Digital News

　　As China approaches the final stretch of its 14th Five-Year Plan, the high-end equipment industry is harnessing intelligent innovation to break through technological barriers and leveraging strong industrial chains to facilitate smoother global market access. With a sharp focus on key initiatives and an all-out drive toward its goals, the industry is laying a solid foundation for China’s emergence as a manufacturing power.

　　Using Intelligence to Break Through Core Technological Barriers

　　During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Hunan, one of China’s leading manufacturing provinces, has witnessed a wave of high-end equipment innovations. These include the world’s largest-tonnage all-terrain crane, the world’s longest onshore wind turbine blade, an ultra-massive tunnel boring machine with a diameter of 16 meters, the world’s most powerful electric locomotive, known as the “King of Power for Heavy-Haul Railways,” and the offshore wind power reactor with the highest voltage level and the largest capacity in China.

　　According to recent reports from the frontlines of the industry in Hunan and other regions, the high-end equipment industry is intensifying efforts to break through critical technological bottlenecks. In the integrated circuit field, companies are steadily boosting both production capacity and product quality, with the adoption of “China-made chips” on the rise and growing self-sufficiency in several key areas. Ongoing increases in R&D investment are propelling rapid technological iteration in key bottleneck areas such as aero engines and deep-sea and deep-space equipment.

　　Intelligent manufacturing upgrades have become a key driver of industrial advancement. The level of self-reliance in key equipment such as CNC machine tools and industrial robots is improving comprehensively, while intelligent transformation of complete equipment systems in sectors like automotive and energy is yielding impressive results. The intelligent manufacturing practices at SANY Renewable Energy’s Shaoshan Blade Factory are highly representative. Utilizing technologies such as fully automated assisted positioning and robot-guided laser systems, the factory has achieved full-process automation of blade production, establishing a model for the industry to emulate.

　　Leading enterprises are playing an increasingly prominent role. Companies such as SANY Heavy Industry are launching new projects in intelligent manufacturing and renewable energy, elevating the technological level of the entire industry.

　　“In this critical window of breakthrough technologies, SANY is launching its third wave of entrepreneurship centered on ‘globalization, digital intelligence, and low-carbon development,’ with major investments in intelligent manufacturing and new energy,” said Xiang Wenbo, Chairman of SANY Heavy Industry.

　　Harnessing the Power of the Chain to Build a Collaborative Industrial Ecosystem

　　As a world-renowned “Capital of Construction Machinery,” Changsha saw several leading companies achieve landmark milestones during the 14th Five-Year Plan period: SANY Heavy Industry secured the title of the world’s top excavator seller; Zoomlion’s overseas revenue exceeded 50%; and China Railway Construction Heavy Industry successfully developed the main bearing for ultra-large-diameter tunnel boring machines (TBM), completing the final step toward complete self-reliance across the entire TBM industry chain. Construction machinery companies are fast-tracking their transition toward high-end, intelligent, and green development, while actively expanding into new markets and product segments, and continuously strengthening, extending, and optimizing their industrial chains.

　　This offers a glimpse into China’s push to build a collaborative ecosystem in its high-end equipment industry. Currently, the development of high-end equipment industry clusters is showing strong momentum. According to the Hunan Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, the province has, in recent years, built strong synergy across provincial, municipal, and county levels to drive the development of industry clusters. Notable progress has been made in establishing national-level industry clusters. Five industry clusters, including Changsha’s construction machinery industry, have been named national advanced manufacturing industry clusters, while 15 SME-focused clusters have been recognized as national specialized industry clusters for SMEs, both figures ranking among the highest in the country.

　　Since joining the “national team,” the ultra-high voltage (UHV) power transmission and transformation equipment industry cluster, covering Hengyang, Changsha, Zhuzhou, and Xiangtan, has rapidly accelerated its growth. Several products within the cluster, including UHV transformers and rail transit traction transformers, now hold leading market shares either globally or nationally. Yan Huaheng, head of the Xiangyan Power Transmission and Transformation Industry Service Center, noted that the UHV power transmission and transformation equipment industry is entering a phase of unprecedented development opportunities. Local governments will capitalize on the cluster’s recognition as a national advanced manufacturing industry cluster by boosting innovation investment, improving the industry and supply chain ecosystem, attracting more high-end innovation projects, and nurturing leading enterprises with global influence.

　　As China speeds up the development of its domestic industry clusters, international cooperation across the high-end equipment supply chain is also deepening. At the 3rd China International Supply Chain Expo, industry leaders such as CRRC and GAC Group showcased notable achievements in industry chain collaboration, underscoring the system competitiveness of China’s high-end equipment industry.

　　Driving Breakthroughs with Strategic Support and Multi-Dimensional Efforts

　　Establishment of new production lines, equipment upgrades, and technological transformations… at the Hengnan High-Tech Industrial Development Zone in Hengyang, Hunan Province, companies across the power transmission and transformation supply chain are buzzing with activity.

　　As the 14th Five-Year Plan enters its final phase, industrial parks across China are ramping up their efforts. According to Li Mengyan, Deputy Director of the Hengnan High-Tech Industrial Development Zone Administrative Committee, in the final year of the 14th Five-Year Plan, the park will continue to intensify targeted investment promotion, improve enterprise services, attract key suppliers in the power transmission and transformation sector, bolster support capabilities for UHV power transmission and transformation, and further enhance the integrity of the industry and supply chains.

　　Local governments are actively introducing supportive policies. For instance, Heilongjiang has rolled out several measures to boost the high-quality growth of the high-end intelligent agricultural machinery industry. These include a 50% increase in subsidies for R&D investments by intelligent agricultural machinery companies and targeted support for breakthroughs in complete machines and key components, such as high-horsepower tractors and intelligent agricultural robots, with individual projects eligible for up to 50 million yuan in funding. Additionally, Chongqing has launched a series of measures to advance the promotion and application of pioneering equipment (sets), promoting the optimization and upgrading of its equipment manufacturing industry.

　　A string of breakthroughs in key products has provided vital support and strong momentum, propelling the high-end equipment industry toward the goals of the 14th Five-Year Plan. Since the start of this year, Chinese companies have made significant advances in areas such as humanoid robotics and AI, not only laying a solid technological foundation for the industry but also continuously unleashing the multiplier effect of new quality productive forces. Data show that China has established 421 national-level intelligent manufacturing demonstration factories, built over 10,000 provincial-level digital workshops and smart factories, and advanced the digital transformation of nearly 10,000 small and medium-sized enterprises.

　　Zhu Minghao, Executive Director of the China High-End Manufacturing Research Center at Beijing Jiaotong University, along with other experts, recommended that as the 14th Five-Year Plan nears its conclusion, efforts should be intensified to support basic components and parts, fundamental materials, industrial foundational software, basic processes and equipment, and fundamentals of industrial technology. Additionally, focus should be put on technological breakthroughs to address weaknesses in major equipment and promote industrial applications. At the same time, AI technology should be actively used to drive iterative upgrades and leapfrog development in the “AI + equipment” sector.

　　Gong Chao, a researcher at Tongji University’s National Institute of Innovation and Development, proposed strengthening industry exchange and technology innovation sharing through the 14th Five-Year Plan High-End Equipment Achievements Exhibition and associated forums. He also suggested exploring the internationalization of the exhibition to create a platform for the industry’s global expansion.

　　According to industry experts, with the effective implementation of various initiatives, the high-end equipment industry is poised to fully meet the targets set out in the 14th Five-Year Plan, delivering robust equipment support for the Chinese path to modernization.