Core Insights - The rise of additive manufacturing (3D printing) in advanced thermal management is driven by the increasing thermal flow density in core chips and system modules due to advancements in AI, HPC, electric vehicles, aerospace, and high-power lasers [2] - Traditional cooling solutions are becoming inadequate, necessitating the development of high-performance liquid cooling plates and microchannel heat exchangers [2][5] Group 1: Technological Advantages and Value Chain - Additive manufacturing enables the creation of complex internal geometries that significantly enhance heat transfer efficiency, overcoming limitations of traditional manufacturing methods [5][6] - The shift from "linear cooling" to "contour cooling" allows for more efficient heat dissipation, reducing cooling time and improving product quality [6][7] - The design freedom offered by 3D printing optimizes the entire production process, leading to reduced internal stress and warping risks, thus improving yield rates [7] Group 2: Quantified Value - Performance improvements include a tenfold reduction in pressure drop for cooling systems, leading to lower energy consumption and reduced need for large pumps [8] - Studies indicate that heat sinks produced via direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) can achieve performance enhancements of 20% to 50% compared to traditional machining [8] - Despite high initial investment costs for metal 3D printing equipment, long-term lifecycle cost advantages become evident in mass production due to higher material utilization rates and reduced cooling medium requirements [8] Group 3: Core Technology Overview - Various mainstream technologies in additive manufacturing for thermal management components cater to different application scenarios and precision requirements [9] Group 4: Company Profiles - Xihe Additive (China) specializes in green laser metal additive manufacturing, providing high-performance 3D printing services for various metals [10] - Platinum is a global leader in metal additive manufacturing, with innovative liquid cooling plates that significantly enhance heat exchange efficiency [13] - Eos Group's subsidiary in Asia focuses on industrial-grade 3D printing, offering solutions that improve heat transfer efficiency through complex internal flow structures [15] - Alloy Enterprises utilizes a unique stack forging process to manufacture direct liquid cooling components, achieving significant thermal performance breakthroughs [24] - 3D Systems provides high-precision 3D printing solutions widely used in liquid cooling designs, demonstrating substantial reductions in thermal resistance [26] Group 5: Future Outlook - The application of additive manufacturing in liquid cooling is expanding from prototype manufacturing to broader industrial applications, showcasing diverse development trends among companies [35] - The upcoming Sixth Thermal Management Industry Conference will feature key players in liquid cooling and related components, highlighting the industry's commitment to advancing 3D printing technology in thermal management [36]