BLT CEO Discusses What’s Now and What’s Next in Metal 3D Printing

A conversation with Bright Laser Technologies founder and CEO Dr. Xue Lei (“Leo”), on cost, materials, and what's coming next in metal additive manufacturing.

If you've been following GoEngineer's partnership with Bright Laser Technologies, you already know what BLT's machines can print: the titanium hinge inside OPPO's Find N5 foldable phone, the metal O-rings BLT produces under an Airbus A320 production contract, the record-setting BYD Yangwang U9X, whose chassis relies on BLT printers for a structure that's both lighter and stiffer than conventional casting could produce. These aren't prototypes. They're production parts, used at scale, today. And behind it all is Dr. Xue Lei (“Leo”), Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Bright Laser Technologies.

Seeing Is Believing

There’s a saying in English: “seeing is believing”. When GoEngineer’s VP of Digital Manufacturing, Tyler Reid, first visited BLT’s headquarters in Xi’an, China, he said “it changed what I thought was possible.”  He called it “a Sputnik moment”, something that happens that didn’t seem possible, that changes your beliefs.

On a recent trip, Tyler sat down with Dr. Leo to discuss BLT’s beginnings, the current state of the industry, and what’s next in metal 3D printing. We’ll explore some of the highlights from that discussion.

A Focus on “Manufacturable and Affordable”

In the West, it's believed that metal additive manufacturing is simply too expensive to be used in consumer electronics, but BLT faced that preconception head-on and proved to the world they could do it. Dr. Leo elaborated:

 “For more than a decade, BLT has focused on what we describe as manufacturable and affordable. Manufacturable means proving that something is technically possible. Affordable means ensuring it meets real cost requirements at scale."

When cost is the primary concern, BLT analyzes whether the limitation comes from printing efficiency, hardware, material, or the broader supply chain, and works to remove those barriers. According to Dr. Leo, one important way BLT does this is through their Design for Additive Manufacturing Team:

“Design is one of the earliest drivers of cost, so we focus on optimizing structures and reducing unnecessary weight. Lighter parts require less material, which directly lowers manufacturing cost. At the same time, we've continuously improved manufacturing efficiency through advancements in multi-laser systems, machine design, and production scalability. As the industry continues to mature, we believe many of today's cost barriers will continue to decrease.”

Purpose-Built Powders for Additive Manufacturing

BLT atomizes a range of titanium and nickel alloy grades in-house, and offers more than 60 metal powders, including aluminum, stainless steel, and specialty metals like copper; each optimized for use with BLT’s equipment.

Previous Next

With a background in Material Science, Dr. Leo explains that BLT decided to atomize their own powders because metal additive manufacturing is, at its core, a material process:

“In the past, most materials were adapted from existing alloys, but we believe the future lies in developing materials purpose-built for additive manufacturing. Materials created around the thermal characteristics of the process itself.” Unlike traditional manufacturing, which mainly addresses external shape, metal additive manufacturing “allows us to control both shape and performance simultaneously.”

BLT’s approach to printing copper is a perfect example. At room temperature, copper reflects about 95% of near-infrared laser light and conducts heat away from the melt pool almost as fast as it can be added, which is part of why it's one of the most challenging metals to print reliably. BLT designed its own alloy, BLT-CuCrZr, to work around these problems, redefining what is possible in rocket engine manufacturing.

Looking ahead, Dr. Leo believes this sort of materials optimization is just the beginning. “More and more materials will become… like custom-tailored clothing designed for specific fit and function.”

Making a Better World Is “Easy”

BLT's mission statement is "Make Manufacturing Easier, Make a Better World." Dr. Leo explains that “ease” in this context boils down to four factors:

What’s Next for BLT

For Dr. Leo, keeping BLT on the “cutting-edge” of technology is about more than “simply building bigger machines and adding more lasers”. It’s about “developing technology that solves meaningful problems for manufacturers. Looking ahead, one of our biggest areas of focus is intelligent automation and lights-out manufacturing.” But what excites him most is “the opportunity to help grow this industry on a global scale.”

“Over the years, BLT has gained valuable experience serving customers in China, and we're excited about the opportunity to share that experience... around the world.” But globalization isn't only about sharing what BLT has learned. For Dr. Leo, it's also about learning from other industries, regions, and manufacturers, and their unique challenges and requirements. “Those perspectives help us continue improving our technology and developing better solutions for the future. That's why we believe global expansion should be built on collaboration… For us, trust is the foundation for everything that comes after.”

Collaboration is as important within BLT as without, in a “process [that involves] continuous learning, discussion, and reflection. Many of the most important decisions we've made came from working through challenges together as a team.” Recalling persevering through past failures, setbacks, and hard-earned lessons, Dr. Leo observes: “Looking back, that's really how BLT has grown. Not through any single breakthrough, but by solving one problem after another, learning from each experience, and continuing to move forward.”

Ready to See What BLT Can Do for Your Parts?

Contact GoEngineer today and see how BLT can help accelerate your manufacturing and enable the creation of intricate designs that other processes simply can't touch.

More 3D Printing News

Building the Perfect EDU Lab: A Tiered Approach to Makerspace Excellence

5 High-Tech Highlights from RAPID 2026

BLT's Meter-Scale Copper 3D Printing Material for Space Propulsion

Reinventing Roller Coasters with Metal 3D Printing

Metal AM's Competitive Edge: BLT, BYD, and the Integrated Body Structure That Redefined Supercar Performance