ProjectALSACE 3D

Metal additive manufacturing is a major driver of industrial transformation, particularly in the transport, energy and machine tool sectors.

However, current solutions still have significant limitations when it comes to large-scale industrial production:

• difficulty manufacturing large parts with consistent quality
• defects affecting component reliability
• manufacturing times still too long for competitive production
• significant constraints on the industrial integration of processes

Against this background, the ALSACE 3D project aims to develop a hybrid multi-technology machine capable of addressing all these challenges simultaneously.

This project is fully aligned with the priorities of the S3 Alsace strategy, in particular the following themes:

• Advanced machine tools
• Sustainable transport
• Industrial innovation and environmental transition

5-year project – from 2015 to 2020

The ALSACE 3D project aims to design a complete industrial solution for large-scale metal additive manufacturing.

Its main objectives are to:

• Develop a hybrid multi-technology machine for large parts
• Increase manufacturing speed while guaranteeing high part quality
• Significantly reduce manufacturing defects
• Enable the design of complex, lightweight and optimised parts
• Integrate repair capabilities for industrial parts
• Develop surface functionalisation to improve part performance
• Meet the challenges of sustainable and competitive industrial production

The project is based on an integrated technological development approach built around a hybrid additive manufacturing platform.

Development of a hybrid multi-technology machine
The core of the project is to design a machine capable of combining several additive manufacturing processes in order to:

• produce large parts
• improve process flexibility
• optimise overall manufacturing performance

Improving industrial productivity
The machine is designed to achieve high throughput while maintaining a high level of quality and repeatability.

Reducing manufacturing defects
One of the project’s main focuses is reducing defects, enabling:

• less scrap
• improved part reliability
• better control of production costs

Repair and functionalisation of parts
The platform also enables:

• the repair of damaged parts previously deemed irreparable
• surface functionalisation to improve in-service performance

• Total project cost: €3,021,000
• FEDER funding: €940,000
• Co-funding Région Grand Est + FEDER: S3 Alsace scheme