China’s investment casting industry is undergoing a profound structural transformation, driven by the dual engines of green manufacturing and intelligent technology. As the global investment casting market exceeds USD 30 billion, China has solidified its position as the industry’s core growth engine, with leading foundries reporting over 20% year-on-year growth in overseas orders.
The 60th Advanced Training Course on Investment Casting Production Technology, held from July 20–25, 2026, in Beijing, brought together more than 120 technical professionals and managers from across the country. Organized by the China Foundry Association’s Investment Casting Division, the event highlighted the sector’s strategic focus on “high-end, intelligent, and green transformation.” Secretary-General Wang Dongsheng emphasized that investment casting quality directly impacts the supply chain resilience of critical sectors including aerospace, new energy, and gas turbines.
Key Industry Developments
Green Manufacturing Push: Supported by MIIT’s green transformation plan, investment casting foundries are aggressively adopting energy-saving technologies and low-carbon solutions. Strict environmental standards are now fully implemented across the sector, with silica-sol binder systems and water-glass processes being optimized for reduced emissions.
Intelligent Manufacturing Integration: Advanced technologies including 3D printing for wax pattern production, AI-powered quality inspection, and digital twin simulation have been widely deployed. These innovations are significantly improving production efficiency, casting yield rates, and dimensional precision — enabling Chinese foundries to meet increasingly stringent requirements from aerospace and medical device OEMs.
Market Expansion: The industry is experiencing robust demand from new energy vehicles, aerospace, and engineering machinery sectors. Major industrial clusters in Ningbo, Shandong, and Guangzhou are strengthening full-chain production capabilities, from silica-sol binder and zircon sand supply to precision machining and surface treatment.
Talent Development: Addressing the critical challenge of professional talent shortage, the China Foundry Association is deepening its commitment to vocational education and knowledge renewal programs. The recent Beijing training course focused on lightweighting of investment castings and advanced process design, equipping participants with skills essential for the industry’s “15th Five-Year Plan” development goals.
Industry Outlook
Analysts predict that over the next 3–5 years, backward production capacity will be systematically eliminated, with enterprises demonstrating strong R&D capabilities, rigorous quality control, and green production credentials leading the industry’s high-quality development. The vacuum precision investment casting furnaces (VPIC) market alone is projected to grow from USD 500 million in 2025 to USD 750 million by 2033, at a CAGR of 5.5%.
For international buyers, China’s investment casting foundry landscape offers an increasingly sophisticated ecosystem. Leading manufacturers such as Ningbo Qianhao, now provide integrated solutions spanning casting, CNC machining, heat treatment, and assembly — supported by IATF 16949 and ISO quality certifications.
As Metal China 2026 prepares to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the China Foundry Association, the investment casting sector stands at a pivotal juncture. The convergence of green mandates, digital transformation, and high-end market demand is reshaping competitive dynamics — positioning China’s investment casting foundries not merely as cost-effective suppliers, but as technology partners capable of delivering complex, mission-critical components for the world’s most demanding applications.