BLT to Invest 1 Billion CNY to Expand Metal 3D Printing Materials Production Capacity to 3,000 Tons per Year

△ BLT Metal 3D Printing Has Entered the Era of Mass Production

On September 23, 2024, BLT announced a notice titled “Announcement on the Investment in the Construction of a Dedicated Metal Additive Manufacturing Powder Material Production Line”, which caught the attention of Panda3dp.com:

Xi’an Bright Laser Technologies Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “the Company” or “BLT”) plans to establish a wholly-owned subsidiary (the name shall be subject to the final industrial and commercial registration) and invest in the construction of a dedicated powder material production line for additive manufacturing. This project, aimed at the full industrial chain development and planning needs of BLT’s metal additive manufacturing sector, will require an investment of 1 billion CNY, acquisition of approximately 150 acres of land (subject to final demarcation report), and construction of high-quality additive manufacturing raw material production lines for titanium alloy and high-temperature alloy powders. It will also include the building of production workshops, inspection and testing facilities, and necessary living quarters, with a total construction area of about 69,800 square meters. The project will be equipped with powder atomization systems for additive manufacturing, argon recycling systems, powder post-processing systems such as automatic sievers, vacuum packaging machines, powder inspection, and testing equipment, along with other supporting facilities.

Based on the foundation of BLT’s large-scale intelligent production base for metal additive manufacturing, this expansion is set to further increase the raw material powder production capacity. The previous capital-raising project had set the annual production capacity for metal 3D printing materials at 800 tons; after this investment, it is expected to reach 3,000 tons per year. This will cater to the rapidly growing market demand for additive manufacturing and enhance the industrialization capacity of BLT’s entire metal additive manufacturing chain, building BLT's metal additive manufacturing powder raw material industrial base.

Additionally, according to the original capital-raising plan, the total investment in the raw material production line and civil construction amounted to about 300 million CNY. Therefore, of the planned 1 billion CNY investment, approximately 300 million will be sourced from raised funds, with the remainder from self-raised funds (the final construction content and scale are subject to approval or actual construction).

The construction period for this project is estimated to be around 24 months, subject to actual progress.

△ BLT Metal 3D Printing Powder Materials, Photo by Panda3dp.com

△ In 2023, BLT successfully raised 3 billion CNY to build a large-scale intelligent production base for metal additive manufacturing.

Currently, BLT’s capacity utilization continues to increase, and its capacity is nearing saturation. As the company's business grows rapidly in the aerospace sector and makes breakthroughs in areas like medical dentistry and automotive, the capacity gap is further widening. The construction of this project is a vital move for the company to refine its industrial layout, strengthen its core competitiveness, and expand its presence in the industry market. It aligns with the company’s future strategic development direction. The metal 3D printing raw material production line being constructed in this project aims to enhance the fine powder yield rate, producing high-end powders most suitable for the company’s metal additive manufacturing equipment. In addition to meeting its internal needs, the company plans to sell high-end powders to increase its market share in metal additive manufacturing powder materials, continuously enhancing its profitability.

△ As of September 24, 2024, BLT’s market value stands at 10.8 billion CNY (at its peak, it reached 20 billion CNY), making it the top publicly listed 3D printing company globally. However, according to Panda3dp.com, a new Chinese 3D printing company has emerged with a valuation exceeding 20 billion CNY.