Zhongliding Unveils High-Efficiency Sand 3D Printer with Bi-Directional Recoating, Follow-Through Printing, and Nitrogen-Free Binder

The 2025 Formnext Shenzhen exhibition welcomed over 20,000 professionals, while Panda3dp.com’s livestream drew more than 34,000 viewers.

During the event, Panda3dp.com visited Zhongliding, a company specializing in industrial sand 3D printing. General Manager Wang Junheng introduced the firm’s latest large-format sand printer and its core innovations, illustrating how Zhongliding is driving value for the foundry industry with advanced configurations and cost-saving solutions.

The centerpiece was the L181007 Sand 3D Printer, featuring a build volume of 1.8 × 1.0 × 0.7 m, purpose-built for large-scale, batch sand mold production. Orders for this system were placed by Changzhou CRRC Auto Parts Co., Yichun Nuobot, and Chongqing Craftsman Foundry. Additionally, Wuan Kunyue Metal Products Co. and Jingzhou Jinglong Aerospace Technology Co. acquired the larger L251510 model.

1. Extreme Efficiency: Bi-Directional Recoating and Printing

Zhongliding’s efficiency stems from unique mechanical design and optimized motion algorithms:

· Bi-Directional Sand Recoating: After one pass, the recoater reverses immediately without returning to its origin, saving significant time.

· Bi-Directional Printing: Print heads adopt the same strategy, docking closer and minimizing idle travel.

· High-Speed Printing: The high-speed version prints a layer in just 19 seconds, while the Plus configuration cuts it further to 15 seconds—a 25% improvement. The larger L251510 Plus model achieves single-layer times as fast as 13 seconds, boosting efficiency by 50% over the standard version.

2. Precision and Stability: Fully Sealed Body with Climate Control

Sample parts demonstrated outstanding quality:

· Exceptional Accuracy: Full-scale printing precision within ±0.3 mm, with over 99% consistency.

· Environmental Independence: The fully enclosed design integrates industrial-grade air conditioning, automatically regulating chamber temperature and humidity. This eliminates the need for specialized climate-controlled facilities, stabilizes performance, conserves energy, and resolves the industry’s long-standing vulnerability to ambient fluctuations.

3. Proprietary Nitrogen-Free Binder: Reducing Total Cost of Ownership

A breakthrough three years in development, Zhongliding’s binder offers transformative benefits:

· Solving Cast Steel Defects: Traditional nitrogen-based binders often cause pinholes on stainless steel and steel castings. With nitrogen levels as low as 0.2–0.3%, Zhongliding’s binder eliminates these flaws, greatly improving quality.

· Extended Print Head Lifespan: Significantly less corrosive, it extends print head durability from roughly one year to 2.5–3 years—reducing the most critical consumable cost.

· Eco-Friendly: With minimal odor, it enhances workplace conditions and sustainability.

4. Smart, Cost-Saving Sand Recycling

The system integrates a closed-loop sand recovery mechanism: stray sand falling around the build box is collected by conveyors and recycled instantly. This ensures zero waste of sand and binder, reduces material costs, and minimizes operator labor—eliminating the need for extensive vacuum cleanup.

5. Broad Applications and Prestigious Clients

Zhongliding’s technology is already deployed across sectors:

· High-End Fields: Aviation engines, blades, and pipes for state-owned enterprises and research institutes including AECC, Norinco, CRRC, and the Institute of Applied Physics.

· Civil Industry: Applications in new energy, pumps and valves, internal combustion engines, and PU foam molds.

· International Market: Exported to countries such as Russia.

All innovations are patent-protected, with 13 invention patents and 10 utility models underpinning a robust technical moat.

With this showcase, Zhongliding demonstrated its strategy of delivering more than machines—offering a holistic digital solution for sand casting: high efficiency, high precision, and reduced operating costs. By combining proprietary binders, advanced mechanical design, and integrated climate control, Zhongliding is directly addressing the foundry industry’s critical transformation challenges—empowering faster, higher-quality prototyping and trial production of large, complex castings.