How do Chinese companies deal with the difficult production of high-end valve localization

Since 2012, the road to localization of high-end valves has become very difficult. At present, basic parts have become a shortcoming restricting the development of domestic manufacturing to high-end, and my country's localization of high-end equipment parts needs to be further increased.

Domestically produced high-end valves are "difficult to produce". At present, in the valve market (valve market analysis), China has been able to provide a variety of products: such as heating valves, environmental protection valves, and construction valves. Although in recent years, through the efforts of domestic enterprises, some medium and high-end pump valve products have been made domestically, some products are still imported. According to the data provided by the China General Machinery Industry Association, my country’s imported large-volume pump products this year mainly include: hydraulic reciprocating plunger pumps, hydraulic reciprocating discharge pumps, rotary axial plunger pumps, with a speed of 10,000 rpm/ Other centrifugal pumps, liquid pump parts, vacuum pumps, etc. below are classified. Valve products mainly include: pressure reducing valves, hydraulic transmission valves, pneumatic transmission valves, safety valves or relief valves, valve parts, etc. In the field of high-pressure valves, it still relies on imports, which is also an area where my country's valves need to make breakthroughs in the future. The industrial positioning of the high-end valve industrial park is to create a high-end, complete, international, and headquarters-based China high-end valve city. It will take three to five years to introduce 200 high-end valve companies, attract investment of more than 20 billion yuan, and achieve annual sales revenue of 500 Over 100 million yuan, the scale of annual sales revenue of more than 100 billion yuan will eventually be realized.

At present, whether it is in terms of domestic market policy support or the current existing technical level, it is not good enough for the research and development of high-end valves. In general, as the country accelerates the gradual promotion of the policy of revitalizing the equipment manufacturing industry, the development of general-purpose basic manufacturing will further receive key support. Major valve users in the petrochemical industry, power sector, metallurgical sector, chemical industry, and urban construction will increase the demand for valve products. However, the feasibility of valve import substitution in various sub-sectors in my country is very different, and high-end valves urgently need more policy guidance And scientific research support.　　

According to the analysis by the person in charge of China General Machinery Industry Association, there are four main reasons for this phenomenon.

Long-term insufficient R&D investment. There is a clear gap between domestic companies and some foreign developed companies in terms of product technology development concepts. Insufficient scientific research funding and investment in research and development funds have become an important factor restricting the independent research and development of valve companies. According to incomplete statistics of the water pump industry, R&D capital investment accounts for less than 2% of the business owner’s operating income. Compared with well-known foreign companies, the industry’s R&D capital investment is very small. Relevant statistics show that the annual research and development expenses of my country's water pump industry are not as large as the scientific research funds of a foreign company.　

Weak independent innovation capabilities. It is understood that the digestion and absorption of imported technology in my country's machinery manufacturing industry is slow, and most companies have weak technological innovation capabilities. 57% of the core technology sources of major machinery products rely on introduction. Although most of the products in my country's water pump manufacturing industry have basically achieved independent production and manufacturing, domestic enterprises are mostly responsible for the low-end processing links of the products, and the breadth and depth of independence need to be improved. For example, nuclear-grade pumps in complete sets of equipment for nuclear power plants that have now begun to be localized, and high-pressure boiler feedwater pump core products in complete sets of megawatt supercritical and ultra-supercritical thermal power plants, etc., most of their key core technologies are still needed Rely on imports.　

Customers are less willing to buy domestic products. Although the performance indicators of domestic products have reached the same level as those of foreign countries, some customers are still willing to purchase foreign technical equipment, making it more difficult for the first domestically-made pump products equipped with major technologies (valve technology, water pump technology) to enter the market. Although many domestic high-end pump products have a considerable technical level, some users still refuse to use them for lack of operating performance and other reasons. Industry common technology research is lacking. Due to the restructuring, some industry-oriented research institutes have become companies fighting on their own, and the nature of the structure and the focus of work have undergone great changes. The technical support role of its industry has been weakening, and the development of new technologies and new processes has been slow, and it is difficult for standards such as design, process, materials and manufacturing to connect with foreign countries.

In this regard, relevant people put forward three suggestions: First, establish a new mechanism to encourage enterprises to innovate independently. According to the comprehensive planning and regional layout planning of the national pump and valve manufacturing industry, a number of regional leading technology and product development laboratories, test bases and product development centers will be built. Relying on scientific and educational institutions with strong innovation capabilities, establish scientific and technological achievements diffusion sites. Encourage and support the establishment of a pump valve manufacturing technology research and development center.

Second, improve the technology promotion system. Reasonably set up grassroots manufacturing technology promotion organizations, and gradually establish a diversified manufacturing technology promotion system led by the national manufacturing technology promotion organization, division of labor, collaboration, and service in place.

In addition, it is necessary to improve the scientific and technological training system and improve the protection system of intellectual property rights. Establish and improve the link between the training service functions of universities, scientific research units and secondary vocational schools and basic education, and give full play to the strength of institutions at all levels. Further improve the market environment for new product innovation, and actively promote the development of new products. Enterprises and scientific research units establish and improve independent development of new product management rules and regulations.