The Rise of CNC Gantry Machining Centers and Milling Machines in China: A Rapidly Growing Industry
The Chinese machine tool industry has been experiencing unprecedented growth over the past few years, driven primarily by the nation’s continuous economic development and government support for CNC national machine tools. This growth has led to a significant demand for portico machining centers and CNC gantry agitation machines, which has, in turn, given rise to a flourishing industry.
Market Demand and Production
According to data from the China Machine Tool Industry Association, in 2005, China saw a record 11 large-scale production lines for various portico machining centers, with over 422 units produced by key companies. This number is expected to continue growing, driven by the increasing demand from industries such as automotive, aerospace, and precision engineering.
Some of the leading manufacturers in this field are Chenyang Machine Tool (Group) Co., Ltd., Ningbo Haitian Precision Machinery Co., Ltd., and Weihai East China Cnc Co., Ltd. Shenyang Machine Tool Co., Ltd.
Product Specifications and Types
Gantry machining centers and CNC milling machines with automatic tool change structures are the main varieties. These machines are classified into different categories based on their movements, such as column, gantry, and bed types. The specifications of these machines range from working widths of 800-5000mm and lengths of 2000-28000mm, among others.
Technical Development and Innovations
The past few years have seen significant breakthroughs in the research and development of new products, particularly in the areas of high-speed, high-precision, and multi-axis capabilities. Major companies such as Jiangsu Douleng Machine Tool Co., Ltd. (Trainly Changzhou Machine Tool General Factory) and Beijing First Machine Co., Ltd. have made significant strides in the development of five-axis linked CNC gantry boring and milling machines with independent intellectual property rights.
Industry Trends and Challenges
Despite the rapid growth and advancements in the industry, there are still challenges to be addressed. For instance, the technical content of gantry products is generally low, and the degree of industrialization of CNC machine tools is not high. This is an area where domestic OEMs must make significant efforts to improve.
Well-Known Manufacturers and Typical Products
Some prominent manufacturers in this industry are Beijing Machine Factory No. 1, which started production in 1960, and Chenyang Machine Tool (Group) Co., Ltd., which developed the country’s first axis-linked CNC gantry boring and milling machine with independent intellectual property rights.
Conclusion
The CNC gantry machining center and milling machine industry in China has shown tremendous growth over the past few years, driven by increasing demand from various industries and the country’s support for CNC national machine tools. While there are still challenges to be addressed, the industry is expected to continue growing, driven by innovation and improvements in technical content and industrialization.
