en.Wedoany.com Reported - Japanese heavy electrical manufacturer DAIHEN (annual sales of approximately $1.5 billion) has launched its first metal additive manufacturing equipment, the ArcBuilder 3D, and has begun accepting orders. The system is a printer based on WAAM (Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing) technology, featuring DAIHEN's proprietary AC Synchro-Feed welding process, which was introduced to the market in 2015.
The AC Synchro-Feed process synchronizes high-speed forward and backward wire feeding with welding current, reducing welding spatter by over 98%. The ArcBuilder 3D applies this process to achieve high-speed, low-temperature forming without reducing deposition volume, improving forming efficiency by 24% compared to traditional welding methods. The system switches welding waveforms for steel, stainless steel, and aluminum alloys, and comes with software capable of generating tool paths for complex CAD geometries and supporting robot programming, with a maximum forming volume of a 1.5-meter cube. Compared to conventional WAAM output, the printed surface of this equipment is smoother with fewer layer line textures.
The ArcBuilder 3D is priced at $460,000 per unit (excluding tax), and DAIHEN plans to sell 20 units in fiscal year 2026 (the first year of launch). In addition to hardware sales, the company operates a contract manufacturing service at its Rokko plant in the Higashinada-ku area of Kobe, where welding and robotics experts handle quoting, production, and delivery. DAIHEN targets industries such as shipbuilding, energy, construction machinery, and aerospace, and has set a goal for fiscal year 2030: achieving sales of $62 million, capturing a 60-70% domestic market share in WAAM hardware, maintenance, materials, and contract manufacturing businesses in both domestic and overseas markets.
Founded in 1919 as Osaka Transformer Co., DAIHEN is one of Japan's eight major heavy electrical manufacturers. In the fiscal year ending March 2026, the company's consolidated sales were approximately $1.46 billion, up 5.0% year-on-year, and operating profit was about $116 million, up 16.1% year-on-year, both setting new records. Relevant data shows that DAIHEN holds a 39% domestic market share and a 20% global market share in arc welding robots, and a 61% domestic market share in its founding product, pole-mounted transformers. Core WAAM technology research and development began internally in the company's technology development department around 2020, and a business plan including market forecasts was formulated in fiscal year 2023. In 2024, a pre-commercial version of the system was showcased at the Osaka International Welding Show. Three factors driving the company into the WAAM business include: the addressable WAAM market growing at approximately 20% per year; the company's existing share in arc welding machines and robots; and the ability to sell through an established global distribution network.
DAIHEN's initial commercial focus is on repair and prototyping, rather than mass production of new parts. In Japan, manufacturing new parts requires certification from classification societies such as Nippon Kaiji Kyokai (ClassNK), which has higher barriers than repair work. The company has not disclosed specific plans to pursue overseas certifications such as ASTM standards. DAIHEN stated that since the product launch, inquiries through its domestic distribution network have increased, while overseas competitors have also shown interest, and customers in sensitive fields such as Japan's defense sector prefer domestically manufactured equipment.
