CNPC Powder Launches AiMS Centre to Drive AI-Powered Materials Innovation and Global Additive Manufacturing Advancement!

CNPC Powder, headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, has unveiled its new Additive Intelligence & Materials Science (AiMS) Center—a 2,500 m² innovation hub in Shanghai designed to transform the future of materials development and Additive Manufacturing (AM). Positioned at the intersection of materials science, automation, and artificial intelligence, the AiMS centre marks a major strategic shift for the company as it expands from a traditional powder supplier into a comprehensive Material–Process–AI solutions provider.

The state-of-the-art facility brings together multidisciplinary expertise and advanced infrastructure to serve global industry partners seeking higher performance, faster development cycles, and more reliable AM results. “The goal is simple but ambitious: to evolve from a traditional material supplier into a Material–Process–AI solution partner,” said Nathaniel Preston, Sales Manager at CNPC Powder. He explained that customers now expect not only high-quality metal powders but also deeper collaboration to optimise performance, consistency, and process reliability across complex manufacturing environments.

The AiMS centre is structured into five interconnected divisions, each playing a critical role in the broader innovation ecosystem. The Advanced Materials Development & AI R&D Center focuses on designing new high-performance alloys and applying machine-learning models to optimise material formulations. A dedicated Technology Innovation & Automation Center refines production processes and accelerates factory automation initiatives, supporting both internal advancements and partner projects.

Application-level development is led by the Application Development & AI Validation Center, where teams work on AM parameter optimisation, small-batch prototyping, and validation of AI-driven predictions. These technical departments are supported by a Global Sales & Technical Support Center tasked with coordinating customer collaboration, and an International Logistics & Supply Chain Center that enables agile worldwide delivery—ensuring 3–5 day dispatch to major European and North American hubs.

AI is a core component of CNPC Powder’s next phase of evolution. The AiMS initiative was built around the company’s plan to embed artificial intelligence throughout the material lifecycle—from alloy design and powder production to parameter development and end-use performance prediction. Tailored AI models will help forecast material behaviour, improve powder consistency, and drastically shorten iteration cycles by identifying optimal parameters before physical testing begins.

Chief Operating Officer Kathy Liu emphasized the transformative potential of this approach. “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.” Her comments underscore how predictive modelling and AI-enabled manufacturing intelligence are becoming foundational pillars for next-generation AM production.

CEO Paul Shen highlighted the global ambition behind the new centre, noting that Shanghai will serve as the launchpad for worldwide collaboration in AI-enabled materials innovation. “Our vision is to create a world-class hub that not only develops materials but empowers customers to innovate faster,” he said. “The AiMS center will be the focal point for global-scale cooperation and AI-driven manufacturing excellence.”

With the opening of the AiMS centre, CNPC Powder positions itself at the forefront of AI-accelerated material science, offering customers not just powders—but complete, data-driven pathways to achieving production breakthroughs in Additive Manufacturing.