The Development and Application of Laser Cutting Machines in the Chinese Market

In the vast landscape of modern manufacturing, laser cutting machines shine like a bright star. With their exceptional performance, they are profoundly transforming traditional processing modes. This technology, hailed as the "fastest knife," "most accurate ruler," and "brightest light," has been evolving continuously since its inception, demonstrating strong vitality and enormous development potential in the Chinese market.

Image Source：699pic

The working principle of laser cutting machines is based on high-energy-density laser beams. Laser beams are generated by a laser generator and then focused through an optical system, concentrating their energy on an extremely small spot. A laser generator generates laser beams and then focused them through an optical system, concentrating their energy on an extremely small spot. Meanwhile, with the assistance of auxiliary gases (such as nitrogen, oxygen, etc.), the molten slag is blown away, achieving precise cutting. Compared with traditional cutting methods, laser cutting has unparalleled advantages. It offers extremely high precision, capable of reaching a cutting accuracy of millimeters or even micrometers, making it outstanding in manufacturing precision components. The cutting speed is fast, significantly improving production efficiency. The slit is narrow, effectively reducing material waste. The heat-affected zone is small, having minimal impact on the overall performance of the material. The cutting surface quality is excellent, smooth, and flat, reducing subsequent processing steps. These remarkable advantages have enabled laser cutting machines to gain prominence in the manufacturing industry quickly.
In recent years, the Chinese market for laser cutting machines has shown vigorous development. With the rapid rise of the manufacturing industry and the increasing demand for advanced processing technologies, the market scale of laser cutting machines has continued to expand. In 2024, the market size of laser cutting equipment in China was approximately 36.85 billion yuan, and it is expected to exceed 40 billion yuan in 2025. Behind this strong growth momentum, there are multiple driving factors. First, the rapid advancement of domestic intelligent manufacturing, as well as the vigorous development of high-tech manufacturing and strategic emerging industries, has created a vast market space for laser cutting machines. The high precision, high speed, intelligence, and flexibility of laser cutting equipment perfectly match the needs of the advanced manufacturing industry. Second, the gradual improvement in the quality, technology, and service capabilities of domestic equipment has made the trend of import substitution increasingly significant. Domestic manufacturers have continuously increased their R & D investment, broken through technical bottlenecks, and significantly improved product performance and stability, thus steadily expanding their market share. Moreover, the rapid popularization of laser cutting technology is accelerating the replacement of traditional industrial cutting technologies, and its application fields are constantly expanding. Starting from the initial metal processing field, it has gradually extended to numerous industries such as non-metal material processing, electronics, medical, aerospace, further driving the growth of the market scale.
In terms of technology, the field of laser cutting machines in China has always maintained an active innovative trend. On the one hand, domestic technologies are becoming increasingly mature, and the localization rates of key components such as lasers, optical components, mechanical systems, and numerical control systems are continuously increasing. For example, as the core component of laser cutting machines, lasers have achieved a relatively high localization rate, effectively reducing equipment costs and enhancing product competitiveness. On the other hand, significant breakthroughs have been made in high-power technology. The localization rate of 30kW fiber lasers has significantly increased, breaking the long-term foreign technological monopoly. The emergence of high-power laser cutting machines has made it possible to cut thick plates, further expanding the application range of laser cutting. At the same time, ultrafast laser technology is also developing rapidly. Its pulse width can reach the picosecond level, and the peak power reaches the gigawatt level. It has been widely used in fields with extremely high precision requirements, such as photovoltaic glass and flexible displays, with a cutting accuracy of up to the micrometer level. In addition, intelligent technology has gradually been integrated into laser cutting machines. The penetration rate of intelligent control systems is continuously increasing, integrating advanced technologies such as AI, the Internet of Things, and big data, which can achieve real-time monitoring and intelligent adjustment of the processing process, greatly improving production efficiency and processing quality.
The application fields of laser cutting machines are extremely extensive, covering almost every corner of the manufacturing industry. In the machinery manufacturing industry, whether it is plate cutting or pipe cutting, laser cutting technology plays a crucial role. It can accurately cut various metal materials such as carbon steel, stainless steel, and aluminum alloy, meeting the processing requirements of complex-shaped components. In the automotive manufacturing field, laser cutting is ubiquitous, from the manufacturing of vehicle body components to interior processing. For high-strength steel and aluminum alloy materials used in vehicle bodies, laser cutting can ensure cutting quality and dimensional accuracy. At the same time, in the processing of automotive seat leather, fabrics, and plastic parts, it can achieve exquisite pattern cutting and shape tailoring. The aerospace industry has extremely strict requirements for the precision and quality of components. With the advantages of a small heat-affected zone and the ability to process complex shapes, laser cutting technology has been widely used in the processing of aircraft wings, fuselage structures, and aerospace materials.
Currently, the Chinese market for laser cutting machines is highly competitive, with a situation where domestic and foreign brands are vying for dominance. However, with the continuous innovation of domestic technologies, a number of excellent domestic brands have emerged rapidly. These domestic enterprises, through continuous R & D investment, have continuously improved product performance and quality, occupying a large share of the low - and medium - end markets and gradually moving towards the high - end market.