Rosatom expands 3D printing ecosystem, eyes Vietnam as Southeast Asian hub

Rosatom is widely known as one of the world's leading nuclear corporations. However, the breadth of its technological activities, including additive manufacturing and metal 3D printing, is quite remarkable. Could you explain Rosatom's strategy in this field? Does Rosatom aim to become a leading manufacturer of 3D printers, a provider of advanced manufacturing solutions, or is it building a complete additive manufacturing ecosystem?

We have a broader view of additive technologies than just the manufacturing of 3D printers. We offer our customers a turnkey solution for industrial operations: equipment, metal powders, software, printing technologies, service, and training for specialists.

In other words, we’re talking about creating a fully-fledged ecosystem. The printer is an important part of the system, but it's not the only one. The most important thing for the customer is that all the components work together and allow for the consistent production of necessary parts.

In your view, what are Rosatom's most significant technological advantages in metal 3D printing compared with other leading technologies and manufacturers worldwide? Which capabilities - from 3D printers, software and metal powders to process control and quality assurance - create Rosatom's competitive advantage?

Rosatom’s strength lies in its comprehensive approach. We develop not only 3D printers, but also materials, software, printing technologies, services, and quality control.

This is particularly important in the manufacturing sector, since it’s not enough to simply print a part - we should be confident in its properties and the repeatability of the result. Our extensive experience in the nuclear industry also helps us place special emphasis on the reliability and quality of the manufacturing process.

Rosatom has developed the RusMelt family of industrial 3D printers and is applying additive technologies in demanding sectors such as nuclear energy, aerospace and mechanical engineering. What, in your view, is the most important technological breakthrough needed to transform 3D printing from prototyping and small-batch production into a large-scale industrial manufacturing technology?

The most important thing in transitioning to industrial production is learning how to consistently manufacture parts of the same high quality every time.

For a prototype, it’s enough to successfully print a single part. For mass production, however, it is necessary to ensure that every subsequent part meets the same requirements.

That is why process control, consistent materials, testing, and clear acceptance criteria for finished products play a key role. This is precisely what transforms 3D printing from an experimental technology into a fully-fledged industrial tool.

Rosatom recently announced that it has mastered 3D printing technologies for copper and copper alloys. Why is copper considered particularly challenging for metal additive manufacturing? How has Rosatom overcome the difficulties associated with copper's high thermal conductivity and laser reflectivity?

Copper is indeed one of the most challenging materials for 3D laser printing. It reflects laser radiation well and dissipates heat very quickly. This makes it more difficult to consistently melt the powder and form a high-quality layer.

The solution requires precise adjustment of the printing parameters - laser power, laser speed, and other process parameters. Rosatom specialists have optimized these parameters and are now able to manufacture copper products of the required quality.

What is the most important technological advantage of Rosatom's newly developed copper 3D printing technology? Can it produce components or complex structures that are difficult or impossible to manufacture using conventional copper-processing technologies?

The main advantage of 3D copper printing is the ability to create complex shapes that are very difficult to manufacture using traditional methods.

For example, complex channels for cooling or heat exchange can be formed directly inside the part. In conventional manufacturing, you would often have to assemble such a design from several parts and join them by welding or soldering.

3D printing allows it to be manufactured as a single piece. This gives engineers more design freedom and can reduce the number of joints and manufacturing steps.

Which applications does Rosatom consider to have the greatest technological and economic potential for 3D-printed copper - heat exchangers, cooling systems, electrical equipment, electric motors, power electronics, semiconductors, aerospace or energy? Could you share some key technical results from Rosatom's recent copper 3D-printing tests?

Any products that combine the properties of copper with complex shapes are of particular interest.

These include heat exchangers, cooling systems, components of electrical equipment, and other parts that require high thermal or electrical conductivity.

During the technology adjustment, Rosatom has already 3D-printed heat exchanger components and complex three-dimensional structures. These examples clearly demonstrate the technology's main advantage: it allows for creating internal geometries that are difficult to achieve using conventional machining methods.

Rosatom is leveraging technologies developed for the nuclear sector to expand into other high-tech industries. How important is additive manufacturing in Rosatom's broader transformation from a nuclear corporation into a diversified technology group? Could 3D printing become one of Rosatom's major growth areas in the coming years?

Additive technologies are one example of how the nuclear industry’s expertise can be applied in other fields.

It requires knowledge in materials science, metal industry, mechanical engineering, laser technology, and quality control - all these areas have long been developed within Rosatom.

Today, 3D printing is already regarded as a distinct technological field and is applied not only in the nuclear industry but also for other industrial applications.

It is important for us to develop this field wherever it delivers clear technical or economic benefits to the customer.

Rosatom and Petrovietnam recently signed an MOU on cooperation in additive technologies, including plans to establish an Additive Technologies Center in Vietnam. What is the current status of this cooperation, and what key technologies, equipment and functions are expected to be included in the center?

Our cooperation with Petrovietnam is currently in the preparatory stage.

We have signed a Memorandum on Cooperation in the field of additive technologies and agreed to negotiate establishing an Additive Technologies Center in Vietnam.

We have also analyzed Petrovietnam’s production tasks and selected a site and the necessary equipment for the Center’s operations.

Beyond Petrovietnam, does Rosatom see opportunities to cooperate with Vietnamese companies, universities, research institutes and technology centers in metal additive manufacturing? Could Vietnamese partners become part of Rosatom's broader additive manufacturing ecosystem, including component manufacturing, materials and metal powders, software, engineering services, training and the production of 3D-printed components?

Yes, we see opportunities for broader cooperation in Vietnam.

Additive technologies require not only equipment, but also engineers, research infrastructure, and training for specialists. That is why we are interested in establishing contacts with universities, research organizations, and industrial companies.

We have already held discussions with Vietnamese university partners regarding the application of 3D printing, joint research, and training.

In the future, such cooperation could encompass part design, engineering services, training, maintenance, and the practical application of 3D printing in manufacturing facilities.

Rosatom has discussed the possibility of localizing 3D-printer assembly in Vietnam in the future to serve Southeast Asian markets. In your view, what conditions would be necessary for Vietnam to become a regional hub for additive manufacturing? And how do you envision the scope of Rosatom's cooperation with Vietnam over the next five to ten years?

Several conditions are necessary for Vietnam to become a regional hub for additive manufacturing: strong demand from the industry, well-trained engineers, a service and research infrastructure, as well as clear requirements for product quality and certification.

It is also important to have the infrastructure in place for supplying materials and maintaining equipment.

We are indeed ready to consider localizing the assembly of 3D printers in Vietnam for the Southeast Asian market in the future. However, specific timelines and the scale of such localization have not yet been announced.

At present, our main focus is on developing practical cooperation and building the necessary capabilities.