On October 3, 2026, the Laser and Welding Technology Institute (ILIST) of St. Petersburg State Marine Technical University (SPbGMTU) unveiled the compact direct laser growth (DED) system ILIST-S, as announced by the St. Petersburg City Government Press Service. The system operates similarly to 3D printing: a laser melts metal powder at a designated location, while a powder feeding mechanism supplies material layer by layer, gradually 'growing' metal parts of arbitrary complex shapes. Compared to previous-generation systems, its main advantages are greater compactness and lower cost. In terms of technical specifications, the ILIST-S can process steel, nickel, titanium, aluminum, copper, and cobalt alloys, with a maximum part size of 40 cm and a production rate of 0.4 kg/h. Its applications extend beyond heavy machinery manufacturing to include industrial blanks for shipbuilding, high-precision medical prostheses, complex instrumentation components, and educational equipment for universities and process laboratories. In related news, the university reported that the ILIST series systems have increased direct laser growth productivity by more than 7 times compared to previous levels (previously averaging about 1 kg/h, reaching 2-2.5 kg/h by the end of 2024). Artur Vildanov, head of the ILIST process department, stated that the large-scale system has no global equivalent among direct laser growth systems and is specifically aimed at manufacturing large parts for the rocket and space, aircraft engine, nuclear, and thermal power industries. Value for powder buyers: ① The expansion of Russia's domestic DED equipment line (with the compact S and large-scale systems operating in parallel) will drive sustained demand in the Russian market for spherical metal powders based on steel, nickel, titanium, aluminum, copper, and cobalt; ② The relatively standard requirements for powder particle size and flowability for 40 cm-class parts and applications in shipbuilding, medical, and instrumentation fields make this a low-barrier entry point for small and medium-sized powder suppliers into the Russian market; ③ Attention should be paid to the incremental demand for educational and research powders resulting from the promotion of ILIST series systems in universities and research institutes.