What FastForm does

FastForm (美光速造), legally Meiguang (Jiangsu) 3D Technology Co., Ltd., is a Chinese metal additive manufacturing company founded in 2016 by PhD graduates from Nanyang Technological University and Huazhong University of Science and Technology. The company designs, manufactures, and sells Selective Laser Melting (SLM) 3D printing equipment spanning an unusually wide product spectrum: from the DeskFab X1/H1 desktop-class machines with a 0.39m² footprint priced at roughly 100,000 RMB, through the FF-M140 and FF-M220 dental workhorses, to the FF-M420 8-laser shoe-mold machine and the FF-M800 large-format industrial system with a 650×650×800mm build volume and up to 8×500W lasers. All machines are bundled with proprietary FastLayer AI-powered slicing software and FastFab real-time control software, and the company owns core process IP including LFPT (Light Following Powder Technology) for parallel powder-spreading/printing, a 30,000+ hour permanent PTFE filter, and zero-touch dynamic seamless splicing. The company claims 18 authorized patents and 30 software copyrights, CE certification across the full product line, and approximately 3,000 units deployed across 80+ countries, with a claimed #1 global position in dental metal 3D printing sales volume.

The company's go-to-market combines direct enterprise sales for large industrial machines (FF-M420, FF-M800) with product-led and channel-driven distribution for the dental and education segments. FastForm sells through its own website, major international trade shows (TCT Asia, IDS Germany, DenTech China, Formnext, IDEM Singapore, TIDC Thailand, CIOSP Brazil), and a network of 50+ distributors supported by service hubs in Turkey, Romania, Russia, India, and Peru. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time hardware sales, with software and AI features (AI one-click support generation, AI powder-spreading detection at 60 TFLOPS, OpenClawAI natural-language workflow agent) bundled free as a competitive differentiator. Target customer segments are led by dental labs (primary), followed by industrial prototyping and mold manufacturers (especially shoe molds), aerospace and medical implant manufacturers, consumer electronics firms, and educational/research institutions through the FF-M140H education version. Manufacturing and R&D are consolidated at the 10,000+ m² facility in Yancheng, Jiangsu Province, with the corporate headquarters located in Suzhou Industrial Park.

Name

FastForm

Legal name

美光（江苏）三维科技有限公司

Website

https://fastform3d.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2016

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

FastForm (美光速造) is a Chinese metal 3D printing equipment manufacturer founded in 2016, selling SLM machines from desktop to industrial scale, with proprietary AI slicing software, to dental labs, industrial manufacturers, aerospace/medical firms, and educational institutions across 80+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Metal 3D Printing Equipment

NAICS

Machine Tool Manufacturing (333517)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550)

akta.pro primary industry

Metal 3D Printers (LPBF/SLM/DMLS, Binder Jetting, DED/LENS/WAAM) (IMAAAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Additive Manufacturing for Metals (Metal 3D Printers & Post-Processing) (IMAHADAG), 3D Printers (Additive Manufacturing) (HDACAEAH)

Keywords

• Metal 3D printing
• SLM equipment
• Additive manufacturing
• Dental 3D printers
• Industrial prototyping

Headquarters

HQ city

Dalian Shi

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Metal 3D Printing Hardware Sales: The company generates revenue primarily from selling metal 3D printing equipment across a full product spectrum — from entry-level desktop machines (~100K yuan for DeskFab series) to industrial-scale multi-laser systems (FF-M800 with 8 lasers priced at premium industrial levels). The product lineup spans dental-specific machines, industrial handboard/prototyping machines, industrial mold machines, and large-scale production machines. All machines are sold with bundled FastLayer and FastFab software, reducing adoption friction.
2. Software & AI Services: While FastLayer and FastFab software are bundled free with hardware purchase, the company monetizes software through perpetual upgrades as part of the hardware value proposition. The AI-powered features (AI one-click support, AI powder detection, OpenClawAI) represent a competitive differentiator that drives hardware sales. The company positions its self-developed software as eliminating third-party licensing costs, which is itself a sales argument.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

FastForm researches, develops, manufactures, and sells Selective Laser Melting (SLM) metal 3D printing equipment spanning desktop to industrial-scale systems (DeskFab, FF-M140, FF-M220, FF-M300, FF-M420, FF-M800). All machines are sold bundled with proprietary FastLayer AI slicing software and FastFab real-time control software. The company serves dental labs, industrial manufacturers, education/research institutions, aerospace, medical, and consumer electronics segments globally across 80+ countries.

Product overview

FastForm (美光速造 / Micron (Jiangsu) 3D Technology Co., Ltd.) offers a comprehensive metal 3D printing solution portfolio spanning desktop to industrial-scale SLM (Selective Laser Melting) equipment. The product line includes: DeskFab H1 and DeskFab X1 (compact desktop metal 3D printers for dental and education use with 0.39m³ footprint); FF-M140H and FF-M140C (dental/education-focused printers with verified reliability); FF-M220 (dual-laser dental/industrial printer); FF-M300 (industrial dual-laser printer); FF-M420 (shoe mold flagship with 8-laser configuration); and FF-M800 (large-format industrial printer with up to 8 lasers and 650×650×800mm build volume). All products are supported by proprietary software including FastLayer (AI-powered slicing software) and FastFab (control software), with the company pioneering LFPT (Light Following Powder Spreading Technology) for parallel powder spreading and printing. The ecosystem is enhanced by AI capabilities including OpenClawAI intelligent assistant, AI one-click support generation, and AI powder spreading detection.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DeskFab H1 Desktop metal 3D printer designed for education and research use, featuring a compact 0.39m³ footprint, single 500W laser, and 200g micro-powder startup capability. Supports cobalt-chromium alloy, titanium alloy, pure titanium, stainless steel, and high-temperature alloys. Equipped with FastLayer (education version) and FastFab control software.
• DeskFab X1 Desktop metal 3D printer positioned as a 'cost master' for dental labs, featuring an all-in-one integrated design smaller than a microwave oven (0.39m³). Single 300W laser, permanent filter with 30,000+ hour lifespan, LFPT bidirectional powder spreading technology improving efficiency by 20%. Capable of printing 100 crowns in 3 hours or 7-8 brackets in 3 hours.
• FF-M140H

Quantifiable outcome

• Dental 3D printing reduces 12-step traditional manufacturing process to 3 steps (design → print → post-processing), cutting production time from days to hours
• +8 more outcomes

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability8 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Kepro (凯普林)coreTechnology or IntegrationFastForm uses Kepro's fiber lasers (including the Lightning 500W single-mode fiber laser) as key components in its metal 3D printing equipment. The M420 can integrate up to 8 units of the Lightning 500W laser, boosting production efficiency and product quality. Kepro maintains a production base in Suqian, Jiangsu with fast after-sales response (1-minute response, 3-hour on-site, 6-hour problem resolution).
• Shanghai Hangchen Zhizao (上海航辰智造)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerChina Aerospace-affiliated professional competition guidance and skills training enterprise that provided professional guidance in aerospace applications for the 3rd National Skills Competition. Collaborative relationship focused on academic competition support and talent development in additive manufacturing.
• Huazhong University of Science and Technology (华中科技大学)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore founders Li Shuai and Chen Zhichao trained under Professor Shi Yusheng's additive manufacturing research group at HUST. The academic collaboration established the company's foundational SLM technology expertise. The company continues to leverage HUST's research capabilities in materials science and additive manufacturing processes.
• Nanyang Technological University (南洋理工大学)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore founder Li Shuai holds a PhD from NTU Singapore. The international academic background contributed to the company's global perspective and technology foundation in metal 3D printing.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Direct peers

• Velo3D: US-based metal AM company (Sapphire family, including recently launched Sapphire XC with 8 lasers). Direct competitor in industrial metal SLM for aerospace and energy, focused on high-complexity parts.
• GE Additive (Concept Laser / Arcam): GE's additive manufacturing division (Concept Laser M LINE, Arcam EBM). Direct competitor in industrial metal AM for aerospace and medical implants. Significant R&D budget and internal GE Aerospace demand provide competitive scale advantages.
• EOS GmbH: German pioneer and global leader in industrial metal and polymer laser sintering (SLM/SLS). Directly competes with FastForm's FF-M420 and FF-M800 industrial SLM machines in aerospace, automotive, and medical markets. EOS's larger installed base, deeper aerospace certifications, and broader software ecosystem (EOSPRINT, EOSTATE) make it the primary direct competitor.
• HBD (Hanbang 3D / 华曙高科): Chinese metal and polymer AM systems maker (HS series, FS series). Closest Chinese competitor to FastForm in SLM hardware across aerospace, medical, and dental. Competes head-to-head in domestic China and emerging export markets.
• Bright Laser Technologies (BLT): Chinese metal 3D printing equipment maker (BLT-S series, BLT-A). Direct competitor to FastForm in domestic Chinese and export markets across aerospace, mold, and dental segments. Comparable product range from desktop to multi-laser industrial.
• TRUMPF: German industrial laser and machine tool maker with metal AM systems (TruPrint series). Direct competitor in industrial metal SLM, leveraging in-house laser expertise and a strong European industrial customer base.
• SLM Solutions: German metal AM company (NXG series with up to 12 lasers, now part of Nikon SLM Solutions). Direct competitor in multi-laser SLM for industrial production. Competes with FastForm M800 in aerospace and automotive brackets/structural parts.
• Renishaw: UK-based metal AM systems (RenAM 500 series with up to 12 lasers). Directly competes in industrial metal SLM, especially for aerospace and medical applications. Established global service network and regulatory credentials.

Broad incumbents

• 3D Systems: US-based broad AM incumbent offering metal (DMP), polymer, and dental workflows. Overlaps with FastForm in dental (NextDent ecosystem) and industrial metals, but operates a wider portfolio across materials and printing technologies.
• Stratasys: Global broad-line AM incumbent focused primarily on polymer but with growing metal ambitions (acquired Stratasys Direct/formerly Covestro Additive Manufacturing). Less direct overlap in metal SLM, but competes for the same dental and industrial customer wallet.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds4 records

Investors7 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FastForm