The Jaén-based company DirectedMetal 3D, known in the industry as Meltio, has received significant financial support from the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities. This grant of nearly €250.000 is earmarked for a very specific project: the development of a smart, five-axis hybrid tool that employs direct energy deposition technology using laser and metal wire.
This aid is not an isolated case, but rather part of a package of more than €1,8 million that the Government has distributed among several companies in the province of Jaén. The objective is clear: to strengthen the competitiveness of the business sector and promote innovation as an engine of economic growth and job creation, as explained by the Deputy Government Delegate in Jaén, Manuel Fernández.
An economic boost for innovation in Linares
The exact amount of the grant is €249.184, and it falls under the aid programs of the Centre for the Development of Technology and Innovation (CDTI). DirectedMetal 3D SL, which operates under the Meltio brand, specializes in the research and development of additive manufacturing technologies, the design and manufacture of metal 3D printing equipment using lasers, as well as the development of 3D scanners and advanced solutions. The intelligent five-axis hybrid tool they intend to develop combines direct energy deposition with laser and metal wire, a cutting-edge technology in the field of additive manufacturing.
In addition to this funding, the same company has received another grant of €198.138 for an aluminum coating production line using advanced additive manufacturing technologies with wire and lasers. This demonstrates Meltio's strong commitment to metal 3D printing and its ambition to position itself as a leader in the province and nationally.
The impact on the business fabric of Jaén
The injection of funds is not limited to Meltio. In the same province, three other companies have received grants: Nutrientes Foliares SA (€337.437 for a research and expansion project), Fábrica Jaén SL (€199.185 for a new line of protein cookies), and Laboratorios Pedro Perales SL (€867.765 for a digital implantology platform). In total, more than €1,8 million has been allocated to strengthen business competitiveness in Jaén.
The Deputy Government Delegate noted that this funding program has already supported other projects in the province. In the previous round, two companies from Jaén received nearly €743.000. For example, Desarrollos Tecnológicos Intelec SRL received over €478.000 from the CDTI for a predictive maintenance system for photovoltaic plants, and Ruster Fitness SL received over €135.000 for laser cutting equipment. The CDTI continues to be a fundamental pillar for business innovation in Spain.
With this new round of funding, the Spanish government reaffirms its commitment to technological innovation and industrial development in regions like Jaén. Meltio's investment in metal 3D printing, supported by nearly €450.000 in total across the two grants, puts Linares on the map of advanced additive manufacturing. The combination of public funding and entrepreneurial vision promises to boost a sector that is key to the economy of the future.
