Gefertec marks 10 years with 40 WAAM systems installed
A decade of wire arc additive manufacturing in industrial production
Gefertec is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2025, marking a decade of work in wire arc additive manufacturing. Founded in 2015 to make industrial production more autonomous and resilient, the Berlin-based company now has more than 40 systems installed worldwide and its technology in active use across sectors such as energy, aerospace, and heavy industry.
From first installations to international deployment
The company sold its first WAAM machine in 2016, just one year after its founding. In 2017, it landed its first customer, FIT AG, and introduced its initial arc40X/60X series. That same year, it received an innovation award. In 2018, Gefertec shipped its first machine to a customer outside Germany, signaling the start of international expansion.
A key milestone came in 2020 when Gefertec partnered with Siemens NX Systems to support better software integration in the manufacturing workflow. By 2023, Siemens Energy had produced more than 1,000 turbine blades using Gefertec’s WAAM systems—highlighting the viability of wire-based additive processes for serial production.
Next-generation machines and academic research
Gefertec launched its arc80X system in 2024, aimed at large-format applications in heavy industry. The system is based on arc-directed energy deposition (arc-DED), a WAAM method that deposits metal layer by layer using a wire feedstock melted by an electric arc. Compared to traditional subtractive manufacturing, this process reduces material waste and shortens production cycles for large or complex components.
In addition to industrial users, academic institutions have adopted the technology. In 2024, the Technical University of Dortmund installed an arc405 system for research. Gefertec reports over 45 machines deployed to date and roughly 250 part development projects completed across Europe, North America, and Asia.
Since 2022, Gefertec has been a wholly owned subsidiary of Berlin.Industrial.Group (B.I.G.), which has helped scale operations. The group also hosts the “WAAMathon,” a technical symposium launched in 2023 to bring together industrial and academic stakeholders focused on WAAM innovation.
