AMTIF Fifth International Forum on Additive Manufacturing Technology Opens Today in Suzhou, Co-Hosted by Seven Major Universities
From August 2–4, 2026, the Fifth International Summit on Additive Manufacturing Technology (AMTIF) will be held at the Chunshenhu Resort Hotel in Suzhou. The forum is co-organized by more than ten leading Chinese universities, including Xi'an Jiaotong University, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Beihang University, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Beijing Institute of Technology, China University of Mining and Technology, Zhejiang University, Nanjing Tech University, Guizhou University, Beijing Technology and Business University, Shanghai University, and Hangzhou Dianzi University, with the Yangtze River Delta Steel Industry Development Association and the State Key Laboratory of Fluid Power and Mechatronic Systems at Zhejiang University serving as joint organizers. Registration fees are RMB 1,200 per person for host and co-organizing institutions, RMB 1,500 for other institutions, and RMB 1,000 for students.
The forum features seven parallel sub-forums covering arc additive manufacturing, laser additive manufacturing, solid-state additive manufacturing (friction stir, cold spray, ultrasonic), biomedical additive manufacturing, ceramic and casting additive manufacturing, electron beam additive manufacturing, and concrete additive manufacturing, along with a dedicated session on novel materials and process innovation. Concurrent events include the 3rd National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Design Competition, the 2026 National Selection of Outstanding Undergraduate Theses and Outstanding Graduate Dissertations in Additive Manufacturing, a paper competition, and poster presentations. MDPI will also exhibit with several of its materials science journals. The main keynote presentations will be delivered on August 3, followed by sub-forum technical presentations on August 4, and site visits and networking on August 5.
This year's AMTIF is held against the backdrop of China's 15th Five-Year Plan, which designates additive manufacturing as a key pillar of new quality productive forces. It is the largest and most comprehensive annual academic and industrial exchange event in China's additive manufacturing sector. Judging by the lineup of universities and the agenda, China's additive manufacturing is transitioning from a university-led research focus to deep industry-academia-research integration, with collaborative innovation across materials, processes, and applications as the core theme of the forum.
Value for powder buyers: (1) The seven sub-forums cover a wide range of additive processes—arc, laser, electron beam, and solid-state—corresponding to demand for various powder categories such as titanium alloys, nickel-based superalloys, copper alloys, and aluminum alloys. Monitoring the materials innovation directions presented at each sub-forum can help you plan your product portfolio ahead of time. (2) The National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Design Competition and the Outstanding Thesis Selection serve as windows into next-generation high-value applications—the powder materials and grades used in winning projects are often leading indicators of demand growth over the next 2–3 years. (3) MDPI's participation brings an international academic perspective, helping you identify which novel alloy powders (e.g., high-entropy alloys, refractory alloys) are transitioning from the lab to industrial-scale adoption.
2026-08-02
Sand-AT Technology's Copper Alloy Propeller Passes CCS Certification, Delivered in 20 Days via 3DP Binder Jetting
On July 31, 2026, Xinxin Foundry, a subsidiary of Sand-AT Technology, received a Factory Approval Certificate from the China Classification Society (CCS), marking official national-level recognition of its copper alloy propellers produced via 3DP binder jetting casting. This certification grants the company market access to the marine and offshore engineering equipment sector. The certified propeller has a diameter of 1,200 mm and weighs 200 kg; using 3DP binder jetting, the entire process from sand mold printing to final casting took just 20 days, compared to 25–30 days with traditional casting methods—a roughly 30% reduction in lead time. This milestone signals the transition of additive manufacturing in China's marine sector from laboratory validation to industrialized application.
3D printing fundamentally overcomes the core challenge of producing complex propeller core molds. Traditional methods rely on highly skilled technicians to handcraft sand cores—a process that is slow and inconsistent, with proper expertise requiring 3–5 years to develop. Additive-manufactured sand molds reduce machining allowances from the conventional 8–10 mm down to 3–5 mm, enabling lighter blanks, thinner walls, and a boost in material utilization from 60%–70% in traditional processes to over 85%. Passing CCS certification confirms that Xinxin Foundry's production system, process control, product quality, and inspection capabilities fully meet the standards of the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), making its products applicable to vessels under the jurisdiction of classification societies worldwide.
Xinxin's success highlights a broader industry trend: 3DP binder jetting is expanding beyond prototyping and aerospace niche applications into large-scale traditional casting sectors such as marine and energy equipment. Ship propellers are typical high-value, low-volume products that fit the economic sweet spot of additive manufacturing. The CCS certification provides a replicable roadmap for other domestic foundries—from process validation to class certification to volume supply—and it is expected that more casting companies will follow this path within the next 3–5 years.
Value for powder buyers: (1) 3DP binder jetting casting does not require spherical powders; it uses conventional casting-grade metal powders, creating new procurement demand for traditional copper alloys (e.g., ZCuSn10Zn2, ZCuAl10Fe3) and nickel-aluminum bronze powders. (2) A single propeller weighs 200 kg, consuming dozens of times more powder than aerospace components; one marine casting project can drive multi-ton powder demand, representing a high-value, large-volume application scenario. (3) CCS certification opens dual-use civilian and military markets—naval propeller requirements demand superior material performance, which will drive quality upgrades in high-performance copper alloys and nickel-aluminum bronze powders, with certified powder suppliers positioned to command premium pricing.
2026-08-01
