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Virtue, sincerity, precision, and goodness

19

2022-12

From Component Processing to Complete Machine Delivery — A Deep Transformation of the OEM Sheet Metal Industry’s Business Model

Three Major Transformation Trends: OEMs are accelerating their upgrade to ODMs: customers no longer merely provide drawings; instead, they require suppliers to participate in structural design, process optimization, and material selection, thereby achieving integrated “design–manufacturing–verification” capabilities. Companies with collaborative CAD/CAM/CAE design capabilities see a significant boost in customer loyalty and pricing power. Surging demand for complete-machine delivery: brands continue to streamline their internal manufacturing processes, with an increasing number of clients requiring sheet-metal firms to handle the entire end-to-end workflow—from component machining and assembly to system integration, commissioning, packaging, and shipment. “Complete-machine suppliers” are thus capturing more high-end orders and market share. Moldless and low-mold processes are becoming mainstream: as product life cycles shorten and design changes become more frequent, customers are generally reluctant to bear the costs and risks associated with mold development. As a result, “moldless or low-mold” technologies such as laser cutting, CNC bending, and flexible stamping have become standard, substantially reducing development cycles and lowering upfront investment. Industry Impact: The traditional “low-price order-taking, extensive processing” model is gradually being phased out; technology, service, and delivery capabilities are emerging as core competitive advantages; and the industry is shifting from “labor-intensive” to “technology-intensive plus management-intensive.”

2022-12-19

23

2022-06

Green manufacturing has become standard, as the sheet-metal industry accelerates its low-carbon and sustainable transformation.

Under the “dual carbon” goals and global environmental protection requirements, green manufacturing, low-carbon production, and sustainable development have become mandatory priorities for OEM custom sheet-metal enterprises. Key focus areas for industry greening: Energy-efficient equipment and processes: high-power fiber laser cutting (reducing energy consumption by more than 30%), servo press brakes, and intelligent production-scheduling systems that minimize idle runs and waste. Eco-friendly materials and surface treatments: promoting recycled steel, low-VOC powder coatings, and chromium-free passivation as substitutes for traditional oil-based paints and acid pickling–phosphating. High-rate recycling of scrap: closed-loop recovery and categorized utilization of metal trimmings and swarf, boosting material utilization from the conventional 65% to over 90%. Digitalization for carbon reduction: digital twins, AI-driven energy optimization, and paperless production, enabling end-to-end traceability of the carbon footprint. Dual drivers—policy and market: increasingly stringent environmental regulations and the implementation of the EU’s CBAM carbon border adjustment mechanism have made low-carbon capabilities a critical entry threshold for accessing international supply chains. An increasing number of leading customers are incorporating environmental management systems and carbon-reduction commitments into their supplier audit criteria. Trend summary: The overlapping waves of greening, digitalization, and premiumization are propelling high-quality development in the sheet-metal industry. Companies that proactively deploy low-carbon technologies and build green-manufacturing systems will gain a long-term competitive edge in both the domestic and international dual-circulation frameworks.

2022-06-23

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