MULTHEM
Horizon Europe-funded research consortium developing metal-polymer multi-material additive manufacturing with integrated thermal management for lightweight, high-performance components in electric vehicles and aerospace applications.
- Team Size
- 501-1000
- Stage
- Active
- Total Funding
- $4.3M
- Latest Round
- Grant
- Key Investors
- Horizon Europe (European Union)
Technology & Products
Key Products
Metal-polymer multi-material additive manufacturing process development; Electron beam and laser beam bonding technology for joining aluminum and carbon fiber composites; Design optimization methodology balancing structural and thermal performance; Thermal conductivity enhancement in composite materials via nanotechnology integration; Recycling and sustainability solutions for multi-material AM components
Technological Advantage
Enables manufacturers to overcome fundamental engineering constraint: lightweight carbon fiber composites historically incompatible with thermal management requirements. MULTHEM's metal-polymer integration through advanced AM and joining techniques enables production of complex freeform geometries with both structural efficiency and thermal dissipation, particularly critical for EV battery housings and aerospace thermal management applications. Nanotechnology integration represents next-generation material advancement in composite thermal performance.
Differentiation
Value Proposition
Solves critical engineering tradeoff in EV and aerospace design: carbon fiber composites enable 30-50% weight reduction but lack thermal conductivity; aluminum provides heat dissipation but adds weight. MULTHEM's integrated metal-polymer additive manufacturing with proprietary electron beam and laser welding enables simultaneous lightweight and thermal performance in battery housings, motor casings, and electronics enclosures, with potential 80%+ lead time reduction versus conventional manufacturing.
How They Differentiate
MULTHEM is a pre-commercial research consortium rather than direct commercial competitor. However, its multi-material AM capabilities and advanced joining technologies position research outcomes ahead of current commercial offerings from EOS, SLM Solutions, Stratasys, and HP in polymer-metal integration and simultaneous weight-thermal optimization for EV and aerospace sectors.
Market & Competition
Target Customers
OEMs in automotive (electric vehicles), aerospace/defense, and electronics industries requiring lightweight thermal-managed structural components
Industry Verticals
Automotive (Electric Vehicles); Aerospace & Defense; Electronics; Industrial Manufacturing
Growth & Milestones
Growth Metrics
9-partner international consortium; Horizon Europe funding secured; Formnext 2025 exhibition participation confirmed; 2021-2025 project timeline; partner network includes Fraunhofer IPK, ÉireComposites, Cetemet (Spain), Brightlands Materials Center, and 5 additional European research/industrial partners; multi-country geographic scope (Spain, Ireland, Germany, Netherlands identified).
Major Milestones
Project launch: 2022; Planned completion: 2025; Horizon Europe Grant Agreement 101091495; Multi-material additive manufacturing process validation in development; Electron beam and laser bonding technology demonstrations; Industrial manufacturing integration pathway (target 2024-2025); Participation in ISO TC261 (Additive Manufacturing) standards discussions
Notable Customers
Target industry sectors: Automotive (electric vehicles), Aerospace, Electrical equipment (motors, batteries, power converters). No named commercial customers identified; industrial partners participate as research collaborators in consortium model, not paying customers.