Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2026-05-15 Origin: Site
From early 2025 to the first quarter of 2026, the global tungsten market experienced an unprecedented price surge. The price of black tungsten concentrate broke the one-million-yuan mark, and high-purity tungsten powder soared to 2,100 RMB/kg, both surging by over 600%. As the "backbone" of cutting tools, the out-of-control tungsten prices have completely shattered the cost structure of traditional cemented carbide tools. Facing massive procurement pressure, the engineering machinery industry must find a new breakthrough. This article explores how Hengpu (Ningbo) Laser Technology Co., Ltd. provides strategic solutions through its ceramic 3D printing technology and the economical HP20T2S milling tools.
Traditional high-performance engineering tools generally use tungsten carbide(WC) cemented carbide materials, in which the extremely expensive tungsten accounts for the majority of the tool's cost In the past, simply increasing the volume of the tungsten alloy tool head was the most direct method to improve the wear-resistant lifespan of the tools.
However, under the extreme market condition where tungsten prices have broken the one-million mark, this "volume equals lifespan" manufacturing philosophy has suffered a complete economic collapse. The absolute cost of tungsten powder required to manufacture a large cutting tool has become unacceptably high for engineering contractors. If they continue to stick to traditional full-cemented-carbide ratios, the exorbitant procurement costs will entirely devour the profit margins of engineering projects.
Facing material bottlenecks, Hengpu (Ningbo) Laser Technology Co., Ltd., a leader in China's civilian 3D printing field, provides a perfect solution with its internationally leading special ceramic 3D laser printing technology.
Hengpu Laser's original laser printing technology has completely subverted the traditional manufacturing paradigm that relies on massive bulk tungsten-based carbides. This technology uses high-energy laser beams as a heat source to precisely clad a layer of special ceramic-reinforced metal matrix composite on the wear-resistant matrix surface of the tool. The nano-scale ceramic particles distributed in the metal matrix can effectively absorb impact energy and prevent crack propagation, endowing the tool surface with extreme wear resistance that rivals or even surpasses pure tungsten carbide.
Through this revolutionary technology, the cutting tools no longer need to rely on massive solid tungsten carbide heads to provide longevity, achieving a complete decoupling of surface wear resistance from expensive internal bulk metals. This breakthrough innovation not only drastically reduces reliance on high-purity tungsten raw materials and avoids the risks of surging tungsten prices, but also enables the "Hengpu Picks" brand to successfully break the technological and market monopoly held by international tool giants in China.
In large-scale and complex geological conditions (such as double-wheel milling and deep-hole rotary drilling), ceramic 3D printed tools are the definitive choice for pursuing ultimate lifespan. However, for conventional asphalt pavement milling and high-frequency, large-area renovation projects that involve high wear and tear, customers urgently need a solution with a lower initial procurement cost and better economic efficiency.
To this end, Hengpu Laser has agilely responded to market demands by launching a more affordable strategic defense product in response to skyrocketing tungsten prices: the HP20T2S(Without Ceramic Wear-resistant Layer) Asphalt Milling Tool. This model does not contain a ceramic wear-resistant layer, eliminating the cost of expensive special ceramics and the laser cladding process. The Hengpu R&D team utilized extreme geometric reshaping and microstructural optimization to ensure that every gram of the highly expensive tungsten is precisely deployed at the core penetration points most prone to wear. Simultaneously, the steel matrix underwent an ultra-high-strength surface hardening heat treatment to effectively resist the scouring of asphalt aggregates.
Theoretical lean optimization must be proven in practice. In late March 2026, an on-site test for pavement milling was conducted in an expressway tunnel in Tongchuan, Shaanxi. Due to extremely poor heat dissipation inside the tunnel and highly compacted base layers mixed with hard aggregates, the working conditions were exceptionally harsh. Nevertheless, the HP20T2S delivered stunning results: relying on excellent wear resistance, this batch of HP20T2S tools (without ceramic wear layers) won the full trust of customers with an extremely low loss quantity. Not only did they experience zero early alloy head detachment or fragmentation, but their overall wear rate was also far below that of any similar product from other manufacturers on the market, receiving unanimous praise from the client.
Facing a tungsten raw material market where "prices change by the day," traditional procurement models can no longer adapt to current survival challenges. Based on Hengpu Laser's product ecosystem, we recommend that construction enterprises adopt a "Dual-Track" procurement strategy:
For complex and variable strata and high-downtime-cost conditions (e.g., underground diaphragm walls, ultra-deep rotary drilling): Choose Hengpu Ceramic 3D Printed Tools to maximize the lifespan of individual teeth, thereby significantly reducing equipment downtime and labor costs for tool replacement.
For conventional pavement milling and high-volume consumption conditions: Procure large quantities of economical products like the HP20T2S (without ceramic layer). By ensuring an extremely low wear rate through its superior structural design, it can immediately and effectively compress absolute material costs.
The high price of tungsten may become the new normal, but technological innovation remains the most powerful weapon for enterprises to cross economic cycles. Hengpu Laser will continuously rely on technology-driven solutions to provide you with engineering tools that offer both high performance and high economic efficiency amidst the tungsten price tsunami!
