D-MOD Srl

D-MOD Srl

Innovating the way we build metal structures

Recently at SMAU New York 2026

Start-up of Emilia-Romagna Region

Emilia-Romagna Region

Start-up of ART-ER

ART-ER

Start-up

Description

D-MOD is an Italian start-up as spin-off company of University of Bologna, founded in 2025 by two females leading the research on the applications of large-scale metal 3D printing solutions in construction. Our work has been based on over a decade of research and industrial collaborations with national and international partners in applications of arc-based Directed-Energy Deposition (arc-DED) technology in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) sector. The results received international impact, achieving worldwide prizes and awards, through over 50 publications in high-impact peer-reviewed scientific journals and 3 patents deposited. Among others, this research was supported though national and EU-funded projects such as Trinity, LATTICE, WAAMGRID, among others. 

D-MOD aims at bridging the gap between academia and industry related to new technologies for metal structures and systems. With the patent-protected integrated design and fabrication framework, the proposed solutions are the results of a combined use of large-scale metal 3D printing technology and optimization strategies. The results lead to a reduction up to 75% of material use, thus becoming a sustainable solution for the new generation of metal structures, which can be applied to the Architecture, Engineering, Construction sectors as well as Aerospace, Automotive and Design. 


Our products

The LATTICE system

The LATTICE system

D-MOD has patented the LATTICE system, a lattice-based metallic structure at the element scale, manufactured using large-scale metal 3D printing through the Wire-Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) process. The system enables the production of lattice metal components with strong mechanical performance while reducing material usage by up to 75%, making it a sustainable solution for next-generation metal products. The product has been structurally validated and also demonstrates excellent deformation and energy dissipation performance.

Advanced solutions for metal 3D printing

Advanced solutions for metal 3D printing

D-MOD offers an integrated ecosystem of services to enable industrial production through large-scale metal 3D printing, supporting companies and research centers throughout the entire development cycle, from design to final validation. The offering is structured into four main modules: strategic consulting for the integration of digital manufacturing processes (D-CONSULT), advanced design using generative design and topology optimization techniques (D-DESIGN), testing and structural validation of components (D-TEST), and specialized training programs (D-TRAIN). D-MOD’s innovation lies in the application of large-scale metal additive manufacturing for sectors such as construction, architecture, and design, enabling the production of complex geometries, custom components, and high-performance lightweight structures. Through an interdisciplinary and industrialization-oriented approach, D-MOD accelerates the transition toward more flexible, sustainable, and digital production models.

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