In our ongoing efforts to remain at the forefront of the additive manufacturing industry, CNPC POWDER is defining the next generation of material innovation at our new Additive Intelligence & Materials Science Center (AiMS). This R&D and Global Business Center is a purposeful step in setting a new benchmark for how advanced materials, process automation, and AI can converge to shape the future of metal powder production.


Located in the heart of Shanghai and spanning approximately 2,500 square meters, the AiMS center represents CNPC Powder’s enduring commitment to industrial excellence in both global reach and technical depth. This project has been designed to operate as a multidisciplinary innovation ecosystem for our industry partners which will serve as a hub for unifying materials science, process automation, and artificial intelligence in one integrated framework.
“The goal is simple but ambitious: to evolve from a traditional material supplier into a Material–Process–AI solution partner,” explains Nathaniel Preston, Sales Manager at CNPC Powder. “Our clients not only look for quality materials that meet standards but increasingly require a partner to redefine what’s possible in production performance and reliability.”
Our AiMS center has been organized around what we feel are five critical and interconnected departments. These departments are each driving toward a key facet for innovation in additive manufacturing:
• Advanced Materials Development & AI R&D Center: focused on new high-performance alloys and machine-learning-based formulation optimization.
• Technology Innovation & Automation Center:  dedicated to process refinement and automated line transformation.
• Application Development & AI Validation Center: responsible for 3D print parameter development, small-batch prototyping, and AI model validation.
• Global Sales & Technical Support Center: managing client collaboration and international project delivery.
• International Logistics & Supply Chain Center: ensuring agile distribution with 3–5 day global delivery to major hubs in Europe and North America.
The heart of this initiative sits within CNPC POWDER’s incorporation of artificial intelligence into material design and manufacturing control. The development and deployment of tailored AI models will be used to predict material performance, streamline powder consistency, and accelerate iteration cycles in customer applications.
Chief Operation Officer Kathy Liu spoke on this point stating that “By embedding AI into every step of material development, we can predict optimal parameters before they are even tested. This shortens the path from concept to production and ensures our customers always receive consistent, validated results”.
In looking at milestones for the project’s rollout we have planned four phases: Discovery, Construction, Scaling Up, and Full-Scale Deployment. We are currently on track for Full Scale Deployment to begin in 2027. This will mark a new chapter for CNPC Powder in its role as a vanguard of the AM materials industry.
Zooming out to look at the conception and the need for such a location, Paul Shen, CEO of CNPC Powder, frames the project as a strategic pivot toward intelligent global collaboration. “Our vision is to create a world-class hub that not only develops materials but empowers customers to innovate faster,” Shen notes. “Shanghai will be our launch point for global-scale cooperation and AI-driven manufacturing excellence.”
With both our integrated approach and clear technological roadmap, CNPC Powder’s AiMS is more than a production facility; it is our statement of intent to lead the continuing evolution of additive manufacturing through pioneering initiatives in material science and AI Development.