Eplus3D EP-M300 systems produce 100,000 tire mold sipes for Hankook Precision Works

Chinese metal AM system provider Eplus3D has successfully transitioned its partnership with Hankook Precision Works from pilot testing to serial production of tire mold sipes. The collaboration began with the installation of an EP-M300 laser powder bed fusion system at Hankook's China facility in September 2025, followed by a second system in February 2026. To date, the two systems have collectively produced approximately 100,000 components, achieving stable, repeatable production quality with sub-millimeter feature resolution and surface finish required for tire molds. Eplus3D supported the deployment with application-specific parameter optimization, enabling operators to adapt quickly and integrate the machines directly into production workflows.

This news is a textbook case of the industrial tooling vertical's quiet but economically critical adoption of additive manufacturing, a segment often overshadowed by aerospace or medical narratives. The move from a single evaluation unit to multiple systems across facilities demonstrates a classic scaling pattern where initial validation on part quality and cost-performance unlocks repeatable production capacity. For Eplus3D, a major Chinese LPBF OEM, this represents a strategic beachhead in a high-volume manufacturing niche, directly challenging the application expertise of Western incumbents like EOS and SLM Solutions. It underscores that the real industrial pull for metal AM often comes not from headline-grabbing, low-volume parts but from tooling and mold applications where design complexity and lead time reduction drive tangible ROI.

The practical takeaway is that Eplus3D has secured a reference account that validates its systems for a demanding, precision-driven production job. For Hankook Precision Works, the investment is now a depreciating asset on the factory floor, not an R&D curiosity. The next step for both parties is straightforward: continue to drive down cost-per-part and uptime while managing the powder supply chain to support this sustained output. For the broader market, it’s a reminder that the path to industrial AM scale is paved with thousands of identical, qualified components, not one-off prototypes.