Rapid Fusion will introduce Cerberus, a containerized manufacturing system, at Formnext in Germany from Nov. 18 to 21. The system is designed for deployment in remote locations and supports production work in isolated areas such as arctic oil platforms, desert forward bases, disaster zones and remote construction sites.
“We had been in talks with a number of defense companies about the possibility of developing a system that produces military grade components anywhere in the world,” explained Martin Jewell, chief technical officer.
“This got us thinking. Being able to deploy quickly was a key requirement so we’ve taken the functionality and technology of Medusa and adapted it into a new system that is containerized and can be set-up anywhere in the world – in just twenty-five minutes.”
He continued: “The initial feedback on Cerberus has been phenomenal and we believe we have a hybrid manufacturing machine that can make components used in rescue drones, safety critical parts for oil and gas and replacements bits for vehicles operating in intense conditions.
“We’ll be demonstrating it for the first time at Formnext, with the opportunity for companies to pre-order for when production starts next month.”
Cerberus provides access to a build volume of 1200mm3 with a pellet throughput of up to 17kg per hour and 3kW of spindle power – suitable for both 3D printing and CNC machining.
It is designed for resupply cycles and supports bulk material use so operators can process locally available polymers. It uses two independent print heads to reduce downtime and operates at up to 500°C for composite production.
Cerberus runs on a single 5-pin commando power socket and includes a self-leveling platform for uneven ground and an automated start-up sequence for verification and calibration.
Martin added: “The system has been designed to deliver reliable performance in demanding, high-tempo environments – always built with operational resilience in mind.”
“We’ve developed several modular enhancements that buyers can choose from to make the system energy independent, achieve compressed air where none is available and access intelligence anywhere through Bob – our AI powered operating system.”
Jake Hand, CEO of Rapid Fusion, concluded: “There are lots of deployment scenarios where Cerberus can make a real difference. We initially looked at how it would work in producing replacement parts for military and defense or creating custom tooling and fixtures.
“It then broadened out to disaster response and the ability to make medical supplies quickly, and eliminating helicopter logistics for polymer parts used in oil and gas. The reality is there are many more scenarios where our technology can be used.”
“Formnext will be a great place to debut Cerberus, and we can’t wait to enter into production to start helping countries save lives and protect their communities.”
Source: Rapid Fusion
About Rapid Fusion
Rapid Fusion, established in 2023 and based in Exeter, UK, develops large-format additive manufacturing (LFAM) systems for polymer-based applications. Its product portfolio includes pellet extrusion hardware and robotic 3D printing systems such as Apollo, Medusa, and Zeus, which are designed for high-speed, high-temperature printing. These solutions are used in aerospace, automotive, construction, marine, energy, and design sectors. The company manufactures its equipment in the UK and operates a 5,000-square-foot demonstration facility at Skypark for product trials and customer engagement. The company has received support from Innovate UK to expand its product capabilities and market reach. Its technology focuses on scalable, efficient production of large polymer parts using pellet-based 3D printing integrated with industrial robotics.