Spanish metal additive manufacturing company Meltio has created a stainless-steel replica of the FIFA World Cup trophy using its proprietary wire-laser metal deposition technology, celebrating Spain’s recent World Cup triumph. The project showcases the company’s advanced metal 3D printing capabilities while highlighting the potential of additive manufacturing for producing complex industrial components.
The tribute was developed after Spain secured a 1-0 victory over Argentina on July 19 to claim its second FIFA World Cup title. What began as an informal idea among employees during the tournament soon evolved into a technical demonstration designed to showcase the capabilities of Meltio’s patented manufacturing technology.
The World Cup trophy was selected because of its intricate geometry, making it one of the most challenging objects to manufacture through metal additive manufacturing. Its continuously changing curves, varying cross-sections, absence of flat reference surfaces and multiple overhangs require high precision throughout the printing process.
The trophy was produced at Meltio’s manufacturing facility in Linares, Jaén, using the company’s Meltio Engine integration system mounted on an industrial robotic arm. The system incorporates Meltio’s laser deposition head, enabling automated metal deposition with high levels of accuracy. The completed trophy measures 29.5 centimetres in height, 13 centimetres in diameter and weighs approximately 13 kilograms. The entire printing process was completed in around 20 hours.
The project demonstrates the capabilities of Meltio’s patented Wire-Laser Metal Deposition (W-LMD) technology, which belongs to the Directed Energy Deposition (DED) family of additive manufacturing processes. Unlike conventional powder-based metal printing systems, Meltio’s process uses standard commercial welding wire as the raw material. The wire is melted by multiple lasers to create a molten pool, allowing the component to be built layer by layer until it reaches its final shape.
According to the company, the use of welding wire instead of metal powder offers several advantages, including improved workplace safety, cleaner manufacturing conditions, reduced material waste and lower post-processing requirements. The process also minimises machining compared with conventional manufacturing methods where components are cut from solid metal blocks.
While the World Cup trophy serves as a symbolic tribute to Spain’s football success, the same technology is widely used in industrial applications around the world. Meltio’s wire-laser metal deposition systems are deployed across sectors including aerospace, defence, automotive, oil and gas, mining and heavy engineering for both manufacturing new components and repairing worn or damaged parts.
The company clarified that the stainless-steel trophy is a commemorative piece created solely as a tribute to Spain’s World Cup victory. It is not an official or licensed FIFA product and is not available for commercial sale. The trophy will remain on display at Meltio’s headquarters in Linares, although the company remarked that it would be pleased to present it to Spain’s world champions should they express interest.
Founded in 2019, Meltio is headquartered in Linares, Spain, and develops advanced metal additive manufacturing solutions based on its patented wire-laser metal deposition technology. The company’s systems are installed in more than 60 countries through a global network of over 55 partners and are used by more than 70 universities, research institutions and technical centres worldwide.
