Some special molds must be made with metal 3D printing technology. [Photo by Xia Shengquan]

Pour out some stainless steel powder on a white board and put it under a microscope, one will see spherical granules on the screen. On July 27, Zhongshan-based company Gent Technology exhibited their 3D printed tungsten and stainless steel powders at the 14th China (Zhongshan) Equipment Manufacturing Expo.

Established with the support of South China University of Technology (SCUT), Zhongshan Industrial Technology Research Institute and Zhongshan Torch Polytechnic, Gent Technology is a high-tech enterprise specialized in industrial technology development and technical extension service. It also focuses on scientific research and development, technology service, and production and management.

"We have a wealth of postgraduates and doctoral students working in this industry-university-research cooperation platform SCUT set up in Zhongshan," said Yang Xiong, a senior engineer of Gent Technology, adding that many of their experts have long engaged in the research and development of magnetic materials, functional membrane and material surface engineering and technology and the promotion of industry-university-research cooperation between colleges and enterprises.

At the beginning of its establishment, Gent Technology focused on the research and development of high-powered corrosion resistant coating, high-end decorative coating, new-type functional thin films for semiconductor devices, and other advanced material surface technology and special powder materials and equipment for the domestic large equipment manufacturing, additive manufacturing and marine engineering industries.

In terms of 3D printing metal supplies, Gent Technology has already established many high quality production lines for such products as special powder for additive manufacturing. Its spherical metal alloy powders have been widely used in such fields as aerospace, automobile manufacturing, medical treatment, and mechanical parts making, etc.