GEFERTEC will show a 700 kg compressor impeller made by wire arc additive manufacturing at Formnext 2026 in Frankfurt, 17 to 20 November. The German company also presents its two 2026 machines, the arc10X and the arcTitan, and previews a containerized system for on-site metal production. The booth is part of the Berlin-Brandenburg joint stand in Hall 12.1.
Which parts will be on show?
The centrepiece is a compressor impeller weighing 700 kg. GEFERTEC also shows a pump impeller for seawater, displayed publicly for the first time. Its elongated, wing-like blades are meant to let fish pass through without harm, a geometry the company says casting cannot produce. A titanium frame for an aircraft emergency exit and a tooling mould complete the selection, covering energy, aerospace and tooling.
What machines does GEFERTEC present?
The arc10X has a modular layout so it can fit into existing production environments. It joins the arc80X, the established platform for component volumes up to 8 m³. The arcTitan is built only for titanium: it combines plasma-based deposition with a sealed inert atmosphere, and at its August launch the company cited oxygen held at 10 to 15 ppm during the build. A containerized unit for mobile, on-site metal AM is shown as a preview only.
How does this compare with other WAAM and DED systems?
SBI Produktion introduced the plasma arc DED machine M3DP in 2019, also with an inert enclosure for reactive metals. AML3D has installed a containerized ARCEMY system in a 20-foot container at the US Navy's AM Center of Excellence in Danville, Virginia, which can be reinstalled in one to two days. GEFERTEC now pursues both directions, titanium-specific and containerized, within one lineup.
What it means
For manufacturers of large metal parts, WAAM is mainly a question of buy-to-fly ratio, lead time against castings and forgings, and post-machining effort, none of which a trade fair showpiece settles. The arcTitan's controlled oxygen levels point to the real qualification issue for titanium: reproducible process conditions. A containerized unit is still only a preview, so no price, availability or qualification status is known. Small and mid-sized firms should treat Formnext as a chance to ask for build data and certification routes.
Frequently asked questions
Where can visitors see GEFERTEC at Formnext 2026?
At the Berlin-Brandenburg joint booth in Hall 12.1, Booth B101, in Frankfurt from 17 to 20 November.
What is special about the arcTitan?
It is built only for titanium, pairing plasma-based deposition with an inert atmosphere and holding oxygen at 10 to 15 ppm, according to the company.
Is the containerized WAAM system available?
Not yet. GEFERTEC shows it as a preview of a unit for mobile metal AM on site.