Meltio Showcases 3D-Printed Metal Auto Parts
Meltio and DMZ demonstrated metal 3D-printed automotive components, including an exhaust header tested on road and track.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Auto Parts
Meltio showcased metal 3D-printed automotive components at Formnext 2026, where its booth is 12.0 C119. DMZ installed a 3D-printed stainless steel exhaust header in an Abarth 595 that has covered about 10,000 kilometres on the road and 600 kilometres on a race track.
Why it matters
The exhaust header cut assembly time from eight hours to one hour, illustrating how additive manufacturing can streamline vehicle component production. The replacement pump part produced for a failed centrifugal pump shows the technology can also supply components when conventional spare parts are no longer available.
The exhaust header has logged roughly 10,000 kilometres on public roads and 600 kilometres on a race track in an Abarth 595. Assembly time fell from eight hours to one hour, though the extraction does not report long-term durability results.
The players
Meltio
Meltio is a metal 3D-printing company that uses wire-laser directed energy deposition to produce industrial components.
DMZ
DMZ is an automotive engineering group that developed and installed the 3D-printed exhaust header in an Abarth 595.
IMET3D
IMET3D is a 3D-printing service provider that produced a replacement centrifugal pump part using wire-laser metal printing.
The details
DMZ developed the stainless steel exhaust header using Meltio's wire-laser directed energy deposition process, with geometries designed to optimise exhaust gas flow in a combustion engine. Separately, DMZ reinforced a steel wheel by depositing additional metal in selected areas, reaching the same natural frequency as an alloy wheel, and IMET3D produced a replacement centrifugal pump part with the same technology.
Timeline
Exhaust header tested over roughly 10,000 kilometres of road use.
Meltio showcased its components at Formnext 2026, with its booth at 12.0 C119.
Roadmap
Wire-laser directed energy deposition is moving additive manufacturing beyond prototyping into functional automotive hardware, as shown by a printed exhaust header driven on public roads and a race track. The approach also points to on-demand production of parts that legacy supply chains can no longer provide.
Drivers and owners of older vehicles may eventually benefit if 3D-printed parts become a practical way to source components that are no longer stocked. The technology could shorten the wait for hard-to-find replacement parts, though the extraction does not establish availability or pricing for consumers.
The takeaway
Additive manufacturing can produce both performance parts and discontinued replacements, so owners of older vehicles should watch for printed components as a supply option. Wider adoption will depend on independent durability testing that the current demonstrations do not yet provide.
Further reading
Explore more in Auto Parts coverage on how additive manufacturing is reshaping component supply.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Themachinemaker.
