Weekly Report #2629: 3D Printing Equipment Output Up 48.5% in H1, Tungsten Prices Continue to Fall, Dual-Process Titanium Powder Routes Take Shape
📊 Industry validation continues: H1 equipment output grew 48.5% YoY, with intensive institutional research. National Bureau of Statistics data shows 3D printing equipment output up 48.5% in H1 2026, leading high-end manufacturing. 14 concept stocks received over 50 institutional visits, signaling a shift from 'concept hype' to 'industrial validation'. 🚀 Commercial space-driven demand: Long March 10B's maiden flight validated China's unique net recovery technology. Shaanxi's first satellite laser communication production line (600 terminals/year) launched, and 22 products were unveiled at the Aerospace Information Conference. Aerospace lightweighting continues to drive titanium and aluminum powder demand. 🏭 Structural changes in powder supply: Shangcai 3D established an EIGA+DH-S dual-process titanium powder system (virgin + recycled). Beifeng Smart filed a 1.3 billion RMB project in Inner Mongolia to use coal gangue for cost reduction. Jinyuan Smart introduced high-thermal-conductivity copper powder (>400 W/m·K) for AI cooling. 🔬 Technology evolution: KU Leuven achieved in-situ microstructure control of super duplex stainless steel via dual-laser LPBF, enabling phase-patterned parts. AM PravaH launched a multi-scale simulation platform covering the entire process from powder to final part. The global 3D printing market is projected to reach $31.77 billion by 2032 (CAGR 11.6%). Tungsten prices fell another 4.1% this week to ¥1,130/kg, down over 54% from the 2026 peak, easing cost pressure for powder manufacturers.
2026-07-19
Guangdong Leijia 3D Prints Titanium Hollow Watch in 72 Hours with Over 90% Material Utilization
Guangdong Leijia Additive Technology showcased a metal 3D-printed hollow wristwatch solution, using its DiMetal series to integrally form the titanium alloy case, case back, and bracelet—no molds, no welds, and no assembly required. Traditional manufacturing requires mold making (costing over ¥100,000 and taking a month), whereas metal 3D printing directly 'grows' the entire watch blank from a digital model, delivering a wearable product within 72 hours. The watch uses lightweight yet durable titanium alloy, with material utilization exceeding 90%—compared to traditional machining, which reduces a 10 kg titanium ingot to just 1 kg of final product, metal 3D printing turns 9 kg into the watch instead of waste. After post-processing including polishing, sandblasting, CNC finishing, and buffing, the printed parts are ready to wear. The core team of Guangdong Leijia comes from Professor Yang Yongqiang’s group at South China University of Technology, which developed China’s first metal 3D printer in 2003. The company has since deepened its expertise in scientific research and education, medical devices, consumer electronics, shoe molds, and aerospace. This case demonstrates the potential of metal 3D printing for customizing high-end consumer goods.
2026-07-18
AECC Aviation Power Wins Patent for “Concave-Structure SLM Powder Spreading and Doctor Blading Device”, with Patent Grants Up 621% Year-on-Year
AECC Aviation Power Co., Ltd. (stock code: 600893) received a patent on July 17, 2026, titled “A Powder Spreading and Doctor Blading Device and Method for Laser Selective Melting (SLM) of Concave Structures.” The invention is in the additive manufacturing field and includes a powder spreading mechanism and a doctor blade system: the spreading mechanism uses a straight-groove roller to quantitatively extract powder from a storage hopper and transfer it to an internal powder falling cavity, with the roller rotating in sync with the SLM machine’s motion trajectory; the doctor blade works in tandem with the spreading mechanism for synchronized powder deposition and leveling. This technology is suited for local powder bed coating and laser selective melting of concave geometric features, enabling SLM formation at specific local areas without compromising the original part structure. As of this year, the company has secured 101 new patent grants, a 621.43% increase year-on-year. The patent addresses the technical bottleneck of local powder coating in concave regions during SLM processes, placing higher demands on powder flowability and particle size distribution uniformity.
2026-07-18
