Following the announcement of its additive manufacturing center last year, nuclear AM specialist Framatome recently inaugurated its new facility in Romans sur Isère. The facility takes its name from Admiral Bernard-Antoine Morio de l’Isle. The late General Officer served the Nation throughout his career in the French Navy, before joining Framatome.
Production, qualification and training
Operational since May 2026, Framatome mainly relies on metal 3D printing to produce mechanical components at its new facility. The center uses in particular wire-arc additive manufacturing and laser powder bed fusion. With these technologies, the team can produce parts ranging from a few kilograms to several tons. Dimensions can range from a few millimeters up to five meters in diameter. The technologies can also significantly reduce costs and lead times.
The additive manufacturing center also incorporates research and development activities and industrial process qualification capabilities. A training hub serves the company’s internal teams and its partners as well.
Thanks to this combination of activities, the center constitutes a comprehensive platform to strengthen the industrial deployment of additive manufacturing in the nuclear and defense supply chains.
“This new additive manufacturing center is at the heart of Framatome’s strategic ambition: to develop world class industrial assets that sustainably support nuclear projects and meet the needs of our customers and partners, in France and across the globe, as well as those of the defense sector,” said Grégoire Ponchon, CEO of Framatome. “Through additive manufacturing, we are strengthening the sovereignty of Framatome’s industrial capabilities, consolidating the competitiveness of strategic sectors and securing essential supply chains, while accelerating innovation in the service of performance and safety in nuclear and defense installations.”
With the commissioning of this center, Framatome confirms and reinforces its position as a leader in additive manufacturing applied to the nuclear and defense industries, both in France and internationally. Framatome also deepens its territorial and industrial footprint in the Romans sur Isère urban area. The additive manufacturing center currently employs around twenty people, a press release reads.
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