One, two, three-let's get "on the chain"!
On June 22, the 4th China International Supply Chain Promotion Expo (hereinafter referred to as the "Supply Chain Expo") was held in Beijing. A total of 676 leading domestic and international enterprises, specialized, refined, distinctive, and innovative companies, and industry organizations joined forces with upstream and downstream partners in the production and supply chain to participate in the expo, with over 1,200 companies actually exhibiting.
Several Nanjing-based companies, including Nanjing Iron and Steel Group Co., Ltd., Jiangsu Jianmi Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd., and Jiangsu Zhengfang Power Technology Co., Ltd., made a collective appearance, each bringing their own "chain" stories to "find partners" at the event.
A component
The "chain" in the Chain Expo represents the bond that connects global partners hand in hand. Here, every exhibiting company is like a "gear" waiting to mesh with another.
At the booth of Jiangsu Zhengfang Power Technology Co., Ltd., precision "small parts"-ranging from core components for humanoid robot joints to compressor stators for aircraft engines-paint a picture of tapping into a vast market. Incubated by the Jiangsu Jianghangzhi Aircraft Engine Components Research Institute, this high-precision manufacturing enterprise specializing in key components for high-end equipment is forging precision machining and specialized processing technologies into its core competitive advantage.
"The compressor is like the 'lungs' of an aircraft engine, drawing in hundreds of jin of air every second," said Yan Xiaolin, Chairperson of Zhengfang Power, pointing to the exhibit. High-pressure air mixes thoroughly with fuel in the combustion chamber, where combustion releases energy that drives the turbine and rotates the fan, while the stator is responsible for correcting the airflow direction and optimizing flow conditions. Building on a foundation of precision machining and leveraging its expertise in specialized processing, Zhengfang Power has overcome the challenges of precision and consistency inherent in traditional CNC processes. The company is able to ensure a high degree of consistency in component specifications during mass production while simultaneously reducing production costs. "The compressor stators we've developed have been successfully integrated into advanced aircraft models such as the C919," she added.
Although this is her first time attending the Supply Chain Expo, Yan Xiaolin already feels the trip has been well worth it. "Aerospace, embodied intelligence, the low-altitude economy… the exhibition halls are filled with partners from across our industry chain."
Two cruise ships
Beneath the display sign for "High-Grade Special-Purpose Steel for Ships" at the Nangang Steel booth, models of the "Aida Magic City" and "Aida Flower City" were on display, creating a "virtual meeting" between China's first and second domestically built large cruise ships.
The "steel" requirements behind a single ship bear witness to the technological strides made by Nanjing-based enterprises.
More than 80% of the steel plates used in the "Aida Magic City" are thin-gauge plates with thicknesses ranging from 4 to 8 millimeters. Nangang Steel achieved precise control over the thickness tolerance of 4-millimeter steel plates, solving the global challenge of controlling the shape and thickness of wide, thin plates and pushing the boundaries of medium- and thick-plate production; The total order volume for ship plates and structural steel for the "Aida Magic City" exceeds 30,000 metric tons, with thin-gauge plates accounting for over 35% of the total. Compared to the first cruise ship, this vessel has a longer hull and requires a higher degree of customization for its sections. NSC has successively overcome technical challenges such as high-precision tolerance control for thin plates, plate shape control, and internal stress control, providing a solid material foundation for managing the ship's weight and center of gravity as well as advancing production milestones.
The "steel" behind a single ship bears witness to Nanjing-based enterprises' integration into the global industrial chain. Recently, China's high-end shipbuilding sector has remained robust with a full order book, effectively driving the expansion of the upstream market for high-end marine steel. With shipyards operating at full capacity, NSC-as an upstream steel producer-is also seeing a full order book. It is reported that the company's total production of marine steel this year-including crack-arresting steel, wide-thin plates for cruise ships, and ship plates for polar low-temperature environments-is expected to exceed 2 million metric tons, with long-term orders already scheduled through 2028.
At this year's Supply Chain Expo, 115 Chinese and foreign companies have participated in all four consecutive editions without missing a single one. NSC is among them. "These past four years have also borne witness to Nangang Steel's growth," remarked the head of Nangang Steel's exhibition booth, gazing at the six intelligent entities displayed on the large screen-built on the foundation of the Yuanye·Steel large-scale model cluster. "Nangang Steel has transformed the public's stereotypical view of the steel industry as 'crude, large-scale, and polluting,' showing everyone just how high the 'intelligence' and 'digital' content of a single piece of steel can be."
Three Robotic Dogs
"Tap, tap, tap, tap…" In the Advanced Manufacturing Aviation Industry Chain Zone, three robot dogs clad in silver "coats" rose to their feet at one side of the exhibition area. Taking small, steady steps, they climbed the stairs with a steady gait, turning the Jianmi Intelligence booth into a popular attraction for visitors. Despite their "adorable" appearance, they are true all-rounders on the industrial floor-the "cyber reconnaissance dogs," equipped with dual-spectrum cameras, voiceprint detectors, and high-precision sensors, can identify risks in real time and are dedicated to patrol duties; The "bomb disposal experts," whose entire bodies have undergone special treatment, are expected to be deployed on the front lines in the future; the "strongman," equipped with a robotic arm capable of a 10-kilogram grip, can effortlessly turn valves and assist with bomb disposal-the moment its patrol partner detects a hazard, it immediately swings its "iron hand" to shut off the valve and eliminate the danger.
While the robotic "doggy" stars were showcasing their skills, the company's Marketing Director Zhu Chunhui and his colleagues didn't have a moment to spare. This marked Jianmi Intelligence's debut at the Supply Chain Expo. "Our products are themselves a link in the supply chain-we can supply the robot dog units to integrators so they can develop complete solutions; at the same time, we are also buyers who need to source mature upstream products, such as sensors and cameras, to refine our own products." In addition to welcoming visitors from around the world, Zhu Chunhui and his colleagues hope to find supporting suppliers at the Chain Expo and look forward to technical exchanges with industry peers. To this end, the company brought all its technical engineers specializing in computer vision, embedded systems, and SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping) navigation to the exhibition, aiming to "showcase our products while building supply chain partnerships."
