The development of laser technology drives manufacturing process innovation, China is striding into the era of "light processing" Laser pointer is known as "the fastest knife, the most accurate ruler, the brightest light", comparable to nuclear power, computers and semiconductors. Laser processing has the advantages of high efficiency, high precision, not limited by materials, and flexibility. It gradually replaces traditional processing and manufacturing, such as welding, cutting, drilling, etc., and deepens new applications such as 3D printing, brittle materials, and automotive. Lightweight, laser cladding, surface treatment, etc. In recent years, China's laser processing technology has developed rapidly, driving innovation in emerging fields and traditional manufacturing processes. China has been steadily entering the era of “light” processing after Europe, America, Japan and South Korea.
Fiber optic laser pointer into the mainstream, the Asia-Pacific region will become the most important market for the global industrial laser industry According to LMR statistics, global laser sales increased by 18.2% in 2017, of which industrial lasers increased by 26.1%; industrial fiber lasers due to its compact structure Sales, stable and reliable, and high photoelectric conversion efficiency increased by 33.7%, with the proportion increased to 47% and 13% higher than that in 2013. Technavio expects the demand for fiber lasers in the Asia Pacific region to increase to 46% globally in 2021, mainly due to strong demand in the automotive, consumer electronics, semiconductor, and machining industries in the Asia Pacific region.
"Light" creates the future: It is estimated that China's laser equipment will reach 60 billion yuan in 2018, with an increase of over 20%. Since the beginning of 2016, the 13th Five-Year Advanced Manufacturing Technology Innovation Project, the Additive Manufacturing Industry Development Action, and the High-end Intelligent Remanufacturing Action Plan have all proposed Support and intensity of laser and its processing equipment have increased significantly. According to China's laser industry development report, thanks to the rising demand for downstream emerging demand and the growing demand in the traditional field, the scale of China's laser equipment market reached 49.5 billion yuan in 2017, a year-on-year increase of 28%, and the compound growth rate in 2010-2017 was 26%. According to the 2018 China Laser Industry Development Report, it is estimated that the market size of China's laser pointer equipment will exceed 60 billion yuan in 2018, an increase of more than 20% year-on-year.
“Exciting” can not be lost: localization accelerates the application of laser equipment, and two paths seek investment opportunities. According to the China Laser Industry Development Report, the domestic market share of medium-power fiber lasers in 2016 was 58.5%, which was more than 40% higher than that in 2013. The sales volume of medium power fiber laser cutting equipment increased by 166%. The increase in localization rate has promoted the decline in laser prices, and end users and laser equipment companies have achieved win-win results and accelerated the application of laser equipment. We believe that with the localization of medium and high power laser pointers in the future, the price of lasers will continue to decline. Domestic companies are expected to broaden the domestic market and compete for overseas markets with cost-effective advantages. Referring to the international giants Trumpf Group and the US IPG growth path, we believe that the two paths look for investment opportunities in the laser industry: laser equipment system integrators based on machine tool integration advantages, mastering fiber optic or semiconductor laser heads of core processes.