Metal powder from China — A visit to one of our manufacturers
Yannik Wilkens
In the field of additive manufacturing (AM), obtaining high-quality metal powders is crucial. However, procuring these powders, particularly from cost-competitive foreign markets such as China, can be met with doubt due to concerns about quality and reliability. At qualloy, we recognize the importance of a trust-based and transparent purchasing process and the high requirements for quality and reliability. With us as your partner, you can participate in the cost benefits of the Chinese powder market with minimal risk and minimal effort. China’s powder market is huge and diverse, ranging from highly professional to less reputable suppliers. Therefore, we have carefully screened the market and partnered with certified manufacturers to ensure that our customers receive only the highest quality. To ensure this, we visit our powder manufacturers and take a close look at their production processes and quality management.
Our recent visit to one of our manufacturer’s facilities in China in early 2024 affirmed our confidence in their professionalism and commitment to quality. With two production sites utilizing various atomization technologies, including Vacuum Induction Gas Atomization (VIGA), they offer a large range in metal powders for AM. The production site we visited was built to expand due to the rapidly increasing demand for powder. Several additional atomizers will be installed in the next month. The powder quality meets all requirements for AM and is on one level with powders from leading European manufacturers. For instance, Inconel alloys produced by the VIGA process achieve low oxygen levels of less than 200 ppm.
Our partner is ISO9001 certified and maintains a strict quality management system that complies with international standards. During our audit, we reviewed the manufacturing processes and quality management system. From the inspection of raw materials to post-production testing, we verified that every batch of powder meets the highest standards. All powder-relevant properties are tested by experts in their internal well equiped laboratory.
The manufacturer covers the entire process chain. After the powder is produced, it is sieved in a sieving plant with various sieving towers with different cuts. Fine particles that cannot be separated by sieving are separated in the subsequent air classifying process step. To obtain a homogenized powder batch, the powder is mixed using a blender. Once the finished particle fractions are available and have been tested in the laboratory, the powder is packaged. An appropriate packaging concept is important. We also jointly developed a packaging concept to ensure that the products are transported by air or sea in a way that preserves quality and prevents damage.
In conclusion, our recent visit to one of our trusted manufacturers further demonstrates our commitment to providing high quality metal powders from reliable sources. At qualloy, we understand the challenges of navigating the Chinese powder market. Our platform offers a reliable solution by connecting customers with our network of certified manufacturers, saving them the headache of individual qualification.