Metal 3D printing is known as the "jewel in the crown of 3D printing", is the highest threshold, the best prospects, one of the most cutting-edge technology. The same data released from CONTEXT, the global metal 3D printer sales increased by 35% in 2015, the first half of 2016 year-on-year growth of 17%, can be said to be the industrial-grade 3D printing field against the trend of a "strange flower".
In automotive manufacturing, aerospace and other high-precision fields, some parts are complex shape, expensive, traditional casting and forging process can not be produced or loss, and metal 3D printing can quickly manufacture to meet the requirements of lighter weight products.
In November 2015, Audi used metal 3D printing technology in accordance with the ratio of 1:2 to manufacture all the metal parts of the C version of the racing car launched by Auto Union (Audi's predecessor) in 1936; in September 2016, GE spent $ 1.4 billion to acquire the Swedish Arcam company and Germany SLM Solutions Group two major metal 3D printing giants, accelerating the layout of 3D printing aero-engine parts business.