High-end machine tools with long-term self-innovation

In 2010, China's machine tool product trade deficit was 8.042 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of 81.07% year-on-year, a record high in recent years. "Import one side down" has become the norm for the foreign trade of China's machine tool products, especially some high-end machine tool products, relying heavily on foreign imports. It can be seen that although China's machine tools have huge production capacity, they cannot yet "arm themselves."

It was learned from the General Administration of Customs that the total import and export of China's machine tool products in 2010 was 13.32 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of 53.99% year-on-year. Among them, exports were 2.638 billion U.S. dollars and imports were 10.68 billion U.S. dollars; the trade deficit was 8.042 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of 81.07% year-on-year, reaching a record high in recent years.

Industry insiders believe that the pulling effect of the previous 4 trillion yuan investment, the disconnection between the production and research of domestic high-end machine tools, and the tax incentive policy of the state to encourage imports of high-end machine tools are all reasons for the surge in imports of high-end machine tools.

The market demand for high-end machine tools Wu Bing, executive vice president of the China Machine Tool Industry Association, disclosed that last year, China's machine tool industry completed industrial output value of 545 billion yuan, an increase of 40.5% over the same period of last year, and the beginning of the “Eleventh Five-Year Plan” (2006). Compared with 165.6 billion yuan, it has increased by 3 times.

Shao Qinzao, deputy director of the Industry Development Department of China Machine Tool Industry Association, once stated that the domestic production of machine tools is still difficult to meet the current market demand in China. China is the largest consumer of machine tools, accounting for a quarter of the total consumption of machine tools in the world, especially There is a huge demand for high-end machine tools.

The 4 trillion yuan economic stimulus plan has made the demand for medium-to-high-end machine tools in the automotive, military, energy, railway, and rail transit areas "hungry," but this has always been a shortcoming in the development of China's machine tool industry, relying heavily on Germany, Japan, etc. The country's imports.

Although the country launched the “Key Special Project of High-end CNC Machine Tools and Basic Manufacturing Equipment” in 2009, it plans to achieve 70% to 80% of the high-end CNC machine tools and basic manufacturing equipment required for aerospace, shipbuilding, automobile, and power generation equipment manufacturing by 2020. Domestically, but in Shao Qin's view, this “major special item” of scientific and technological breakthroughs is stronger and far from meeting the needs of industrialization.

“The key to 'production, research, and use' is 'use', and eventually it falls on the 'use' word. But now, the research objectives of major special projects are out of line with our industrialization, especially on the key components of high-end CNC machine tools, We have not made enough effort," Shao Qin said.

Shao Qin also stated that the state’s policy of encouraging the introduction of advanced technology and importing high-end machine tools is also a reason for the increase in imports. According to the "Measures for the Management of Import Interest Subsidy" issued by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Commerce, the advanced technology and equipment listed in the catalogue will be given discount interest policy support when the company imports in general trade.

The lack of independent core technology Shao Qin admits that due to the research and development faults of high-end machine tools, China's dependence on high-end machine tools will continue to rely on imports in the short term. He said: "The machine tools that cannot be made by oneself can not be blamed on imports, but if it can be manufactured, it will have an impact on China's machine tool industry. The more imports, the greater the impact."

In fact, the middle-end products of China's machine tool industry are also surrounded by "foreign manufacturing." It is understood that although the parameters of domestic ordinary machine tools can meet the requirements, due to the lack of reliability and precision, a considerable part of China's mid-range machine tools must also be imported from South Korea and other countries.

Foreign countries occupy the commanding heights of high-end technology and product exports. According to Luo Baihui, executive secretary general of the International Die & Metals & Plastics Industry Suppliers Association, Japan, Germany and other countries are restricting exports to high-end machine tools. "For example, DMG's high-end five-axis linkage machine tools limit exports to China and even high-end technicians. There is also a limit to the employment in other places. They worry that the loss of people will be accompanied by the outflow of technology, he said.

As for the channels for introducing and digesting foreign high-end technologies through mergers and acquisitions, Shao Qin believes that the machine tool industry is characterized by multiple varieties, small batches, and high technological content, and is not suitable for large-scale mergers.

"The machine tool industry is not as good as a trousers shirt. The accumulation and development of technology requires a certain period of time. There will not be a lot of new products that will be upgraded and replaced in three or five years," Wu said. Shao Qinzu also believes: “Without independent core technologies, it is difficult to move in the international arena. Chinese companies must work harder.”