaOne’s contribution to the DISCMAM project?

The most innovative aspect of AdaOne’s contribution is its ability to provide a single, continuous digital workflow connecting the physical component, the virtual manufacturing environment, and the real robotic cell.

AdaOne brings together 3D scanning, robotic simulation, automatic multi-axis toolpath generation, and Digital Twin-based process supervision within the same environment. For a highly complex cell combining multiple robots, a linear track, and a positioner, repair trajectories can be automatically generated and validated offline before execution.

Most importantly, this digital workflow does not stop at simulation: once connected to the physical cell, AdaOne enables real-time supervision of the actual manufacturing process through the same Digital Twin. This continuity between offline planning and online execution is, from our perspective, one of the key innovations demonstrated by the project.

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Check out this video showcasing the complete workflow powered by ADAXIS’ AdaOne platform within DISCMAM.

• The specialised publication in the additive manufacturing and 3D printing sector highlights DISCMAM’s work on digital qualification for LPBF, bringing the project’s latest technical developments to a wider audience

The technical developments achieved within the DISCMAM project continue to reach the wider Additive Manufacturing community. Further extending the impact of the project’s results, Additive Manufacturing has published the article “Digitally Qualifying LPBF Parts for Defense Applications”, showcasing some of the work carried out by the consortium to advance quality assurance for on-site metal Additive Manufacturing.

The article brings together contributions from DISCMAM technical partners Danish Technological Institute (DTI), LORTEK, Fieldmade and Euler. It is authored by Dr Daniel F. S. Ferreira, Dr Juan Carlos Pereira, Dr Marta Muñiz, Dr Tobias Rønneberg and Dr Hildur Einarsdóttir, reflecting the collaborative research behind the project’s digital qualification developments.

Digital qualification for more reliable on-site manufacturing

How can the quality of an LPBF-produced part be assessed when conventional laboratory testing is not readily available? This is the central challenge explored in the article. Within DISCMAM, partners are investigating how the digital footprint generated during the manufacturing process can provide evidence of part quality, reducing reliance on resource-intensive physical testing when manufacturing closer to the point of need.

The work combines in-situ process monitoring, AI-based defect detection and a fast-response digital twin to transform manufacturing data into useful quality information. Based on this digital evidence, the approach supports the classification of produced parts according to different functional acceptance levels, helping to inform decisions on their potential use.

The methodology has been tested on two aluminium use cases, a Unimog compressor cover and a fuel filter housing, produced using Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF). The research also examines how process events detected during manufacturing relate to relevant indicators, including porosity, geometric deviation and surface properties.

These developments contribute to DISCMAM’s broader work towards more reliable and data-driven metal Additive Manufacturing, supporting quality assessment in portable production environments.

The approach has already been showcased by DISCMAM partners during AM Village 2026 in Albacete, Spain, where participants saw how digital quality assurance could help assess the quality of manufactured components beyond what can be determined through visual inspection alone.

The publication in Additive Manufacturing provides a closer look at the methodology, testing and results behind this work, as well as its potential contribution to the future qualification of LPBF-produced parts.

About Additive Manufacturing

Additive Manufacturing is a specialised media brand focused on the advancement of industrial 3D printing. Its coverage explores the technologies, applications and trends driving additive manufacturing forward, from tooling and functional prototypes to end-use production parts.

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• A new DISCMAM use case shows how metal additive manufacturing can transform the production of obsolete spare parts, reducing lead times from weeks to hours through digital manufacturing and quality assessment.

Within the DISCMAM European Defence Fund project, coordinated by LORTEK, the Danish Technologial Institute (DTI) worked with the Belgian Ministry of Defence on a replacement solution for a compressor cover for a Mercedes-Benz Unimog U1300L / 435 series. This vehicle platform dates back to the late 1970s/1980s, meaning many units still in operation are now around 40 years old or more. The compressor cover is an obsolete cast aluminium spare part that can fail due to leakage at the joint. The challenge was not only to reproduce the part, but to make it suitable for fast, on-site oriented production where access to machining, post-processing equipment and testing facilities may be limited.

At the Industrial 3D Print, in the Danish Technological Institute, the part was:

• 3D scanned and digitally reconstructed.
• Adapted for PBF-LB metal 3D printing.
• Produced in AlSi10Mg.
• Optimized to reduce support structures by approx. 30%.
• Printed without supports or machining in critical functional areas.
• Supported by digital quality ranking using in-situ process data.

An important part of the work was the development of a digital quality assessment approach. Using PCA-based statistical analysis of in-situ Euler data, it is now possible to detect part outliers and rank printed components according to their expected usability. A PCA-based quality map enables rapid digital ranking of printed parts, supporting replacement decisions when physical testing is limited. Based on the level of urgency and the quality indicators, parts can be classified for permanent replacement, temporary replacement, emergency use, or finally rejected as scrap. This provides a valuable decision-support tool in situations where physical testing facilities are limited or unavailable.

The result is a production route where the part can be printed in approximatry 8 hours when aiming for a permanent replacement. For temporary or emergency replacement scenarios, the route can be further accelerated, depending on the required quality level and urgency. This is a significant improvement compared to a traditional supplier lead time of approximately 2 weeks. This case shows how additive manufacturing can help reduce downtime, restore access to obsolete spare parts and enable faster maintenance operations closer to where the need occurs.

• Recent achievements in process optimisation, digital quality assurance and secure data-sharing capabilities are paving the way for the upcoming demonstration activities.

The road towards the final validation of the DISCMAM solutions brought project partners together in Reykjavík, Iceland, on 11 June 2026 for a strategic meeting focused on integration, final demonstrations, KPI measures and project closure.

Hosted by project partner Euler at the iconic Harpa Concert Hall, the consortium meeting provided an opportunity to review the progress achieved over the last six months and align the activities and actions required for the final phase of the project.

The discussions focused on the final integration phase of the hardware and digital developments delivered throughout the project for both Directed Energy Deposition – Laser Beam (DED-LB) and Powder Bed Fusion – Laser Beam (PBF-LB) technologies. These activities are essential to achieve the final project milestone: the validation of all systems and digital solutions, the measurement of key performance indicators (KPIs) and the completion of the benchmark analysis demonstrating the value of the DISCMAM approach for secure on-site metal Additive Manufacturing.

Key developments pave the way for final validation

Over the past months, significant progress has been achieved across the project’s technical work packages, completing key developments and implementations that now form the foundation for the upcoming demonstration and assessment activities.

One of the major achievements during 2026 was the successful completion of the milestone “Optimised manufacturing strategies to ensure quality in portable Additive Manufacturing systems”, led by ADAXIS. This milestone concluded the work package dedicated to developing digital solutions for on-site process optimisation, quality assurance and manufacturing efficiency.

The completed developments include advanced 3D scanning and geometry recognition methodologies, DED-LB path planning and deposition optimisation strategies, quality assurance frameworks for portable metal AM systems and fast-response predictive models capable of supporting real-time process assessment and quality evaluation.

Together, these developments provide the technological foundation required for the integration and assessment of the DISCMAM innovative solutions in representative operational scenarios.

DED-LB integration moves into the concluding stage

Significant progress has been achieved in the integration of the digital and hardware developments for the DED-LB solution.

Current activities include testing a unified software environment that combines the different modules in the CAM Platform: 3D scanning, path planning, process monitoring and post-processing functionalities into a single workflow. Demonstrations covering the complete process chain, from component digitalisation to manufacturing and repair, have already been carried out.

In parallel, the integration of the new modules in AdaOne platform created by ADAXIS and associated to the particular hardware and systems into LORTEK’s multi-robot DED-LB wire cell is being finalised, creating a unified environment and pipeline where the different digital tools developed during the project can operate together with minimum intervention of the cell operator.

Further advancements include the definition of repair procedures for the second DISCMAM use case, upgrades to process monitoring systems and camera infrastructure, improvements to the remote assistance WebApp and updates to the digital modules supporting process path planning, monitoring and workflow management.

The integrated DED-LB workflow is now approaching the stage where its performance can be assessed through representative repair demonstrations.

Digital tools deployed in the portable PBF-LB solution

During the meeting, it was also reviewed the latest achievements related to the integration of the PBF-LB solution. Several key digital developments have already been integrated into the manufacturing workflow, including the Cybersecure Digital Pathway testing and validation, enabling secure data exchange and remote support capabilities, the Fast-Response Digital Twins, designed to support process optimisation, and the Digital Data-Driven Quality Module, which enables part quality assessment using manufacturing process data.

An important milestone has also been achieved through the integration of Fieldmade’s portable NOMAD®03 system within the DISCMAM framework. In parallel, the digital developments validated at the Danish Technological Institute (DTI) are currently being transferred to the portable platform in Fieldmade, supporting the deployment of a complete and fully operational PBF-LB solution.

With the core technologies now integrated, the focus shifts towards demonstrating their combined performance and assessing the overall DISCMAM approach.

Focus on the last DISCMAM milestone

The next stage of the project will centre on repair and manufacturing demonstrations based on the selected use cases for both metal AM technologies, assessing the performance of the integrated solutions, the complete digital workflow and the secure data-sharing capabilities developed throughout DISCMAM.

The results obtained will contribute to the measurement of project KPIs and the completion of the benchmark analysis required for the final project milestone.

Alongside the technical work, the consortium is also advancing exploitation activities aimed at maximising the long-term impact of the project. This includes the development of a business plan exploring future commercial opportunities and a technology roadmap outlining how DISCMAM results could be adopted within the European defence ecosystem.

As the project moves towards completion, partners are now concentrating on the remaining assessment, exploitation and dissemination tasks ahead of the final demonstrations planned before DISCMAM concludes in November 2026.

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• Insights from Fieldmade on the key PBF-LB capabilities supporting the integration and validation of the DISCMAM solutions.

As DISCMAM enters the final six months of the project, the consortium is focusing on its final validation phase. On the Powder Bed Fusion Laser beam (PBF-LB) side, Fieldmade is leading the integration and validation of the DISCMAM solutions within its NOMAD®03 portable metal Additive Manufacturing system.

We spoke with Nils Knofius, Head of Digitalisation, and Tobias Rønneberg, Head of Quality at Fieldmade, to discuss the key capabilities being demonstrated, the role of secure digitalisation and what successful implementation and validation could mean for the future of on-site metal Additive Manufacturing. The objective is to demonstrate how advanced digitalisation, secure communication, in-field testing and data-driven quality assurance can support reliable on-site manufacturing operations for spare parts production.

Key capabilities under validation

One of the key capabilities currently being validated is digitisation of parts using semi-automatic hardware and easy software. As explained by Nils Knofius, “If we can get this going, we will achieve higher consistency of the input data used to create design 3D files. This makes the approach more efficient (less back and forth) and increases the quality 3D models and as a consequence of the produced parts”.

Another important aspect of the validation is sending Technical Data Package (TDP) and quality data for parts securely via the cybersecure digital thread to the NOMAD®03, enabling the company to rely on reach-back functionalities. This means that not all activities surrounding on-site manufacturing need to be performed in the field, as certain engineering tasks can instead be carried out at a centralised location.

For Fieldmade, this also represents an important step towards interoperability with wider defence digital ecosystems. “This brings benefits in terms of leveraging expertise and potentially relying on a more advanced digital infrastructure. Furthermore, it lightens the load of the operators on-site”, noted Tobias Rønneberg.

Advancing digital qualification for on-site production

One of the most important innovations being validated within DISCMAM is the concept of digital qualification for on-site manufacturing. According to Fieldmade, this remains one of the main challenges for wider adoption. “If we can improve on that this is a major step ahead since it will significantly increase the part portfolio that can be produced on-site with confidence”, added Tobias Rønneberg.

Traditional quality assurance methods often rely on sending parts to specialised labs or testing centres, which defeats the purpose of on-site manufacturing. Alternatively, visual inspections performed by equipment operators can only identify surface-level defects and remain highly dependent on individual judgement.

To improve the current situation, DISCMAM is exploring the use of robust and easily transportable equipment for in-field testing and in-process sensors capable of capturing sufficient quality-related data directly during production.

The objective is to provide greater confidence in manufactured components while reducing dependence on traditional testing procedures.

As Nils Knofius explains:

“For Fieldmade the key is of course that we are ready to easily integrate with the digital military platforms and infrastructure. Normally this is a cumbersome process for SMEs. By now having the possibility to test our system with a compliant digital communication pathway makes us future proof and interoperable with the wider defence ecosystem”.

What would make this validation a real step forward?

The final validation phase will focus on demonstrating how these capabilities perform outside controlled factory environments and in the entire workflow.

A key objective for the DISCMAM partner will be benchmarking digital qualification methods against traditional laboratory testing approaches. “Based on first results we are quite confident that we will be able to show that we are close to laboratory testing insights (of course a fully equipped lab will always have some sort of edge)”, highlighted Tobias Rønneberg.

This would represent a significant step forward, as it would make the production of critical components in the field becomes a realistic option. It would also provide a viable pathway for large Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to make part of their portfolios available for deployed production of their spare parts.

Ultimately, this would contribute to increased resilience, improved system uptime and greater operational readiness for allied forces, addressing one of the most pressing challenges in modern defence logistics.

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• Both EDF-funded projects combine complementary strengths to deliver more resilient and decentralised defence solutions, reducing reliance on traditional supply chains.
• Shared partners Danish Technological Institute (DTI) and CenSec strengthen collaboration by enabling knowledge exchange and closer alignment across activities in both projects.

Europe is increasingly focusing on strengthening its capacity to operate in complex and demanding environments, where rapid response, secure supply chains and technological independence are essential. In this context, the European Defence Fund (EDF) plays a key role in supporting and funding collaborative projects that drive innovation and reinforce Europe’s industrial and technological base.

Against this backdrop, the DISCMAM (EDF 2022) and INNOSWAMP (EDF 2024) projects offer a clear example of how complementary initiatives can create added value when their approaches are aligned. By bringing together expertise in additive manufacturing, advanced materials and digitalisation, both projects highlight the importance of collaboration in maximising the impact of European-funded research.

From centralised systems to on-site capabilities

Although their application areas differ, both research projects are aligned in a common objective: bringing critical capabilities closer to the point of need. This shift towards more decentralised and flexible solutions reduces dependence on traditional supply chains while improving responsiveness in challenging scenarios.

DISCMAM focuses on enabling on-site production and repair of metal components through additive manufacturing routes and digitalisation solutions, supported by a secure digital thread that allows remote assistance and data exchange. INNOSWAMP, in parallel, is developing a new generation of water pre-filtration systems based on advanced materials, designed to improve efficiency, reduce energy consumption and adapt to varying operational conditions.

Both initiatives reflect the EDF’s ambition to foster advanced, collaborative technologies that strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy. Their shared use of additive manufacturing, innovative materials and digital solutions contributes to more efficient, adaptable and resilient systems capable of operating in remote or resource-constrained environments.

Unlocking synergies through innovation

The synergies between DISCMAM and INNOSWAMP become particularly evident at the intersection of digitalisation, materials innovation and manufacturing processes. The secure digital infrastructure developed in DISCMAM enables traceability, data-driven optimisation and remote support, opening possibilities that can extend beyond its initial scope.

At the same time, INNOSWAMP’s work on functionalised materials introduces new opportunities for integration into future deployable manufacturing solutions. Together, these developments point towards more versatile systems capable of addressing multiple operational needs in a coordinated way, while minimizing energy consumption and waste.

Towards a more resilient and sustainable Europe

Beyond their technological contributions, both projects support broader European priorities. By enabling localised production and reducing reliance on external supply chains, they reinforce technological independence and resilience. Their approaches also contribute to sustainability, promoting more efficient use of resources, whether through repair and on-demand manufacturing or improved water treatment processes.

This collaboration is further strengthened by the participation of common partners such as the Danish Technological Institute (DTI) and CenSec – Center for Defence, Space & Security, both based in Denmark. Their involvement facilitates knowledge exchange and alignment between the two initiatives, enhancing their overall impact within the European innovation ecosystem.

The connection between DISCMAM and INNOSWAMP underlines the value of building links between projects funded under the same European framework. By combining expertise across different domains, these initiatives contribute to a more integrated, efficient and forward-looking technological base in Europe.

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Follow the joint journey of DISCMAM and INNOSWAMP towards smarter and more resilient technologies!

• 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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