ZOZ GMBH

Their core work

ZOZ GmbH is a German technology SME specializing in high-energy ball milling and mechanical alloying — the process of producing engineered powder materials with precisely controlled microstructures. Their core capability is manufacturing and applying Simoloyer® systems for mechanochemical processing, which produces advanced alloys including nanomodified titanium and oxide dispersion strengthened (ODS) materials. In H2020 projects they contribute as a materials processing specialist, bridging the gap between raw powder engineering and downstream manufacturing routes like additive manufacturing. Their work targets demanding applications where conventional materials fail: high-temperature environments, corrosive conditions, and extreme mechanical loads.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their first H2020 project (2015-2019), ZOZ focused on nanomodified titanium alloys — refining their ball milling processes to engineer nano-scale microstructures in a biomedical and aerospace-relevant metal system. By their second project (2021-2024), the focus had shifted decisively toward ODS materials and additive manufacturing, with explicit interest in computational materials science and corrosion resistance. The trajectory is consistent: ZOZ is moving from producing advanced powders to qualifying those powders as feedstocks for next-generation manufacturing processes, particularly AM of high-temperature components.

ZOZ is positioning itself at the intersection of advanced powder metallurgy and additive manufacturing — a high-demand space as industries seek certified AM feedstocks for extreme-environment applications in aerospace, energy, and industrial equipment.

How they like to work

ZOZ participates exclusively as a consortium partner and has never coordinated an H2020 project, suggesting they prefer to contribute a defined technical role rather than lead administrative efforts. With 23 unique partners across 9 countries from just 2 projects, they operate in relatively large, diverse consortia — typical of RIA projects that bring together material producers, processors, and end-users across the value chain. This indicates they are comfortable working in multi-partner international settings where their role is a specialized technical node rather than the hub.

ZOZ has built a network of 23 unique partners across 9 countries through only 2 projects, reflecting the large consortium structure of EU RIA grants. Their geographic footprint spans multiple European countries, consistent with pan-European materials science collaborations.

What sets them apart

ZOZ occupies a rare niche as an industrial SME that both manufactures high-energy milling equipment and actively applies it in R&D — giving them a practitioner's depth that academic partners typically lack. Their transition from nano-alloys to ODS-for-AM means they are one of a very small number of companies with hands-on experience preparing AM-ready powder feedstocks for high-temperature, corrosion-resistant applications. For a consortium needing a materials processing partner who can take a lab-scale formulation to a reproducible industrial powder, ZOZ offers both the equipment and the know-how.

Highlights from their portfolio

• topAM
  Directly targets the high-growth additive manufacturing market with ODS materials for high-temperature devices — a technically demanding and commercially relevant combination that positions ZOZ at the frontier of AM feedstock qualification.
• NANOTUN3D
  ZOZ's highest-funded H2020 project (€321,469) and their entry into EU-funded research, establishing their credibility in nanomodified alloy processing as a gateway to later AM-focused work.