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SHINING 3D

AM-Adjacent EquipmentHangzhou, ChinaFounded 2004· One of 180 AM-Adjacent Equipment companies tracked by AMPulse

Develops high-accuracy 3D scanning hardware and software for industrial metrology, reverse engineering, and digital dentistry.

CEO / Founder
Tao Li
Team Size
1001-5000
Stage
Established
Total Funding
$250M
Latest Round
Series B
Key Investors
IDG Capital, Gaorong Capital, CICC, SDIC Unity Capital (国投创合), Hangzhou Financial Investment Group

Technology & Products

Key Products

High-accuracy 3D scanners and software: FreeScan/OptimScan metrology series, EinScan professional series, Aoralscan digital dentistry (via shining3ddental), plus inspection/RE software (SHINING3D Inspect, EXModel).

Technological Advantage

Proprietary high-precision 3D vision algorithms, real-time stereo reconstruction, and certified inspection software, backed by a 1100㎡ CNAS accuracy lab and global offices (China, Germany, USA, Japan, Spain).

Patent position

SHINING 3D shifted its patent-family focus away from Equipment, which fell from 100% of its 2019–2021 filings to 88% in 2022–2024. AMPulse analysis

Filing momentum
26 families filed 2022–2024, 12 in 2019–2021
Process mix, 2019–2021 → 2022–2024
Vat photopolymerization 86% → 83%
Focus, 2019–2021 → 2022–2024
Equipment 100% → 88%
Filed in
CN 74%EP 13%WO 11%US 5%
Named competitors, AM patent families
Align Technology 2003D Systems 300

61 AM patent families in total. Recent years are still being published, so read a filing change against the same-office figure.

Differentiation

Value Proposition

Delivers metrology-grade 3D vision from shop floor to clinic—accelerating quality inspection, reverse engineering, and digital dentistry with CNAS-accredited accuracy.

How They Differentiate

Differentiates via full-stack high-accuracy 3D vision (metrology + dental) with in-house algorithms, CNAS-accredited calibration, and global channel—without competing as a printer OEM after spinning out industrial AM.

Market & Competition

Target Customers

Dental laboratories, industrial manufacturing service bureaus, and automotive/aerospace R&D departments.

Industry Verticals

Dental; Aerospace; Automotive; Medical; Education; Industrial Manufacturing

Competitors

In dental 3D scanners: Dentsply Sirona Inc., Align Technology Inc., Envista Holdings Corporation, Institut Straumann AG, Medit, Dental Wings. In broader 3D digitizing and printing: 2Freedom, REVOPOINT, Seikowave, CADstar, SCANLAB, 3D Systems.

Growth & Milestones

Growth Metrics

2025 revenue RMB 1.575B (~$220M, +31% YoY), net profit RMB 425M (+100% YoY); ~1,367 employees (end-2025); R&D ~40% of headcount; sales in 100+ countries; intl >60% of sales.

Major Milestones

Founded 2004; NEEQ listing 2014-08-08 (Ticker: 830978); EMEA HQ Germany ~2017; divested industrial 3D printing (易加三维) 2021; ~$160M strategic raise 2022; BeiJing Stock Exchange IPO accepted 2025-12-31, under inquiry through mid-2026

Notable Customers

Geely Auto; Volkswagen; Zhejiang University; Modern Dental Group

https://www.shining3d.com

Recent coverage of SHINING 3D

AM patents

AM-relevant patents linked to this company.

Patents
71
Granted
26
Families
61

Leading domains: process (71), equipment (42), software (10)

Filings by year: 2026: 1 · 2025: 24 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 9 · 2020: 5

  1. PRINTING METHOD BASED ON CONSUMABLE MANAGEMENT, PRINTING SYSTEM, AND PRINTING DEVICE4779454 · EP
  2. Scanning control method and apparatus, system, storage medium, and processor11988500 · US
  3. Automatic optical calibration methods, optical systems, and 3D printing systems120552363 · CN
  4. METHOD FOR GENERATING 3D PRINTING DATA, PRINTING METHOD, ELECTRONIC DEVICE, NON-TRANSITORY STORAGE MEDIUM AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCT4782185 · EP
  5. 3D printing waiting time prediction method, device, equipment and medium before exposure115742314 · CN

Funding rounds

  • Series B$15M2023-05Source: EqualOcean - June 2023
  • Strategic Investment$160M2022-04Source: PR Newswire - April 2022

Why this company matters

AMPulse analysis, not a company disclosure

SHINING 3D occupies a distinctive position in additive manufacturing by offering an integrated 'Scan-Design-Print' ecosystem that bridges 3D data acquisition with part production. While many competitors specialize in either scanning or printing, the company optimizes the data transition between both, specifically for dental and reverse engineering workflows. This closed-loop approach reduces dental restoration lead times by 50% and industrial prototyping costs by 30%.

The company's core technology portfolio includes high-accuracy 3D scanners for metrology and digital dentistry—such as the EinScan and Aoralscan series—alongside industrial metal and resin 3D printers. On the printing side, it covers LPBF for metals and VPP (SLA/DLP) for polymers. Proprietary high-precision 3D vision algorithms and industrial-grade LPBF control software underpin its hardware, supported by a global service network with headquarters in China, Germany, and the USA.

Primary customers include dental laboratories, industrial manufacturing service bureaus, and automotive/aerospace R&D departments. Named clients include Geely Auto, Volkswagen, Zhejiang University, and Modern Dental Group. The company serves verticals such as dental, aerospace, automotive, medical, education, and industrial manufacturing. Key partnerships with BASF Forward AM, exocad, 3Shape, and Stratasys extend its reach into digital dentistry and materials development.

SHINING 3D reported approximately $108M USD in revenue for 2022 and maintains a workforce of over 1,000 employees with sales in 70+ countries. It raised $250M in total funding from investors including IDG Capital and Gaorong Capital. The company listed on the NEEQ exchange in 2014. A strategic question is whether its stronghold in dental scanning and printing can translate into broader adoption in aerospace and automotive metal AM, where competitors like 3D Systems and established LPBF vendors hold significant share.