Shandong Space Metal Technology Industrial Park launches $20M phase in Rizhao for large-format aluminum powder 3D printing
Originally reported by 齐鲁晚报·齐鲁壹点
Shandong Space Metal Technology Industrial Park officially launched on June 16 in Rizhao, Shandong province, with a first-phase investment of 20 billion yuan ($20 million). The 71-acre facility, a joint venture between Rizhao Transportation and Energy Development Group and Anhui Xin Fangzun Automation Technology, plans 52 large-format and 100 standard LPBF production lines. Its core technology, developed by a Tsinghua University PhD team led by founder Nie Gang, uses self-developed software and hardware to achieve 100% domestic component sourcing for metal powder bed fusion (LPBF) systems capable of processing large aluminum, copper, and superalloy components.
The park targets the four traditional pain points of metal AM: limited build envelope, mold dependency, high cost, and low throughput. By integrating powder production, machine manufacturing, process control, and software development into a single campus, the project claims to reduce per-part costs significantly compared to imported systems. The initial 36 large-format lines are scheduled for equipment trial in 2027 and full production by 2028, with an existing order book exceeding 10 billion yuan from aerospace, nuclear, and high-end equipment customers.
This launch updates the Chinese localization arc in metal AM. While most Chinese LPBF vendors have focused on matching Western machine specs, this project integrates the full materials-to-software stack under one roof, targeting the aluminum alloy segment that has been a weak point for domestic suppliers. The park's "no mold" approach and large-format capability directly challenge the prevailing assumption that metal AM is limited to small, high-value parts. If the park executes on its 2028 production timeline, it will demonstrate that vertically integrated, state-backed manufacturing campuses can achieve the cost structures needed to push metal AM into automotive and general industrial applications, not just aerospace and defense.
For buyers evaluating Chinese metal AM capacity, the key question is not whether the machines match EOS or Trumpf specs, but whether the campus can deliver consistent material properties across its 52 planned production lines. The park's reliance on a single founder's PhD team for process development means scaling will depend on replicating that expertise across multiple lines. The 2027-2028 timeline is aggressive for a greenfield project of this scale, and the real test will be whether the first 36 lines produce qualified parts for the aerospace customers already in the order book.
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