Solar energy manufacturer Anji (6477-TW) has been actively expanding its 3D printing business in recent years. Chairman Huang Guodong pointed out that benefiting from increased drone orders from major US manufacturers, 3D printing revenue will increase fivefold this year, exceeding the original forecast by three times. Furthermore, due to steady growth in customer demand, 3D printing revenue is expected to increase by at least another 50% next year. The company has also started expanding production, increasing the number of machines from the current 7 to 12, a 70% increase.

Huang Guodong stated that the company has been cultivating the 3D printing field for many years, producing everything from powder and equipment to mass production in-house, providing customers with a one-stop service. Currently, it has entered the drone market for major US manufacturers, providing titanium alloy and aluminum alloy fuselage structures. Composite materials are also undergoing sample certification, and the company is further developing copper alloy materials to meet the heat dissipation needs of drones and future AI servers.

Furthermore, with the rise of Taiwan's defense self-reliance in recent years, the drone and 3D printing markets have taken off. The Taiwanese military recently issued a public request for data, announcing that at least 40% of the airframes of its Category I and II drones must utilize 3D printing technology to facilitate the military's future development of "mobile production" capabilities, demonstrating that 3D printing is already an ongoing process.

Anji has already invested in the development of complete drone systems. In addition to using 3D printing technology to manufacture the airframe structure, it is also collaborating with Taiwanese manufacturing partners to meet the defense requirement of 99.9% Taiwanese-made components. Initially targeting two drone models, it is optimistic about the penetration rate of 3D printing technology in the drone market.

In terms of production capacity, Anji manufactures all its 3D printing equipment in-house. By the end of this year, it had 7 machines, and this number is expected to expand to 12 next year, representing a 70% increase. Furthermore, as printing sizes continue to increase, the company's machines have been upgraded from 300x250mm to 300x300mm, and it is currently developing 600x600mm machines.

Looking ahead, Huang Guodong hopes that in the future, when the market mentions Anji, the company will be remembered not as a solar energy company, but as a 3D printing company, and he is optimistic about the long-term growth potential of the 3D printing sector. Currently, Anji's revenue from solar modules has decreased to about 20%, electricity sales revenue accounts for about 70%, and 3D printing business accounts for about 5-10%, which is expected to further increase to over 10% next year.

(News Source:)https://news.cnyes.com/news/id/6238936