Researchers at a laboratory in Foshan City, south China's Guangdong Province, have deepened their research on metal 3D printing technology, also known as metal additive manufacturing, to upgrade the traditional materials manufacturing industry.
Metal 3D printing is a laser-based technology that constructs objects layer by layer by fusing metal particles. It employs heat or light energy, such as a laser or electron beam, to melt or bond the metal powder, spreading it over previous layers.
According to a researcher at the Institute of Advanced Additive Manufacturing of Ji Hua Laboratory, 3D printing has a great advantage in fabricating arbitrary shapes without any limitations and has great potential in preparing controllable porous structures.
"In traditional methods of processing, we need to produce these channels first and then weld them at the corresponding points, which can result in tiny welding defect pores in the welding area. However, 3D printing completely avoids the possibility of welding defects because it is integrally formed. Our whole industry is gradually developing in the direction of larger sizes, more lasers, and higher efficiency," said Gao Chaofeng, doctoral student at the Institute of Advanced Additive Manufacturing of Ji Hua Laboratory.
Another researcher at the lab pointed out that they aim to make more progress in new material and key components development in some key areas.
"We aim to solve some of the main difficulties in the industry at present, such as improving the quality and performance of products and reducing costs. In the long run, we strive to develop new materials and future technologies in China, especially in equipment such as key components for engines and aerospace fields," said Bi Yunjie, deputy director of the Institute of Advanced Additive Manufacturing of Ji Hua Laboratory.
Ji Hua Laboratory is one of the first four provincial-level laboratories initiated by the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial Government. Since its establishment more than six years ago, the laboratory has mainly focused on new display equipment, semiconductor equipment and key components, intelligent robots, high-end medical equipment, advanced remote sensing equipment, additive manufacturing equipment, and new materials and devices.
Chinese scientists leverage metal 3D printing to upgrade traditional material manufacturing industry
Agreements on raft of major investment projects worth an estimated 110.04 billion yuan (about 15.47 billion U.S. dollars) were signed at the 24th China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT), which opened Sunday in Xiamen, a coastal city in China's eastern Province of Fujian.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held on the sidelines of the four-day CIFIT for some of the 50 projects which cover a wide range of strategic and emerging industries, such as new energy, new materials, biomedicine and third-generation semiconductors.
This year's CIFIT is taking place with the theme "Investment Linking the World," focusing on industrial cooperation in areas such as the digital economy and green development.
It aims to showcase and introduce the latest investment environment, policies, projects and achievements of Chinese provinces, cities and regions, and serves as an important platform for enterprises from home and aboard to gain comprehensive insights into China's investment policies.
The event drew visitors from 119 countries and regions, of which about 80 percent are Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) partner countries.
"The CIFIT is a great platform. I think we should do more to showcase the new development concept China is following and the new achievements we have made so far in fostering new quality productive forces through the fair," said Song Hailiang, chairman of the China Energy Engineering Corporation in an interview with the China Central Television (CCTV) on the sidelines of the CIFIT on Sunday.
This year's fair features a sprawling exhibition with an area of around 120,000 square meters, more than 80 investment events and roadshow activities.
A section for China's outward investment and cooperation allows Chinese firms to highlight their overseas investments and explore new business partners.
"We've set up matching teams dedicated to Guangdong's 20 major industrial clusters to hold extensive exchanges with foreign exhibitors and domestic enterprises from other parts of the country," said Liu Dezeng, deputy director of the Investment Promotion Bureau of Guangdong Province, a manufacturing heartland and leading foreign trade player in south China.
The CIFIT was first launched in 1997 and has become an important platform for boosting investment and facilitating global development. In the past decades, more than 30,000 projects have been signed, of which a large number of foreign-funded projects have been implemented in China, and numerous Chinese enterprises have reached the global market, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
Investment deals worth 110 billion yuan inked at int’l trade fair in Fujian
