Zhongti New Materials Completes New Round of Financing; Phase I of 177,333㎡ Super Factory to Start Production by End-2026 with Planned New Annual Capacity Exceeding 8,000 Tonnes

I. Financing and Capacity Planning

Financing Details: In January 2026, the company completed a new round of equity financing (the specific amount was not disclosed, but market estimates exceed RMB 500 million). Investors include industrial capital (e.g., state-owned enterprises in the aerospace sector) and private equity firms. The funds will be primarily allocated to the construction of the “super factory” (accounting for 60%), R&D investment (25%, focusing on titanium alloy powder purification technology), and market expansion (15%).

Core Factory Parameters:

  • Scale: Covering a total area of 177,333㎡ (266 mu), the project will be constructed in two phases. Phase I, spanning 51,000㎡ (76.5 mu), is set to start production by the end of 2026 with a planned new annual capacity of 8,000 tonnes (including 5,000 tonnes of aluminum alloy powder, 2,000 tonnes of titanium alloy powder, and 1,000 tonnes of other alloy powders). Phase II will be put into operation in 2028, and upon full completion, the total annual capacity will exceed 15,000 tonnes, making it China’s largest single-site high-end metal powder production base.
  • Technical Configuration: Equipped with 20 high-precision gas atomization production lines (including 5 imported German ALD lines for ultra-high-purity titanium alloy powder production), an intelligent automated warehouse system (100% automation rate, improving inventory turnover efficiency by 30%), and a green recycling workshop (capable of processing 500 tonnes of waste metal powder annually to achieve closed-loop recycling). The overall automation rate of the factory reaches 85% (the industry average is 60%), reducing energy consumption per unit product by 20%.

Capacity Connection: In August 2025, Zhongti New Materials completed the construction of a fully intelligent production line cluster for aluminum alloy powder with an annual capacity of 2,500 tonnes. After the commissioning of Phase I by the end of 2026, the company’s total capacity will exceed 10,500 tonnes, making it one of China’s first “10,000-tonne-class manufacturers” of metal powders (previously, only one enterprise in China had an annual capacity exceeding 8,000 tonnes). This capacity can meet 5% of the global 3D printing metal powder demand (estimated at 200,000 tonnes in 2026).

II. Product and Market Layout

Full-Range Product Portfolio: Unlike most enterprises focusing on a single product category, Zhongti New Materials covers mainstream 3D printing metal powders, including aluminum alloy powder (targeting aerospace lightweighting), titanium alloy powder (for medical implants and aero-engine components), nickel alloy powder (for high-temperature parts), stainless steel powder (for general structural parts), copper alloy powder (for conductive components), and precious metal powder (for precision electronics). The company provides “one-stop material solutions,” and its full-category strategy drove a customer repurchase rate of 80% in 2025 (the industry average is 55%).

Customer Cooperation: The company has established strategic partnerships with global leading enterprises, including:

  • Aerospace: COMAC (Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China) and CASC (China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation) – supplying aluminum alloy powder for aircraft fuselage lightweight components and nickel alloy powder for aero-engine turbine blades.
  • Consumer Electronics: Apple’s supply chain partners – providing stainless steel powder for precision structural parts of 3C products.
  • Automotive and Robotics: Tesla and UBTech – supplying titanium alloy powder for humanoid robot joints and aluminum alloy powder for battery pack structural parts.
  • International Cooperation: In December 2025, it entered into a cooperation with Brose Group (a global automotive systems supplier) to jointly develop “steel scrap recycling-iron-based powder preparation” technology, promoting sustainable additive manufacturing in the automotive sector.

III. Green and Technological Advantages

Low-Carbon Manufacturing: As the first aluminum and titanium alloy powder manufacturer in China certified by SCS Global Sustainability, the company has developed proprietary technologies such as “powder recycling and remelting technology” and “waste powder intelligent sorting system,” realizing the closed-loop recycling of materials like titanium and aluminum in 3D printing. Approximately 15% of waste powder generated during production can be reused after treatment (reuse rate of 90%), reducing carbon emissions per unit product by 35%. This meets the requirements of the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and lays a foundation for market expansion in Europe.

Technological Barriers: The core team consists of professionals from Central South University and Beihang University (Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics), holding over 30 patents (including 12 invention patents). The company has reached an internationally advanced level in key technologies such as “ultra-fine titanium alloy powder preparation (particle size of 5-20μm)” and “oxygen content control (≤150ppm)”. In 2025, its titanium alloy powder product held a 12% market share in the medical implant sector, ranking first in China.

IV. Industry Background and Significance

Industry Trend: The global 3D printing metal powder market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 21.3% from 2024 to 2030, seven times the growth rate of traditional powder metallurgy materials (3%). The explosive demand has driven enterprises to expand capacity – more than 10 enterprises in China have announced capacity expansion plans in 2026. Leveraging economies of scale (production cost per tonne is 18% lower than the industry average) and full-category advantages, Zhongti New Materials’ “super factory” is poised to seize opportunities in industry consolidation.

Import Substitution Significance: Currently, 60% of high-end 3D printing metal powders in China (such as medical-grade titanium alloy powder and aerospace-grade nickel alloy powder) still rely on imports. After the commissioning of the 10,000-tonne-class capacity, Zhongti New Materials can further reduce the price of domestic powders (it is expected that the price of medical-grade titanium alloy powder will drop from RMB 2,000 per kg to below RMB 1,500 per kg), accelerating import substitution and enhancing China’s “material self-reliance and controllability” in the additive manufacturing sector.

Release Date: January 4, 2026

Source Link: http://m.163.com/dy/article/KIE6DSPM0538J1KQ.html