CAMAL at NC State University is recognized as one of the leading U.S. institutes within additive manufacturing (AM). CAMAL fosters collaboration between academia, industry, and the public sector to drive innovation and increase U.S. competitiveness. In January 2025, Freemelt and CAMAL established a joint Application Center to support industrial customers with development projects aiming to establish serial production using Freemelt’s industrial machine, eMELT. The Application Center also serves as a hub for sensitive application development conducted by CAMAL on behalf of Freemelt. The Application Center was officially launched in the first quarter of 2025, starting with a feasibility study connected to the order Freemelt received from a U.S. industrial customer on October 14, 2024. The development projects conducted at the center primarily focus on refractory metals for critical defense and energy applications, with funding from industrial companies, the U.S. government, and agencies such as the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

The current order is CAMAL’s second purchase of a Freemelt ONE machine, with the first delivery completed in 2023. The collaboration with CAMAL is strategically important for Freemelt’s commercialization efforts in the U.S. market. The agreement also includes an option to upgrade to an eMELT industrial machine during 2026.