From August 13 to 16, Aerospace Engineering Equipment (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. (AEE) participated in the 27th Beijing Essen Welding & Cutting Fair, a world-renowned grand event for the welding and cutting industry. As a professional provider of intelligent friction stir welding and solid-state additive manufacturing technologies, AEE showcased its friction stir solid-state additive manufacturing equipment, finished samples as well as comprehensive friction stir welding solutions. The company joined industrial peers to display new equipment, advanced processes and innovative materials, demonstrating its solid expertise and leading position in welding and solid-state additive manufacturing sectors.

Stunning Debut of Friction Stir Solid-state Additive Manufacturing, Ushering in a New Era of Intelligent Manufacturing

With rapid technological advancement, advanced manufacturing technologies are driving industrial innovation and development at an unprecedented pace. At this prestigious Essen Fair, the gantry-type friction stir solid-state additive manufacturing equipment stood out as a highlight. Boasting distinctive process advantages and broad application prospects, it became one of the most eye-catching exhibits on site.

As an important branch of additive manufacturing, friction stir solid-state additive manufacturing has gained growing popularity in the manufacturing industry. Derived from friction stir welding, it realizes material micro-forging through a combined process of friction, extrusion and stirring. This technology requires no material melting, features high deposition efficiency and superior product performance. It effectively improves processing efficiency and material utilization while ensuring excellent mechanical properties and high precision of finished parts, presenting remarkable advantages in the efficient production of large structural components.

The gantry-type friction stir solid-state additive manufacturing equipment is a new product jointly developed by AEE and the Macao Institute for Development and Quality (IDQ) to meet market demands. Its key advantages are as follows:

• Adopting an innovative gantry moving gantry structure, the equipment features compact footprint, high safety and strong expandability.
• Equipped with AEE’s self-developed control system and intelligent monitoring technology, it can track key parameters including temperature, pressure and torque in real time throughout the process to guarantee stable and reliable processing quality.

The equipment is applicable to the processing of a wide range of metal materials, such as aluminum alloy, copper alloy, stainless steel, nickel-based alloy and titanium alloy, delivering versatile solutions for manufacturing demands across various industries.

On-site technicians demonstrated the full additive manufacturing process and displayed a variety of finished products and samples, fully showcasing the equipment’s outstanding performance in manufacturing complex structural parts. It attracted numerous professional visitors and industrial peers for on-site observation and in-depth discussions.

Friction Stir Welding Technology Draws Wide Attention

Apart from solid-state additive manufacturing equipment, AEE also fully presented its friction stir welding technologies and a full spectrum of customized solutions. As an eco-friendly and efficient welding technology, friction stir welding requires no filler material, produces no spatter and features low heat input, showing great strengths and potential in joining light alloy materials. Through real case sharing and physical sample display, AEE elaborated on the technical features and advantages of friction stir welding in different industrial scenarios. It also showcased tailored solutions for diverse demands, including welding for extra-thick plates and ultra-thin plates, component welding for new energy vehicles, as well as customized services for aerospace and rail transit sectors, further highlighting its strong capabilities and innovation strength in intelligent manufacturing.

Cutting-edge Technology Expert Forum: Exchange Ideas for Joint Progress

During the exhibition, AEE held a special expert forum focusing on cutting-edge technologies. The discussions covered solid-state additive manufacturing, friction stir welding, commercial aerospace and other fields. Invited guests included Feng Xiaosong, Chief Process Engineer of Shanghai Aerospace Equipment Manufacturing General Factory Co., Ltd., Professor Shi Lei from Shandong University, and Li Wenxiao, Chief Process Engineer of AEE. The experts conducted in-depth exchanges on relevant advanced technologies. They shared the latest research achievements and development trends, and prospected future application scenarios, bringing a wonderful technology feast to all attendees and winning rounds of applause.

Through this Essen Fair, AEE demonstrated its leading position and innovation capabilities in intelligent manufacturing to the world, and injected new momentum into the transformation and upgrading of the global manufacturing industry. Meanwhile, via expert forums and other exchange activities, AEE actively promoted communication and cooperation with industrial partners to jointly drive the development of intelligent manufacturing technologies. Going forward, adhering to the development philosophy of "Innovation-led and Technology-driven", AEE will keep committing itself to delivering higher-quality and more efficient intelligent manufacturing solutions for customers. The company will work with all peers in the welding industry to create a new chapter of intelligent manufacturing and embrace a brighter future together.