On August 22, 2023, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), together with the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), the National Energy Administration (NEA), and the National Standards Committee (NSC), formally issued the "Implementation Plan for the Standardization of Pilot Project for New Industries (2023-2035)" (hereinafter referred to as the "Implementation Plan"). Among them, in the two columns of new materials and high-end equipment, it is explicitly proposed to develop additive manufacturing-related standards, oriented to the needs of industrial integration and development and exploration of application scenarios, to carry out relevant standard pre-research work, and to comprehensively promote the construction of a standard system for the additive manufacturing industry.

Circular of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and Other Four Departments on the Issuance of the Implementation Plan for the New Industry Standardization Pilot Project (2023-2035)

In the new materials column of the key tasks, the Implementation Plan proposes, in the direction of advanced iron and steel materials, the development of high-strength steel for automobiles, high-quality parts and components, long-life wear-resistant steel, high-quality tool steel, ultra-high-strength steel, new-generation high-temperature alloys, and ferrous metal powders for additive manufacturing as well as other standards of machinery and structural materials; and, in the direction of cutting-edge materials, it proposes the strengthening of the technological roadmap for research on superconducting materials, intelligent bionics, liquid metal materials, additive materials, and other cutting-edge materials, as well as the conduct of pre-study on the key technological standards and testing standards of cutting-edge materials, so as to support the first batch of cutting-edge materials for their application and popularization.

In the high-end equipment column of the Implementation Program, the key tasks will be additive manufacturing equipment as a separate category, clearly indicating the development of additive manufacturing equipment core processes and components, key technologies, testing and evaluation and other standards. Focus on the development of additive manufacturing binder jetting, directional energy deposition, powder bed fusion and other basic technology and equipment standards, as well as multi-material, multi-color flow, array, composite additive manufacturing and other new technology and equipment standards; development of process databases, data conversion, coding requirements, data and interface standards such as file formats; development of equipment acceptance, personnel assessment, testing of key components and other standards.

At present, China is in the key stage of accelerating the high-quality development of the manufacturing industry, manufacturing new needs and new modes of additive manufacturing has put forward higher standards and requirements, the continuous development and application of additive manufacturing technology, the demand for standardization will continue to increase. The establishment of a sound standard system for the additive manufacturing industry has an important role to play in ensuring product performance, improving product reliability and consistency, promoting technological innovation and application, improving production efficiency, and significantly reducing research and development and production costs, and is of great significance in promoting the high-quality development of the additive manufacturing industry.

Next, the relevant state departments will work with industry associations, central enterprises, standardization technology organizations, standardization professional bodies and other relevant units to continue to improve the construction of the additive manufacturing industry standards system, give full play to the standards to promote technological progress, service enterprise development, strengthen industry guidance, lead the leading role of industrial upgrading, and continuously improve the technical level and internationalization of the additive manufacturing industry standards, in order to accelerate the high-quality development of the additive manufacturing industry, build a new industry, and to promote the development of the industry. Additive manufacturing industry high-quality development, the construction of modernized industrial system to provide solid technical support.

Source: China Additive Manufacturing Industry Alliance