Since May, the precision machining industry in the technology iteration, supply chain pattern, market hot spots and industrial layout and other dimensions are worth paying attention to the important trends. The following is a systematic combing by event type.
I. Developments in the release of technology and equipment
Beijing Jingdiao Completes Annual Debut of Three New Machine Tools
(May 5 news)
At the beginning of May, Beijing Jingdiao Group's three machine tools, which completed their annual debut exhibition at CCMT 2026, attracted sustained attention. These three machines are oriented to different high-end manufacturing scenarios:
-JDMR400 Vertical 5-axis High-Speed Machining Center: geared towards aerospace and humanoid robotics, it can complete all processes from heavy-cutting roughing to high-precision finishing on the same machine. In the machining of structural parts for humanoid robots, the material removal rate reaches 90%, and the key indexes such as concentricity and perpendicularity are stably controlled within 20μm.
- JDHTR800 Horizontal 5-axis machining center: oriented to large aluminum alloy die-casting parts for new energy vehicles, adopting horizontal layout to solve the problem of deep-cavity chip removal, the machining of a single piece of engine flywheel shell takes only 25 minutes, and the roundness of Φ400mm bore is stably controlled within 10μm.
- JDSGT400 three-axis high-speed machining center: for precision molds and semiconductor field, the surface roughness reaches within 4nm after 9.5 hours of continuous machining, which verifies the long-term stability.
Industry significance]: The release of these three devices marks the evolution of the layout of domestic high-end machine tools in the field of five-axis linkage from a "point breakthrough" to a "scenario-based product matrix". Beijing Jingdiao's technology route of "electromechanical soft" deep integration is forming a replicable systematic ability.
Establishment of the Machine Processing Division of Maytag Group
(May 8)
On May 8th, Meicheng Group formally established the machining division in Xinhua, Hunan Province, focusing on solving the problems of precision machining of zirconia, alumina, silicon nitride, silicon carbide and other ceramic materials with high hardness and high brittleness.
The division focuses on solving the three major technical pain points of " chipping, cracking, and difficult to control precision " common in ceramic processing, aiming to open up the whole process of closed loop of precision mold design, loppable parts processing, ceramic precision machining, and brazing encapsulation integration. Meicheng Group said that it will deepen the cooperation with Central South University, Hunan University, Changsha University of Science and Technology and other colleges and universities, to create a highland of innovation in advanced ceramic precision processing.
Industry significance]: Advanced ceramic materials are increasingly widely used in semiconductor equipment, aerospace, medical and other fields, but its high hardness brings processing problems has been the bottleneck of the industry chain. The establishment of Meicheng's machining division reflects the trend of extending precision machining to the depth of "new material processing".
Lijin Group Exhibits 95-ton Ultra-large Machine Tool Castings
(May 6-9)
At the 24th China International Foundry Exposition, Lijin Group exhibited the largest machine tool casting in China so far - 95-ton floor boring and milling table, which broke the manufacturing record of ultra-large high-end machine tool castings.
Industry significance]: Ultra-large precision castings are the basic components of heavy machine tools, wind power, ships and other fields, and their manufacturing capacity is directly related to the level of independent control of high-end equipment. This breakthrough reflects China's manufacturing capacity in the field of ultra-large precision casting enhancement.
Beltone Precision Promotes Upward Extension of Industry Chain
(Performance briefing on May 8)
On May 8, Belon Precision disclosed at the 2025 and 2026 first quarter results briefing that the company extended its process capability to the upstream of the industry chain through the establishment of Yuyao Belon Intelligent Technology Co Ltd (automation equipment R&D and manufacturing) and Ningbo Xinlong Electronics Co Ltd (surface treatment of precision structural components).
Quarterly data show that the company's VCM motor precision structural components IMMT process technology has achieved mass production, the quarter made revenue of 3.2510 million yuan, is in the capacity to climb the stage.
[Industry significance]: Precision manufacturing enterprises are competing from a single processing capacity to the "whole industry chain control ability" extension. Automation equipment manufacturing + surface treatment process self-built, becoming an important path for the head of the enterprise to build a moat.
II. Supply chain and market landscape changes
Japan's CNC system appeared out of stock, domestic substitution logic strengthened
(Continued fermentation in early May)
According to multiple industry information confirmed that since early April 2026, the domestic market is faced with Japan FANUC (FANUC), Mitsubishi and other mainstream CNC systems and servo motors in serious shortages. mid-April the situation tends to be serious, the supplier delivery period has been stretched from the previous 1-2 months to 6 months or even longer, part of the model has been essentially in the edge of the supply.
The impact of the incident is quantified:
- According to the industry's conservative estimates, only in 2026 is expected to release 5-10 million units / year system gap.
- Japan's work machinery industry data show that in March 2026, Japan's machine tool industry orders amounted to 28% year-on-year growth in March orders hit an all-time high, overseas orders rose sharply by 40%, showing that the global demand for strong and tight supply of the contradiction.
Domestic substitution accelerated: in the Japanese system shortage background, domestic manufacturing enterprises are forced to accelerate the switch supply chain. Huazhong numerical control and other domestic system manufacturers are relying on "Huazhong 9-type" intelligent numerical control systems and other products to fill the market gap. Once the domestic system through this crisis batch imported downstream customers production line, based on the replacement cost and habit of raising a high moat, will establish a long-term trend of substitution.
Zhongtai Securities Machinery Weekly pointed out that since the beginning of 2026, due to the shortage of upstream materials, Fanuc and Mitsubishi and other exports to the domestic CNC system is facing a prolonged delivery cycle or out of stock, the current round of shortages since the beginning of April began to appear, mid-April tends to be serious, it is recommended to pay attention to the Huazhong numerical control, dimension macro shares and other core parts and components of the enterprise.
AI Hardware Upgrades Boost Demand for Machine Tools
(May 11 brokerage report)
Orient Securities released an industry research report on May 11, pointed out that the AI hardware upgrade is becoming a new engine of machine tool demand.
Core logic: AI server single cabinet power continues to rise, liquid-cooled program from "optional" to "mandatory", the related parts and components have been upgraded. Take liquid-cooled quick coupling (UQD) as an example, the mainstream specifications have been upgraded to large-diameter UQD08, the material is stainless steel or corrosion-resistant alloys, with higher hardness and low surface roughness, which brings higher finishing requirements.
Demand structure changes: According to industry data, the proportion of orders for specialized high-end machine tools for new energy vehicle powertrain, AI liquid cooling, semiconductor equipment and other emerging fields has risen to 37%. Liquid cooling plate inside the complex micro-channel structure, the tolerance needs to be controlled within 1/50 of a hair, must rely on five-axis linkage CNC machine tools and high-precision horizontal machining centers.
Domestic opportunities: Orient Securities believes that the liquid-cooled parts of the technical threshold is lower than the aviation industry, but the production efficiency, cost, stability requirements are high, domestic machine tools have a relative advantage; at the same time, overseas machine tool supply tight, domestic machine tools are expected to achieve further import substitution. 2025 China's imports of metalworking machine tools of 5.39 billion U.S. dollars, the substitution of space is considerable.
III. In-depth Industry Analysis and Reflections
Five Hidden Concerns Behind the Prosperity of CCMT 2026 Systematically Revealed
(Deep Report - May 9th)
On May 9th, a research team from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) Industrial Research Institute released a comprehensive report, providing a sober analysis of the apparent prosperity of the CCMT 2026 exhibition. The report noted that behind the grand scale-210,000 square meters of exhibition space, over 2,000 exhibitors, and 441 five-axis machine tools-five major hidden concerns have become increasingly prominent:
Core Judgment of the Report: The current prosperity reflects "quantitative expansion" rather than a "leap in quality," and "superficial accumulation" rather than a "core breakthrough." To transition from a "large-scale power" to a "technological powerhouse," the industry must still bridge the triple chasms of core technology, fundamental capabilities, and the industrial ecosystem.
IV. Industry Event Previews
Advanced Cutting Tool Application Technology Exchange Meeting to be Held Soon
(May 29th)
On May 29th, the China Association of Machinery Manufacturing Technology (Metal Cutting Tool Subcommittee) and the Organizing Committee of the Lijia International Intelligent Equipment Exhibition will host the "2026 Advanced Cutting Tool Application Technology Exchange Meeting" in Chongqing.
The conference will focus on topics such as cutting solutions for difficult-to-machine materials in aerospace (titanium and high-temperature alloys), lightweight processing for New Energy Vehicles (NEVs), and the localization of superhard tools. Currently, the localization rate of cutting tools for aerospace titanium alloy processing is breaking through from 32% toward 50%, while the superhard tool market maintains an average annual growth rate of over 15%.
V. Summary and Trend Judgments
Based on the significant events in the precision machining industry since May, the following core trends can be identified:
Trend 1: Shortages in Japanese CNC systems have become the industry's biggest variable. Supply tensions for FANUC and Mitsubishi systems are forcing downstream customers to switch to domestic systems. Domestic manufacturers, such as Huazhong Numerical Control (HCNC), are entering a historic window of opportunity.
Trend 2: AI computing infrastructure is becoming a new engine for machine tool demand. Precision machining requirements for liquid-cooling components are driving demand for five-axis machine tools. This demand features moderate technical barriers and significant scale, potentially serving as the best breakthrough point for domestic machine tools to achieve import substitution.
Trend 3: Leading enterprises are accelerating the construction of full-chain capabilities. Whether it is Meicheng (MCO) extending into ceramic precision machining, Belon expanding into upstream automation equipment and surface treatment, or Beijing Jingdiao building an integrated "Mechanical-Electrical-Software" product matrix, all follow a common logic: competition based on single-point processing capabilities is giving way to competition in systemic manufacturing capabilities.
Trend 4: The industry is moving from "quantitative prosperity" to a stage of "quality reflection." The massive turnout of 441 five-axis machine tools at CCMT 2026 has triggered deep industry reflection regarding the "hollowing out" of core technologies. The focus of the next phase of competition will shift from "the ability to build a five-axis machine" to "the ability to build a high-performance five-axis machine."
