MILTON KEYNES, UK, Jan 21, 2026 – IDMEC/IST — the Institute of Mechanical Engineering at Instituto Superior Técnico, and one of Portugal’s leading research centres in mechanical engineering, materials, and advanced manufacturing — has acquired a miniWAAM system from WAAM3D.
This investment provides IDMEC/IST with the most advanced Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) capability in Portugal and strengthens its position in the international metal additive manufacturing landscape.
With the miniWAAM platform — equipped with WAAM3D’s PMAX dual-wire Plasma Transferred Arc (PTA) technology — IDMEC/IST now benefits from nationally unique capabilities, including:
- Advanced material research enabled by dual-wire Plasma Transferred Arc (PMAX) for new alloys, multi-material structures, and in-situ alloying
- Advanced toolpath planning with WAAMPlanner® software
- Integrated process monitoring and control using WAAMCtrl® software
These capabilities will enable IDMEC/IST to accelerate high-impact research and support industrial partners in developing large-scale metal AM applications.
The acquisition also marks the beginning of a focused collaboration between IDMEC/IST and WAAM3D aimed at:
- Developing new materials tailored for WAAM
- Qualifying materials for demanding metal AM applications
This collaboration reinforces IDMEC/IST’s status as Portugal’s leading centre for advanced manufacturing research, while further elevating its visibility and influence in the global metal AM community.
About IDMEC/IST
IDMEC/IST (Instituto de Engenharia Mecânica) is a leading research institute at Instituto Superior Técnico, specialising in mechanical engineering, materials science, and advanced manufacturing. With strong academic expertise and modern facilities, it conducts high-impact research and collaborates closely with industry and international partners to advance cutting-edge engineering and manufacturing technologies.
About WAAM3D
Established in 2018 as a spin-out from Cranfield University,WAAM3D has evolved into an innovative technology company specialising in Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM), a revolutionary metal 3D printing process that is transforming the manufacturing industry. WAAM3D ist he only provider of a total, turnkey solution delivered via a coherent ecosystem that integrates in-house developed hardware and software products. Coupled with extensive knowledge and experience, WAAM3D is helping companies across multiple industries such as Aerospace, Defence, Energy, Machinery,Marine, to unlock new manufacturing possibilities, from first-right-part development to industrialization with the right equipment and capabilities. For more information, visit https://www.waam3d.com.
