Conflux Technology is a heat transfer and additive manufacturing (AM) company addressing heat exchange limitations across a range of industries, from next-gen aviation, aerospace, and beyond. Pulse 2.0 interviewed Conflux Technology founder and CEO Michael Fuller to learn more about the company.
Michael Fuller’s Background
What is Michael Fuller’s background? Fuller said:
“I’ve spent my entire career in advanced engineering, driven by a childhood dream of designing race cars. That passion led me to proactively research the field, even reaching out to race car drivers to understand how to make it a reality. Eventually, I worked in design engineering and management roles across motorsport in Europe for 15 years, including the Formula 1 World Championship, the World Endurance Championship, and the World Rally Championship. It was a dream come true—transforming a childhood ambition into a career I’m proud of.”
Formation Of The Company
How did the idea for the company come together? Fuller shared:
“The idea for Conflux Technology emerged from two key insights I gained during my career in motorsport. Working across Formula 1, Le Mans Endurance Racing, and the World Rally Championship, I was exposed to the critical importance of heat transfer efficiency in high-performance applications. At the same time, I became an early adopter of Additive Manufacturing, which was evolving from rapid prototyping into industrialized 3D printing. This experience demonstrated that AM wasn’t just about geometric freedom—it had the potential to fundamentally transform business models beyond traditional manufacturing constraints.”
“Building on these insights, I designed an AM heat exchanger that became the foundation of Conflux Technology. Since launching in 2017, we’ve grown to supply heat exchange solutions to world-leading organizations. However, our mission goes beyond niche applications. Heat exchangers are central to nearly every machine and device, and to make a meaningful impact, we must scale our energy-efficient solutions across industries. This is how we aim to help drive the net-zero economy and truly move the needle in addressing global challenges.”
Favorite Memory
What has been Fuller’s favorite memory working for the company so far? Fuller reflected:
“The day my daughter was born stands out as one of the most memorable days of my life—and coincidentally, it was also the day we received our first purchase order. While the tears I shed were certainly for my daughter’s arrival, the moment also marked the beginning of an incredible journey for Conflux.”
“Since then, we’ve received many more purchase orders, and while I don’t cry each time, the pride I feel hasn’t diminished. Watching the Conflux team work tirelessly to fulfill the promises we make to our customers—delivering groundbreaking heat transfer solutions with unmatched efficiency—continues to be a source of immense pride and inspiration.”
Core Products
What are the company’s core products and features? Fuller explained:
“At Conflux Technology, our core product is high-performance heat exchangers designed and manufactured using advanced Additive Manufacturing (AM) technology. These heat exchangers are lighter, more compact, and customizable to meet specific performance and environmental conditions. By leveraging AM, we can produce on demand, minimizing waste and utilizing the same equipment to create varied designs without the need for retooling.”
“Our solutions serve a diverse range of industries, including space, next-generation aviation, motorsport, defense, high-powered industrial machinery, and beyond, ensuring tailored performance across critical applications.”
Challenges Faced
What challenges have Fuller faced in building the company? Fuller acknowledged:
“One of the biggest challenges we faced was navigating the restrictions on international travel during COVID, particularly as an export-oriented company based in Australia. This period tested our ability to maintain strong customer relationships and demonstrate the value of our high-detail, precision-driven technology, which doesn’t translate well over a webcam.”
“To overcome this, we established regional teams closer to our customers. This approach not only allowed us to maintain a personal, face-to-face connection—essential because, as the saying goes, people buy from people—but also positioned us for scalable growth as we expanded our global footprint. This structure has been instrumental in driving our current growth phase.”
Evolution Of The Company’s Technology
How has the company’s technology evolved since launching? Fuller noted:
“Since launching in 2017, Conflux Technology has significantly advanced its heat exchanger technology. Initially serving the motorsport sector, we have expanded into critical industries such as space, aviation, and industrial systems, where high-efficiency heat transfer solutions are essential. These sectors are now a key focus for our continued growth.”
“In addition to scaling our applications, we have developed proprietary post-processing techniques that are highly regarded within the Additive Manufacturing (AM) industry. These techniques are designed to ensure the cleanliness and reliability of our components, which is especially critical for applications like hydraulics and dielectric fluids in electric vehicles. Unlike conventional methods, our post-processing employs advanced technologies, including high-resolution CT scanning at Australia’s government-owned synchrotron facility. This allows us to verify not only the robustness and repeatability of our processes but also the quality and cleanliness of each component.”
Significant Milestones
What have been some of the company’s most significant milestones? Fuller cited:
“A standout milestone was obtaining AS9100 certification, a globally recognized quality management standard for the aerospace, defense, and aviation industries. Achieving this certification is a testament to the rigor and precision of our processes, from Additive Manufacturing to proprietary post-processing. It underscores our ability to meet the stringent quality, reliability, and repeatability demands of high-stakes applications. This certification has opened doors to collaborate with world-leading organizations in regulated industries where trust and consistency are paramount.”
“Another significant achievement has been securing several serial production orders from customers, a testament to the scalability and reliability of our technology. These orders reflect the confidence of leading companies in our ability to deliver consistent, high-performance heat exchangers at volume, further solidifying our position as a trusted supplier in multiple industries.”
Customer Success Stories
When asking Fuller about customer success stories, he highlighted:
“One standout success story is our work for AMCM, a leader in advanced metal 3D printing machines. They required a high-performance argon gas heat exchanger to integrate into their M4K line. We designed a compact, efficient, and durable heat exchanger tailored to their needs and are now in serial production.”
“What makes this partnership especially unique is the clever concept of an AM machine producing AM components to enhance its own performance. This project not only demonstrated the potential of AM technology but also underscored how Conflux can deliver innovative, scalable solutions that exceed customer expectations.”
Funding
When asking Fuller about the company’s funding details, he revealed:
“In October, we successfully raised $11M in Series B funding, led by Breakthrough Victoria, with additional participation from AM Ventures and Acorn Capital. This funding will accelerate the development of our Conflux Production Systems (CPS), an advanced end-to-end manufacturing solution for producing AM heat exchangers at scale.”
“The funding also supports our efforts to expand globally by scaling our team to meet growing customer demand. This investment is a significant step forward in achieving our vision of delivering cutting-edge heat exchange technology to industries worldwide.”
Total Addressable Market
What total addressable market (TAM) size is the company pursuing? Fuller assessed:
“The global heat exchanger market is currently valued at $30 billion, and Conflux Technology is addressing a $6 billion segment of this market by delivering innovative solutions that enhance efficiency, improve thermal management, and help customers move closer to net-zero goals. However, we believe the potential is far greater—we’re only at the starting line.”
“As advancements in additive manufacturing continue, such as increased printable volumes, improved productivity, and reduced costs, the TAM will expand significantly. Scaling effectively requires not only making better products but also making them more affordable. To achieve this, we work tirelessly to improve productivity and actively collaborate with and challenge our suppliers to reduce costs. The potential for growth is vast, and we see no near-term limits to the opportunities ahead.”
Differentiation From The Competition
What differentiates the company from its competition? Fuller affirmed:
“Conflux Technology sets itself apart with a vertically integrated process that combines expertise in design, simulation, and manufacturing. Using advanced Additive Manufacturing (AM), we develop highly optimized heat exchangers tailored to meet specific customer requirements with precision.”
“Our approach leverages AM to adapt the geometry and density of heat transfer surfaces to changing fluid properties, enabling process intensification, size reduction, and weight savings. These capabilities deliver critical benefits across industries—such as lightweight, high-performance solutions for aerospace and compact designs for offshore applications. Additionally, every design is intentional, calculated, and engineered to perform under specific conditions, providing a level of customization and efficiency that traditional manufacturers cannot match.”
Future Company Goals
What are some of the company’s future company goals? Fuller emphasized:
“Conflux Technology’s vision is scaling for impact. While our heat exchangers are already deployed in cutting-edge applications like motorsport, rockets, and space stations, our goal is to move beyond niche applications. To truly make a difference, we need to scale our energy-efficient solutions globally and across industries, driving meaningful change.”
“Central to this vision is the development and deployment of the Conflux Production Systems (CPS), our advanced end-to-end manufacturing solution. CPS automates our entire production process—from raw materials to finished parts—while ensuring quality and scalability. This system is designed not only to meet our current production demands but also to support customers in scaling their own manufacturing. By licensing CPS to customers and their suppliers, we enable them to achieve production efficiency near their point of assembly, creating a scalable framework to meet future market demands and help move the needle on global energy efficiency.”
