Tangshan Weihao Focuses on Global Additive Manufacturing Trends—An Observation of AM KOREA 2026 in South Korea

Keywords: magnesium alloy 3D printing, magnesium alloy additive manufacturing, atomized spherical magnesium alloy powder, magnesium alloy powder for additive manufacturing, metal 3D printing powder, magnesium alloy printing services, LPBF magnesium alloy, SLM magnesium alloy

With the rapid growth of industries such as aerospace, new-energy vehicles, the low‑altitude economy, consumer electronics, and embodied robotics, lightweight manufacturing has emerged as a key strategic direction in global high‑end equipment manufacturing. As a pivotal technology for producing complex structures and high‑performance components, additive manufacturing (AM) is accelerating the transformation of traditional manufacturing paradigms, with metal powder materials serving as the foundational enabler of this shift.

Recently, Tangshan Weihao Magnesium Powder Co., Ltd. organized a technical delegation to South Korea, where they visited AM KOREA 2026—the region’s premier additive manufacturing trade show. The delegation conducted an in-depth assessment of the current state of development, technological pathways, and market trends in both the Korean and international additive manufacturing industries, while engaging in extensive discussions with equipment manufacturers, research institutions, and industry experts. Through this visit, we not only witnessed the ongoing evolution and upgrading of the global additive manufacturing sector but also further reinforced our conviction that: Additive manufacturing of magnesium alloys is currently at a critical juncture in its industrialization.

AM KOREA 2026: A Comprehensive Showcase of the Global Additive Manufacturing Industry Chain

AM KOREA 2026 was held at the KINTEX International Exhibition Center in Goyang, South Korea, bringing together more than 450 companies from over 40 countries and regions, with over 850 exhibition booths, and attracting approximately 12,000 professional visitors for on-site visits and exchanges.

The exhibition covers the entire additive manufacturing industry chain, including:

Metal 3D printing equipment

Additive Manufacturing Metal Powders and High-Performance Materials

Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) equipment

SLA, DLP, EBM, and other printing technologies

CAD/CAE design software

Automated Production System

Post-processing and Surface Treatment Technologies

Testing and Quality Control Equipment

Additive manufacturing printing services

From equipment manufacturing and materials R&D to process optimization and industrial applications, this year’s exhibition fully underscores the global additive manufacturing industry’s ongoing trajectory toward higher precision, greater efficiency, and increased intelligence.

A noteworthy industry trend: magnesium alloy additive manufacturing remains in its early stages of development.

At present, the printing materials that are relatively maturely applied in both the Korean and international markets mainly include:

Titanium Alloy

Aluminum Alloy

Stainless Steel

Cobalt-chromium alloy (Co-Cr Alloy)

Nickel-based Superalloy

These materials have been widely employed in aerospace, medical devices, the automotive industry, energy equipment, and mold manufacturing, among other fields.

However, throughout the entire exhibition, we saw very few mature industrial‑scale demonstrations of magnesium alloy 3D printing. Whether it be printing equipment, industrial application cases, or the supply of standardized powder materials, these remain rather limited. This trend does not suggest that magnesium alloys lack practical value; on the contrary, it underscores that global additive manufacturing of magnesium alloys is still in its early, rapidly evolving stages, implying substantial room for technological innovation and significant market growth potential in the future.

Why are more and more research institutions turning their attention to magnesium alloy 3D printing?

As the lightest engineering structural metal currently available, magnesium alloys combine lightweight characteristics, high specific strength, and excellent functional properties, offering distinct advantages in numerous high-end applications. Compared with conventional metals, magnesium alloys exhibit:

Its density is approximately 1.74 g/cm³, about one-third lighter than aluminum and roughly three-quarters lighter than steel.

Higher specific strength and specific stiffness, making it suitable for lightweight structural design;

Excellent damping performance can effectively reduce vibration and noise.

Excellent electromagnetic shielding performance, suitable for consumer electronics and communication devices.

Good processability and dimensional stability;

Some magnesium alloys exhibit excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability, holding great promise for applications in biomedical fields such as orthopedic implants.

With advances in topology optimization, lattice structures, digital manufacturing, and complex internal flow‑channel designs, conventional machining is increasingly unable to meet the demands of modern product design. Additive manufacturing, by contrast, can fully leverage the lightweighting advantages of magnesium alloys and enable the integrated fabrication of intricate geometries. Today, industries such as aerospace, low‑altitude aerial vehicles, unmanned aerial systems, consumer electronics, automotive manufacturing, embodied robotics, and biomedical engineering are actively exploring the potential applications of magnesium alloy additive manufacturing.

High‑quality atomized spherical magnesium alloy powder is the core foundation for achieving stable printing.

Additive manufacturing relies not only on advanced equipment but also on stable, reliable metal powders. For magnesium alloys, given their high chemical reactivity, powder quality directly affects the stability of the printing process, the quality of the formed parts, and the final mechanical properties of the components.

Tangshan Weihao’s independently developed and manufactured atomized spherical magnesium and magnesium alloy powders have undergone continuous optimization for additive manufacturing processes and exhibit the following characteristics:

High sphericity: promotes uniform powder spreading and enhances printing stability.

Excellent flowability: enhances powder spreading efficiency and improves build consistency.

Reasonable particle size distribution: meets the powder particle size requirements of processes such as LPBF and SLM.

High tapped density: facilitates the formation of a denser powder layer, laying the groundwork for high-density compaction.

Stable oxygen content control: reduces oxidation risks and enhances the overall performance of printed parts.

Hollow filament and satellite filament are well controlled, further enhancing print quality and repeatability.

Stable powder quality not only enhances print success rates but also reduces the number of parameter‑tuning iterations, lowers R&D costs, and provides research institutions and industrial users with more reliable material assurance.

From materials R&D to print validation, we deliver an end-to-end additive manufacturing solution for magnesium alloys.

After 26 years of continuous R&D, Tangshan Weihao has established a one-stop technical service system covering magnesium-based powder R&D, atomization-based powder production, additive manufacturing printing, post-processing, and application validation. Currently, the company can offer:

AZ series (AZ31, AZ61, AZ91)

ZK Series (ZK60, ZK61)

WE series (e.g., WE43 rare-earth magnesium alloy)

Mg-Li series

Mg-RE series

Customized magnesium-based powders such as Mg-Ca and Mg-Zr

Meanwhile, we can provide the following based on the customer’s project requirements:

Development of customized magnesium alloy powders;

Small-batch powder prototyping;

Magnesium alloy 3D printing services;

Print process development and parameter optimization;

Post-processing and performance validation;

Joint research and development, along with technical support.

Through a collaborative “materials + processes + printing services” model, we help customers shorten R&D cycles, enhance product development efficiency, and accelerate the translation of research findings into industrial applications.

Continuously advancing the industrialization of magnesium alloy additive manufacturing.

As one of the principal drafting organizations for the national standard “Magnesium and Magnesium Alloy Powders for Additive Manufacturing” (GB/T 44151-2024) and the drafting organization for the industry standard “Atomized Spherical Magnesium Powder” (YS/T 628-2007), Tangshan Weihao has consistently leveraged technological innovation to drive industry development. The company has established a comprehensive R&D, production, and quality‑control system; its products are exported to more than 30 countries and regions worldwide, serving universities, research institutes, and high‑end manufacturing enterprises.

Through in-depth research conducted at AM KOREA 2026, Tangshan Weihao has further solidified its commitment to advancing the magnesium‑alloy additive manufacturing sector. Moving forward, the company will continue to strengthen international technology exchanges, relentlessly enhance the performance of magnesium‑alloy powder materials, and expand the applications of magnesium‑alloy 3D printing across aerospace, new‑energy vehicles, consumer electronics, the low‑altitude economy, embodied robotics, and biomedical fields—providing more reliable, high‑performance material solutions for global lightweight manufacturing.

About Tangshan Weihao Magnesium Powder Co., Ltd.

Tangshan Weihao Magnesium Powder Co., Ltd. was established in 2000 and specializes in the research, development, production, and application of atomized spherical magnesium powder, magnesium alloy powders, and additive manufacturing materials. It is one of the principal drafting organizations for the national standard “Magnesium and Magnesium Alloy Powders for Additive Manufacturing” (GB/T 44151-2024).

Leveraging mature atomization powder‑making technology and a robust quality management system, the company offers both standardized and custom‑made magnesium‑based powders, while providing global customers with end-to-end solutions that include magnesium alloy 3D printing, additive manufacturing process development, and application support.

FAQ

Q1: Why were magnesium alloys underrepresented at the AM KOREA 2026 exhibition?

At present, the global metal additive manufacturing market is still dominated by titanium alloys, aluminum alloys, stainless steels, and nickel-based alloys. Additive manufacturing of magnesium alloys remains in a phase of rapid development; however, as demand for lightweight materials continues to grow, its market potential is steadily being unlocked.

Q2: What advantages does high-quality atomized spherical magnesium alloy powder offer for 3D printing?

Powders with high sphericity, excellent flowability, a stable particle-size distribution, and well-controlled oxygen content help enhance powder‑bed uniformity, printing stability, and part densification, thereby delivering superior surface quality and mechanical properties.

Q3: What magnesium alloy additive manufacturing services does Tangshan Weihao offer?

The company offers end-to-end services, including the supply of magnesium and magnesium alloy powders, custom powder development, 3D printing prototyping, small-batch production, print process optimization, post-processing, and joint R&D.