DEEP Manufacturing, the UK-based wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) specialist who opened earlier this year its 50,000 sq ft Houston facility is partnering with Fortius Metals, the Colorado-based advanced materials company known for its patented high-performance welding wires.
The project centers on building a multi-material metal cylinder using DEEP Manufacturing’s synchronised multi-robot WAAM system. The goal: demonstrate that combining advanced alloys within a single, continuous build can be done with the precision and repeatability that real production environments demand.
Peter Richards, CEO of DEEP Manufacturing, said: “Multi-material manufacturing will help transform industries that rely on parts performing in the most demanding environments. But getting there takes more than depositing metal. It takes process knowledge, monitoring and control at scale. “This project is about proving those capabilities can come together to move hard problems closer to production.”
Jeph Ruppert, CEO at Fortius Metals, added: “By combining simulation, toolpath design and advanced wire with a highly capable printing platform, we can explore what’s genuinely possible for complex parts. Working with DEEP Manufacturing lets us apply our modelling and materials expertise to a real, demanding structure.”
The two companies bring complementary strengths. DEEP contributes large-format printing, multi-robot deposition and real-time monitoring. Fortius brings thermal and mechanical simulation, toolpath design and advanced welding wires to predict and manage part behaviour during the build. Together, they aim to reduce failed attempts and shorten the path from technical feasibility to qualified production.
Test samples and a pilot cylinder are scheduled to start mid-June, ahead of the main build. Both companies plan to share progress updates at each stage.
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