Additive Manufacturing (AM; also known as 3D Printing) is a new manufacturing method that creates solid objects based on discrete stacking principles. It integrates information network technology, advanced material technology, and digital manufacturing technology, disrupting traditional thinking and manufacturing models. This has a profound impact on traditional processes, production lines, factory models, and industrial chain combinations, giving rise to numerous new industries, new business formats, and new models. It has become a focal point for advanced countries to seize the high ground in technological innovation and advanced manufacturing development.
With the development and maturation of technology, the application fields of additive manufacturing are expanding. The demand for high-quality development in manufacturing, driven by product updates, production quality improvement, and green intelligent upgrades, is prompting industries such as aerospace, automotive, medical, molds, and electronic information to adopt additive manufacturing in search of new breakthroughs. Emerging industries and future industries, such as new energy, low-altitude aircraft, and embodied intelligence, are using additive manufacturing to build product competitiveness, with many new applications making significant progress. The proportion of additive manufacturing components in high-end product manufacturing has significantly increased.
In the medical field, as of November 2024, there are already 199 certified or registered 3D printed medical devices in the country, with 167 of them classified as Class II and Class III devices. Benefiting from strong market demand, companies such as Huashu High-Tech and Plater have achieved revenue growth in the first half of this year!
Huashu High-Tech: Continuous Revenue Growth
According to Huashu High-Tech’s mid-year report, the company achieved an operating income of 239 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.43%; net profit attributable to the parent company was 4.5084 million yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 86.30%; and the net profit after deducting non-recurring gains and losses was 1.6983 million yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 94.24%.
Huashu High-Tech focuses on the research, production, and sales of industrial-grade additive manufacturing equipment, dedicated to providing global customers with metal (SLM) additive manufacturing equipment and polymer (SLS) additive manufacturing equipment, as well as 3D printing materials, processes, and services. The company has developed over 40 types of equipment and matched over 40 types of specialized materials and processes, which are accelerating applications in aerospace, automotive, medical, and mold industries.
The company is one of the few additive manufacturing enterprises globally that possesses independent research and production capabilities for 3D printing equipment, materials, and software. Its sales scale ranks among the top in the world, making it one of the leading companies in industrial-grade additive manufacturing equipment in China. The company has formed a series of self-developed SLS polymer powder material products and a process system that matches the diversified applications of SLM and SLS equipment, creating a complete independent technology and brand value system for industrial-grade additive manufacturing of metals and polymers. It is at the forefront of international development in large size, multi-laser, continuous additive manufacturing, and high-performance powder materials.
Plater: Revenue and Net Profit Both Increase
In the first half of the year, Plater achieved an operating income of 666 million yuan, an increase of 97.9757 million yuan compared to the same period last year, with a growth rate of 17.22%; net profit was 72 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 22.98%, mainly due to the expansion of the company’s production and operation scale and continuous exploration of new markets and application fields. The revenue from customized 3D printed products and 3D printing raw materials both achieved growth.
Plater is a high-tech enterprise focused on industrial-grade metal additive manufacturing (3D Printing), providing customers with a complete set of solutions for metal additive manufacturing. Its business covers the research and production of metal 3D Printing equipment, manufacturing of customized metal 3D Printing products, research and production of metal 3D Printing raw materials, and process technology services (including the development of customized engineering software for metal 3D Printing), establishing a relatively complete ecosystem for the metal 3D Printing industry, with overall strength leading in both domestic and international metal additive manufacturing fields.
The “Dental Laser Selective Melting Pure Titanium Powder” product designed and developed by the company has obtained the Class III medical device registration certificate approved by the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA), marking that this powder product has been approved for use in related medical devices, achieving significant progress in the compliant application of BLTM powder products in the medical field.
In fact, in 2024, technologies such as PBF-LB/M (Selective Laser Melting), DED-LB/M (Laser Additive Manufacturing), BJ (Binder Jetting), and EBM (Electron Beam Melting) are flourishing, continuously enriching the industrial chain ecosystem, with downstream scenarios expanding to civilian large-scale production.
From a global perspective, the 3D printing industry is still dominated by the United States, which is currently the main concentration of 3D printing companies. China’s additive manufacturing technology has developed from the demand side, starting with parts manufacturing. With the rapid growth of additive manufacturing technology and its continuous penetration into various industry fields, the industrial chain has basically formed.
The application model of additive manufacturing technology is gradually shifting from direct manufacturing to design manufacturing, meaning that additive manufacturing technology is entering a development stage that promotes the transformation and reform of existing manufacturing enterprises. New processes, principles, materials, and applications related to additive manufacturing are constantly emerging worldwide, with new concepts such as 4D Printing, spatial 3D Printing, electronic 3D Printing, cellular 3D Printing, and micro-nano 3D Printing emerging one after another.
As additive manufacturing technology matures, the types and application ranges of applicable materials have expanded, with the mechanical properties of typical metal additive manufacturing structures stabilizing and even exceeding those of forged parts. Additive manufacturing technology is used to manufacture components for numerous industries, from rockets for space travel to midsoles for running shoes.
Additive manufacturing has brought significant economic benefits to these different industries and is being applied accordingly. Revenue from systems, services, software, and materials has contributions from additive manufacturing users in every industry. Additive manufacturing has been relatively widely applied in industries such as medical and aerospace.
