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Avimetal

HardwareBeijing, ChinaFounded 2015· One of 1708 Hardware companies tracked by AMPulse

A leading vertically integrated metal additive manufacturing company providing high-performance spherical powders, industrial-grade SLM/LPBF equipment, and end-to-end technical solutions for high-stakes industries.

CEO / Founder
Gao Zhengjiang
Team Size
201-500
Stage
Active
Total Funding
$125M
Latest Round
Series C
Key Investors
Beijing Jingcheng Machinery Electric, Xiangtou Fund, Caixin Capital, Jinke Jun Capital (JKJC), Changde Derun

Technology & Products

Key Products

["MT Series SLM Printers (MT170, MT400M, MT450, MT650/MT800 large-format systems)","Spherical Metal Powders (Titanium alloys, Nickel-based superalloys, Aluminum alloys, Cobalt-Chromium, and Refractory metals)","Stepless Beam Shaping Equipment (Variable ring beam technology for adaptive printing)","Powder Production Systems (AVI-PREP-4W ultra-high-speed plasma rotating electrode atomization equipment)","DED/LSF/LC (Laser Cladding and Solid Forming) hardware and process services"]

Technological Advantage

Pioneered 'Stepless Beam Shaping' technology which enables real-time switching between Gaussian and Ring beams, increasing printing efficiency by over 100% while maintaining superior mechanical properties for complex aerospace components like combustion chambers.

Differentiation

Value Proposition

Offers a complete 'Materials + Equipment + Process' ecosystem, reducing lead times and costs through vertical integration while providing domestic alternatives for critical high-end aerospace alloys.

How They Differentiate

Avimetal differentiates through deep vertical integration, originating as a high-end metal powder specialist (VIGA/PREP processes) before expanding into hardware. Its proprietary 'Stepless Beam Shaping' technology and variable ring beam systems allow for superior thermal control and 100%+ efficiency gains in complex aerospace builds compared to standard Gaussian beam systems.

Market & Competition

Target Customers

Aerospace and defense contractors, medical implant manufacturers, automotive R&D departments, and high-precision industrial tooling companies.

Industry Verticals

["Aerospace & Defense","Medical & Dental (Implants)","Automotive","Industrial Tooling & Molding","Academic & Research Institutes"]

Competitors

Bright Laser Technologies (BLT); Farsoon Technologies (Huashu); Hanbang Technology (HBD)

Growth & Milestones

Growth Metrics

Designated as a National 'Specialized and Sophisticated Little Giant' enterprise and a 'Scientific Reform' benchmark enterprise by the Chinese government.

Major Milestones

["Founded in 2015 by aerospace materials scientist Gao Zhengjiang","Achieved National 'Specialized and Sophisticated Little Giant' status in 2021","Beijing Jingcheng Machinery Electric became the controlling shareholder in 2022, transitioning the company to a state-owned mixed-ownership model","Launched the AVI-PREP-4W ultra-high-speed plasma rotating electrode atomization equipment for powder production","Completed Series C funding in late 2024 to expand titanium and aluminum alloy powder production by 2,000 tons","Winner of the 25th China Patent Excellence Award for innovations in metal powder preparation"]

Notable Customers

Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC); Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC); Various Aerospace/Defense Research Institutes; Medical Implant Manufacturers

https://www.avimetalam.com

Recent coverage of Avimetal

Why this company matters

Avimetal occupies a distinctive position in metal additive manufacturing as a vertically integrated supplier controlling the entire value chain from raw powder to finished part. Founded in 2015 by aerospace materials scientist Gao Zhengjiang, the company originated as a high-end metal powder specialist before expanding into printer hardware and process services. This structure allows deep co-optimization between material chemistry and machine parameters, a capability most standalone powder producers or printer OEMs cannot replicate.

The technology stack spans three domains: spherical metal powders via vacuum induction gas atomization (VIGA) and plasma rotating electrode process (PREP); SLM/LPBF printers including the MT170, MT400M, MT450, and large-format MT650/MT800 systems; and directed energy deposition (DED) hardware for laser cladding. A key differentiator is proprietary 'Stepless Beam Shaping' technology enabling real-time switching between Gaussian and ring beam profiles. This variable ring beam approach improves printing efficiency by over 100% for complex aerospace components such as combustion chambers while maintaining mechanical properties.

Primary customers are aerospace and defense contractors including AVIC and COMAC, plus medical implant manufacturers, automotive R&D departments, and industrial tooling companies. The company also supplies powder production systems like the AVI-PREP-4W ultra-high-speed plasma rotating electrode atomization equipment to other AM facilities. A strategic software integration partnership with Materialise connects Avimetal hardware to Magics and NXG Build Processors.

The competitive moat rests on vertical integration and state-backed positioning. In 2022, Beijing Jingcheng Machinery Electric became the controlling shareholder, transitioning Avimetal to a state-owned mixed-ownership model. This relationship, combined with designation as a National 'Specialized and Sophisticated Little Giant' enterprise, provides capital and market access advantages over private competitors like Bright Laser Technologies, Farsoon Technologies, and Hanbang Technology. A Series C round in late 2024 will expand titanium and aluminum alloy powder capacity by 2,000 tons. The open question is whether Avimetal can replicate domestic success in export markets where Western primes may be cautious about sourcing critical aerospace materials from a Chinese state-linked supplier.