An enterprise rooted in Guangzhou's Liwan District has claimed the championship title at a major national competition. At the 11th "Maker in China" Additive Manufacturing SME Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, the "Five-Axis AI 3D Printer" project, incubated by High Energy Digital Manufacturing (Guangzhou) Technology Co., Ltd., won first place in the startup category. The winning entry impressed judges with its original five-axis forming technology and verifiable commercial data. The "Maker in China" competition, organized by China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, stands as an authoritative professional event in the domestic additive manufacturing field.

The parent company behind the award-winning project, High Energy Digital Manufacturing (Guangzhou) Technology Co., Ltd., is a tech enterprise registered in Liwan District. It specializes in new energy battery research and additive manufacturing technology development and industrialization. The company possesses mature mass-production experience and independent intellectual property rights in areas such as solid-state battery 3D printing and precision additive manufacturing equipment. Its growth reflects the district's commitment to supporting technological innovation.

Dual Breakthroughs in Five-Axis and AI Address Core Industry Pain Points

Industry research indicates that over 90% of potential 3D printing users lack the skills to use CAD modeling software, while 55% of existing users are troubled by printing support issues. This has kept 3D printers confined to the role of "engineer's professional tools." To solve these problems, the Liwan-based team developed the TOP.E R1 five-axis AI 3D printer, offering a systematic solution. Its proprietary "independent three-Z-axis heated bed tilting" patent allows a maximum tilt angle of 17 degrees, enabling a theoretical maximum unsupported overhang angle of 62 degrees. This significantly reduces support structures and material waste. The device also deeply integrates AI, featuring a built-in voice assistant that supports generating 3D models through voice, text, or images, allowing users to simply "speak to create."

By combining sharp insights into user pain points with original five-axis forming technology, the project team is transforming 3D printing from an engineer's tool into a creative home appliance for ordinary consumers. This opens up entirely new possibilities for the consumer-grade additive manufacturing market.

Growth Rooted in Liwan With Strong Government-Enterprise Synergy

The establishment and growth of High Energy Digital Manufacturing in Liwan exemplifies how the district uses policy support, tech innovation platforms, and full-process services to empower sci-tech enterprises. During critical phases such as R&D breakthroughs, technology commercialization, and production ramp-up, relevant Liwan district departments have provided proactive services. They have offered substantial help with workspace, project application, and industry-academia-research collaboration, reinforcing the company's confidence in staying and expanding in Liwan.

The company is currently broadening its industrial footprint within the district, continuously extending its research, production, and application segments. It is also driving the clustering of upstream and downstream industry chain partners in Liwan. Leveraging Liwan's modern industrial ecosystem and the industrial space of the Hailongwei Science and Technology Innovation Zone, the enterprise aims to build a base for the R&D and industrialization of consumer-grade intelligent additive manufacturing equipment. This initiative injects fresh momentum into the high-quality development of the district's additive manufacturing sector.

Industrial Cluster Powering an Additive Manufacturing Innovation Hub

The technical and competitive achievements of the High Energy Digital Manufacturing project serve as a compelling example of Liwan nurturing an environment for entrepreneurship and innovation while supporting specialized and sophisticated SME growth. In 2025, the district's laser and additive manufacturing industrial cluster surpassed RMB 6.7 billion in scale, marking a 10% year-on-year increase and earning recognition as a "Provincial SME Characteristic Industrial Cluster." The cluster now hosts 40 national high-tech enterprises and 31 provincial-level specialized and sophisticated enterprises, spanning the entire industrial chain from specialty materials, core components, and smart equipment to application services.

As a core vehicle for industrial development, the Guangzhou Laser and Additive Manufacturing Industrial Park in the Hailongwei Science and Technology Innovation Zone was completed and put into operation in 2025. With a total investment of RMB 1.38 billion and a building area of 156,000 square meters, it has already secured over 100,000 square meters of intended occupancy. The Guangzhou Future Additive Manufacturing Research Institute, founded by a team led by Academician Leng Jinsong of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has also officially moved into the park, aggregating top-tier research resources for the industry.

Looking ahead, Liwan District will stay committed to technological self-reliance. It plans to build a collaborative innovation system with universities and research institutions, focusing on breakthroughs in key technologies such as intelligent materials and multifunctional 3D printing. By strengthening the "government-industry leader-park" coordination mechanism and focusing on the consumer-grade terminal market, the district aims to promote the large-scale application of these technologies in personalized healthcare, smart wearables, and creative home furnishings, contributing to the high-quality development of Guangzhou's manufacturing industry.

Source: Liwan District Science, Technology and Industry Information Bureau