HardwareXi'an, ChinaFounded 2021· One of 1708 Hardware companies tracked by AMPulse
Develops Forge-Printing hybrid additive manufacturing systems integrating Directed Energy Deposition with micro-forging to produce high-integrity turbofan engine components with forged-level mechanical properties
Proprietary Forge-Printing technology enables production of high-integrity aerospace components with mechanical properties comparable to traditional forging while reducing material waste and lead times
Differentiation
Value Proposition
Reduces waste and production time for critical turbofan engine components while achieving forged-grade mechanical properties through hybrid DED and micro-forging technology
How They Differentiate
Unique hybrid DED with micro-forging process specifically optimized for turbofan engine components, achieving forged-level mechanical properties not typically possible with standard metal AM processes
Market & Competition
Target Customers
Aerospace manufacturers, defense contractors, and aviation component suppliers
Xi'an West Aviation Intelligence occupies a niche within metal additive manufacturing by integrating Directed Energy Deposition (DED-LB) with a micro-forging step in a single hybrid system. This Forge-Printing process is designed to address a persistent limitation of standard metal AM: achieving mechanical properties—particularly fatigue strength and ductility—comparable to traditional forging. The company targets aerospace and defense customers who require high-integrity rotating components for turbofan engines, where material defects are unacceptable.
The core product is a hybrid AM system that deposits metal powder or wire via laser-based DED and then immediately applies micro-forging to each deposited layer. This in-situ densification and grain refinement aims to eliminate porosity and residual stress while producing a wrought-like microstructure. The company's patent portfolio, including filings for the composite manufacturing method, equipment, process control, and system architecture, supports this technical approach. Xi'an West Aviation Intelligence has been qualified as a supplier to AECC Liyang Aero Power and completed China's first full 3D-printed turbofan engine ground test in December 2025.
Customers include Shaanxi Sirui Advanced Materials and Zhongke Hangxing, with partnerships spanning the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Xi'an Jiaotong University's Aero Engine Institute, and multiple national key laboratories focused on metal material strength and lightweight turbine power. The company has raised over $10 million from investors including Shaanxi Aerospace Morningstar, Shaanxi Caijin Tejing New Materials, and Yangzhou Kerong Jinxin. Its primary competitors are BLT (Xi'an Bright Laser Technologies) and Xinjinghe Laser Technology, both established metal AM system makers in China.
The key open question is whether the Forge-Printing process can scale beyond prototype and low-volume production to meet the throughput demands of aerospace OEMs. While the hybrid approach offers a clear metallurgical advantage over standard DED, the added micro-forging step may limit build rates and increase system complexity. Xi'an West Aviation Intelligence's ability to demonstrate repeatable, certified component quality at production volumes will determine its competitive position against conventional forging and alternative AM processes like electron beam melting or laser powder bed fusion for titanium and nickel superalloys.
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