technology
& materials
Opening a new frontier of metals that conventional manufacturing cannot reach most metal additive manufacturing relies on lasers, which perform well for common engineering alloys but struggle with refractory metals and other high-performance materials. Electron Beam Powder Bed Fusion (EB-PBF) takes a fundamentally different approach.
Using a high-energy electron beam in a vacuum at elevated build temperatures, EB-PBF enables the production of dense, high-quality components from materials that are difficult—or impossible—to process with conventional additive manufacturing. Combined with exceptional design freedom, this opens new possibilities for applications operating under extreme temperatures, high thermal loads and aggressive environments.
engage below.
Why EB-PBF?
High-temperature processing
Unlike laser-based systems, EB-PBF keeps the entire powder bed at elevated temperature throughout the build. This significantly reduces residual stresses, distortion and cracking, making it particularly suitable for difficult-to-process materials.
Vacuum environment
Processing takes place in a high vacuum, preventing oxidation and contamination while ensuring stable processing of reactive and high-performance metals.
High-performance materials
EB-PBF enables processing of refractory metals such as tungsten and molybdenum, high-conductivity copper alloys and other advanced materials that challenge conventional manufacturing technologies.
Design freedom
Complex internal cooling channels, lattice structures, lightweight designs and multifunctional components can be manufactured as a single part, reducing assembly while improving performance.
Open process development
Unlike closed industrial production systems, Meltonic operates an open-architecture EB-PBF platform. This enables collaborative process development, parameter optimisation and material qualification for new alloys and application-specific requirements.
Whether validating an existing material or developing parameters for a completely new alloy, partners gain access to the machine, engineering expertise and a structured test-before-invest approach.
High performance materials
Our portfolio ranges from refractory metals for extreme environments to copper alloys for advanced thermal management and titanium alloys for lightweight structures.
W
Tungsten
MP – 3422°C
Potential uses:
Fusion plasma components,
kinetic penetrators
Nb
Niobium
MP – 2477°C
Potential uses:
Superconducting RF cavities, defense, space
Mo
Molybdenum
MP – 2623°C
Potential uses:
Semiconductor equipment, high-temperature tooling
Ti
Titanium (Ti-6Al-4V)
MP – 1660°C
Potential uses:
Aerospace structures,
medical implants
Ni
Inconel 718 (Ni-Cr-Fe)
MP – 1260°C
Potential uses:
Turbine components, hot sections, high-pressure environments
Cu
CuCrZr (Cu-Cr-Zr)
MP – 1080°C
Potential uses:
Thermal management, heat exchangers, fusion divertor
Looking for another alloy?
Our facility in Haarlem is equipped with a Freemelt ONE research platform, one of the few open-architecture EB-PBF systems in Europe. The system provides full access to process parameters, enabling collaborative research, material qualification and application development beyond the limitations of closed industrial platforms. This allows process development and qualification for new materials, enabling feasibility studies and application-driven material development.