On August 18, 2026, Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom announced a breakthrough in selective laser melting (SLM) of copper and copper alloys on its industrial-grade RusMelt 3D printers. Previously constrained by copper's high reflectivity and thermal conductivity—which limited laser-based melting—the company's Moscow Additive Technology Center developed optimized laser melting parameters for M2 copper powder. The team successfully printed heat exchanger components and gyroid lattice structures, which passed metallographic inspection. The achievement targets small-batch production of complex copper parts for electronics, aerospace, and automotive applications. This marks a significant step for import substitution in Russia's aviation industry and is expected to boost demand for copper alloy powders such as CuCrZr and GRCop. For powder buyers, key implications include: ① The successful development of copper alloy SLM parameters expands the application scope of copper powders, with anticipated growth in demand for CuCrZr, GRCop, and pure copper powders; ② Copper powders require stringent control over oxygen content, sphericity, and reflectivity compatibility—suppliers capable of delivering high-purity copper powder alongside laser parameter optimization will gain a competitive edge; ③ Watch for bulk procurement opportunities driven by the serial production of copper alloy components in heat exchangers, electric drives, and aerospace thrust chambers.