Market Data: Top 5 Industrial Metal 3D Printing Solutions at TCT Asia 2026

TL;DR

At TCT Asia 2026, metal additive manufacturing has officially entered the "Gigafactory Era". The focus is no longer just on printing metal, but on mass production efficiency and megascale structures.

• The Breakout: Eplus3D and Farsoon are shattering size limits with >2-meter build volumes and 64-laser arrays, aimed at replacing traditional casting.
• Vertical Specialization: HBD is redefining aerospace production with extra-tall Z-axis machines for rocket engines, while LiM Laser utilizes green lasers to master pure copper.
• Factory Automation: BLT is driving the standard for "lights-out" manufacturing with fully automated powder circulation and industrial-grade stability.

Event Essentials: TCT Asia 2026

• Event Name: TCT Asia 2026
• Dates: March 17^th-19^th, 2026
• Venue: NECC (National Exhibition and Convention Center), Shanghai
• Register Link: https://reg.tctasia.cn/en/user/register

At TCT Asia 2026, the metal AM trend is undeniable: printers are getting bigger, faster, and significantly smarter. Chinese OEMs have taken a definitive lead in the "Laser Wars," launching systems with build volumes and laser counts that were previously considered impossible.

This guide analyzes the Top 5 Metal AM Solutions defining the 2026 landscape, categorized by their specific industrial superpowers.

1. The "Giga-Printers" (Aerospace & Integrated Structures)

Target: Replacing assembly lines with single-part production.

Eplus3D: The Volume King

• Flagship Model: EP-M2050
• The Spec that Matters: 64 Lasers (Optional)
• Build Volume: 2050 x 2050 x 1100 mm (Customizable Z to 2000mm)
• Why it Wins: Eplus3D has broken the physical limits of MPBF (Metal Powder Bed Fusion). With a 64-laser array and a build volume exceeding 2 meters, this machine is designed for "Digital Gigacasting"—printing entire aerospace bulkheads or chassis in one go, with mechanical property fluctuation kept under 5%.

Farsoon: The Open Platform

• Flagship Model: FS1521M-U
• The Spec that Matters: Open Material System
• Build Volume: 1510 x 1510 x 1650 mm
• Why it Wins: Farsoon continues to champion "Open AM." The FS1521M-U is built for users who need to develop proprietary alloys. Its unique solution to smoke and powder management over such a large span makes it a stable workhorse for continuous production.
• Note: Look out for the FS621M Pro, featuring a rectangular build chamber optimized for long, slender automotive parts.

2. The Production Factories (Reliability & Automation)

Target: 24/7 manufacturing of engines, electronics, and medical implants.

BLT: The Smart Factory Standard

• Flagship Model: BLT-S1500
• The Spec that Matters: 26 Lasers & Low Gas Consumption
• Build Volume: 1500 x 1500 x 1200 mm
• Why it Wins: BLT focuses on "Factory-Level Reliability." The S1500 isn't just big; it's efficient. With an automated powder circulation system and gas consumption <15L/min, it drastically reduces operational costs (OPEX) for high-volume aerospace runs.
• For Consumer Electronics: The BLT-S400 remains the industry standard for mass-producing titanium hinges for foldable phones.

3. The Vertical Specialists (Rockets & Copper)

Target: Niche applications requiring specific geometries or materials.

HBD: The Rocket Engine Specialist

• Flagship Model: HBD-1500
• The Spec that Matters: High-Aspect Ratio (Z-Axis Focus)
• Build Volume: 460 x 460 x 1500 mm
• Why it Wins: While others go wide, HBD goes tall. The HBD-1500 is purpose-built for the commercial space industry, specifically for printing monolithic liquid rocket engine thrust chambers. Its vertical design eliminates the need for welding sections together.

LiM Laser: The Copper Master

• Flagship Model: LiM-X260E (Green Laser Edition)
• The Spec that Matters: 515nm Green Laser Source
• Why it Wins: Standard infrared lasers struggle with reflective metals like copper. LiM Laser's green laser technology boosts copper absorption to >40%, making it the go-to machine for printing pure copper (T2) rocket combustors and EV heat exchangers.

Technical Comparison Matrix (2026 Edition)

A side-by-side look at the heavyweights.