‘By the end of 2025 we aim to be ready to market’: Maltese start-up secures EU backing

“By the end of 2025 we aim to be ready to market,” said Nicholas Borg Calleja, the founder of ELM Fabrication.

ELM Fabrication Limited, a Maltese start-up specialising in large-format 3D printing technology, has launched a project to develop “the most accessible large-format 3D printing technology to enter the 3D Printing Farm market,” read a statement.

This project is being supported by EIT Manufacturing, the Knowledge Innovation Community (KIC) of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology.

According to the statement, ELM Fabrication’s project is being developed in partnership with two Greek companies, Monolithos Limited and 3DHUB. While ELM will be the technology and business owner, Monolithos and 3DHUB will provide their expertise on sourcing novel recycled 3D printing materials, validating the technology and be the first to distribute the technology in their region.

This partnership was established through networking opportunities facilitated by EIT Manufacturing for companies across the EU.

Mr Borg Calleja added that “the large-format 3D printing technology we’re developing will disrupt verticals such as furniture, film making, trade shows and other industries which continue to rely on traditional and linear workflows that use virgin material such as timber to develop products.

“Thanks to the support of EIT Community RIS Hub Malta and together with my co-founder Engineer David Sciberras, we were able to access support from EIT Manufacturing who have been great in giving us the support and finding the partners we need to get this project up and running. By the end of 2025 we aim to be ready to market.”

Diana Miceli, EIT Community Officer in Malta, said, “the European Institute of Innovation & Technology operates KICs across multiple sectors such as Health, Food, Digitalisation, Mobility, Cultural Heritage, Sustainable Energy and, of course, Manufacturing. Having established a community hub in Malta last year, it’s great to see the first projects get off the ground. Maltese start-ups like ELM Fabrication have the opportunity, through EIT, to access to support they need to make their innovation ideas a reality.”