Zeltener. July 27, 2026
On 27 July 2026, the international Kick-Off Meeting of the RESHAPE (Advancing Heat Exchanger Performance and Sustainability using Metal Additive Manufacturing) project took place, officially launching an interregional collaboration initiative funded under the VInnovate Galicia Programme.
RESHAPE brings together partners from Galicia (Spain) and Emilia-Romagna (Italy) to develop and validate an innovative manufacturing solution based on Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) for high-performance heat exchanger components.
The consortium includes:
- INDUSTRIAS TÉCNICAS DE GALICIA (INTEGASA), industrial leader and coordinator of the project.
- ZELTENER, responsible for sustainability, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and techno-economic studies.
- AIMEN Technology Centre, providing expertise in WAAM technologies, simulation and advanced manufacturing.
- Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna (UNIBO), contributing expertise in Design for Additive Manufacturing (DfAM), structural optimization and mechanical characterization.
During the meeting, partners reviewed the technical objectives, project implementation roadmap and the key milestones planned for the first project period.
RESHAPE aims to develop a new generation of heat exchanger components capable of:
- Improving mechanical and functional performance.
- Reducing manufacturing lead times.
- Lowering production costs.
- Minimizing environmental impacts.
- Enhancing manufacturing digitalization and traceability.
The project supports Europe’s transition towards a smarter, greener and more competitive industrial ecosystem by fostering strong collaboration between industry, technology centres and academia.
In the coming months, the consortium will focus on defining technical requirements, selecting suitable materials, redesigning components for additive manufacturing and developing the first demonstrators that will validate the application of WAAM technology in heat exchanger production.
RESHAPE is expected to become a benchmark example of European interregional cooperation, accelerating the adoption of advanced manufacturing technologies while promoting sustainability and industrial competitiveness.