Yunlu Co., Ltd. Receives Utility Model Patent for 'Continuous Casting Gas Atomization Powder Production Equipment'
Yunlu Co., Ltd. (688190) was granted a utility model patent on July 24, 2026, for equipment titled 'A Continuous Casting Gas Atomization Powder Production Device,' with patent application number CN202521701726.8. The device comprises core components such as an atomization tower, first and second medium-frequency furnaces, a tundish, powder delivery piping, a cyclone separator, a small material tank, a cooling unit, a mobile material tank, a dust collector, and a fan. Its core technical principle is that while the first medium-frequency furnace is casting, the second furnace concurrently charges and melts steel; once the first furnace completes casting, the second is ready to pour, enabling a cyclic multi-furnace continuous casting process. This patent addresses the technical challenge of continuous casting in conventional gas atomization powder production equipment, ensuring production efficiency. Yunlu Co., Ltd., a national-level specialized and new 'Little Giant' enterprise under AECC, primarily produces advanced magnetic metal materials such as amorphous alloy ribbons, nanocrystalline alloys, and atomized powders. This year, the company has received 15 new patent grants, a 275% increase year-over-year, with R&D investment of 119 million RMB in 2025. This patent represents a core technological breakthrough in gas atomization powder production equipment, further enhancing the efficiency and continuity of powder production.
2026-07-23
APEC Digital and AI Ministerial Meeting Held in Chengdu; Chengdu Statement Elevates 'Open Source' to Ministerial-Level Cooperation for the First Time
On July 23, the 2026 APEC Digital and Artificial Intelligence Ministerial Meeting was held in Chengdu. The meeting chair, Minister of Industry and Information Technology Li Lecheng, announced the successful adoption of the Chengdu Statement, formally titled the '2026 APEC Digital and AI Ministerial Statement,' which establishes an action framework for deepening APEC cooperation in digital and AI fields in the coming period. The meeting focused on the theme 'Digital and AI Technologies Empowering the Asia-Pacific Community,' with discussions centered on three topics: strengthening the enabling role of digital and AI technologies in development, promoting universal and meaningful digital connectivity, and supporting digital inclusion and digital skills upgrading. Key outcomes include five highlights: building consensus on innovation driven by digital and AI empowerment, deepening understanding of risk prevention for security and controllability, and establishing goals of inclusive and shared benefits. Notably, this ministerial meeting elevated 'open source' to the APEC ministerial-level cooperation for the first time, encouraging economies to support open-source practices and actively participate in international AI open-source community collaboration. For the metal 3D printing industry, this consensus on open-source cooperation helps lower the barrier to advanced manufacturing technologies, fostering the integrated innovation of additive manufacturing processes and AI.
2026-07-23
AFRL Study Validates PanX Metal Additive Simulation Software: Predicts Thermal History Across Full LPBF Build Space with 2–14% Error
A study supported by the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) has validated the reliability of PanX software in calculating thermal history and residual stress for metal 3D printing. The research compared simulation and experimental measurement data for Ti-6Al-4V titanium alloy across a full LPBF build space with multiple parts printed simultaneously. PanX achieved interlayer temperature calculation deviations ranging from 2% to 14%, and employed a novel P-integral method to identify potential crack zones. The software is based on a multigrid approach that combines multiple transient solutions to balance accuracy and computational efficiency. As noted by the Chief Engineer at PanOptimization, additive manufacturing cannot reach full industrial maturity without reliable, physics-based models. The findings demonstrate that physics-based models can identify and mitigate risks such as part deformation and cracking before actual printing, which is critical for process qualification in aerospace and defense applications. PanX's simulation capabilities enable manufacturers to reduce material waste, accelerate product development cycles, and lower certification costs, marking a shift from trial-and-error methods to physics-based digital production.
2026-07-23