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Luzhou: The Rise of a New Additive Manufacturing Powerhouse in Southwest China
On August 9, 2026, the Economic Daily published a special report on the development of the additive manufacturing (AM) industry cluster in Luzhou, Sichuan Province. Since beginning its strategic布局 in 2017, Luzhou has built a complete industrial ecosystem anchored by leading enterprises and supported by a robust supply chain. Key highlights: 1) Hanfei Technology has established a 30,000m² production center equipped with more than 45 medium-to-large metal 3D printing systems, achieving mass production of key aerospace metal components since 2022; 2) Luzhou has attracted Ningbo Zhongyuan Advanced Materials to build 30 metal powder production lines, with the first five already commissioned in September 2025; 3) The Longmatan District AM industry cluster in Luzhou was recognized as a 2025 Sichuan Provincial Specialized and Innovative SME Cluster. Luzhou's approach demonstrates how a traditional industrial city can achieve transformation through targeted investment in additive manufacturing. The "tripod strategy" — a leading AM service provider (Hanfei Technology), a powder-making partner (Zhongyuan Advanced Materials), and formal cluster designation — has resolved the high-cost pain point of sourcing metal powders from provinces like Zhejiang and Jiangsu. For powder buyers, Luzhou offers significant value: once all 30 production lines are operational, Zhongyuan will become the largest powder base in Southwest China, potentially reshaping regional supply dynamics; growing demand from aerospace customers (e.g., AVIC Chengdu Aircraft, AECC Chengdu Engine) for locally sourced powders; and it's worth monitoring the expansion of alloy grades at the Luzhou plant, which currently focuses on titanium alloys and superalloys.
2026-08-09South Korea's UNIST Develops 5-Meter-Class 3D-Printed Ship Propeller for the U.S. Navy
On August 8, 2026, the 3D Printing Convergence Technology Center at the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology (UNIST) in South Korea, together with startup 3DFactory, was selected for the "2026 Second Shipbuilding and Marine Industry Technology Development Project" by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE). Over a 54-month period, the team will develop metal additive manufacturing technology for 5-meter-class ship propellers. The total project budget is KRW 11 billion (approximately USD 7.74 million), with KRW 8.5 billion (approximately USD 5.98 million) in government funding, targeting the U.S. Navy's MRO (maintenance, repair, and overhaul) market. Using large-scale directed energy deposition (DED) technology, the project aims to reduce propeller manufacturing time from months (as with traditional casting) to just weeks. This marks a milestone application of metal AM technology to large, critical naval components. A single 5-meter-class propeller can weigh several tons, requiring a massive consumption of metal powder (or wire). The naval MRO market presents sustained demand for copper alloy powders such as nickel-aluminum bronze (NAB). Key takeaways for powder buyers: 1) Large-scale DED processes primarily use metal wire or coarse powder (45-150 μm), a distinct product line from the fine powder (15-45 μm) used in LPBF; 2) If DED scales up in ship repair applications, it will create a new demand category for powder and wire; 3) Watch for UNIST's choice of NAB alloy powder suppliers.
2026-08-08AMCM Opens Large-Format Metal AM Assembly Facility in Germany to Meet Aerospace Demands
On August 8, 2026, AMCM (an EOS subsidiary) inaugurated a new assembly facility for large-format metal additive manufacturing systems in Weilheim, Germany, developed in partnership with the Bauer Group. The facility can simultaneously assemble multiple AMCM M 450, AMCM M 4K, and AMCM M 8K systems, specializing in customized large-scale LPBF equipment. The AMCM M 8K is one of the world's largest commercially available metal LPBF systems, with a build volume exceeding 800 × 400 × 500 mm per cycle. One of the key bottlenecks in large-format LPBF is powder management—each large build consumes hundreds of kilograms of powder, far more than conventional systems, placing higher demands on powder flowability, recyclability, and contamination control. AMCM's expansion signals that large-format metal printing is transitioning toward serial production. For powder buyers, this presents key implications: ① Growing installed base of large-format LPBF systems means higher per-build powder consumption (hundreds of kg per cycle), requiring powder suppliers to ensure stable, large-volume supply batches; ② Aerospace OEM qualifications for large-format printing typically demand extremely high inter-batch powder consistency; ③ Watch for powder procurement needs from AMCM's customers, including rocket engine manufacturers and satellite structural component makers.
2026-08-08