Freemelt to supply tungsten components for world’s largest fusion reactor

Freemelt has received an order from Fusion for Energy (F4E), the European organization responsible for Europe’s contribution to the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) and to fusion energy development, to manufacture and deliver 33,000 tungsten-based components. The parts are destined for JT-60SA, a European-Japanese fusion program and the world’s largest superconducting tokamak, located in Naka, Japan.

The order carries a base value of 55 million Swedish kronor ($5.7 million), with additional options that could raise the total contract value to 84 million kronor ($8.7 million). Deliveries are scheduled over a two-year period through 2028, with most of the components shipping in 2027.

Freemelt said the order validated its expanded industrial platform and its ambition to become a leading European platform for qualified advanced metal component manufacturing. The company delivers the components through its Manufacturing business area, working with established partners across the value chain from raw material to finished, qualified parts.

“The order from F4E demonstrates how Freemelt’s expertise in tungsten and materials can create value in strategically important growth markets,” said Daniel Gidlund, Chief Executive Officer of Freemelt.

Tungsten serves as a plasma-facing material in fusion reactors because of its high melting point, low sputtering rate and high thermal conductivity, properties that let it withstand the extreme heat and particle bombardment inside a tokamak’s vacuum vessel.

Freemelt tripled net sales last year, part of which was driven by another F4E order, as well as 40% growth in its installed machine base and first-ever deliveries to Asia.