News
The Future of High-Performance Metal Materials
Against the backdrop of the global infrastructure construction boom, the transformation and upgrading of the manufacturing industry, and the development of green energy, With Galvalume Steel, Galvanized Steel, Aluminum Coil/Pipe/Plate, Stainless Steel, Prepainted Steel and Aluzinc The metal materials industry represented by Steel is undergoing profound changes and vigorous development. Recently, there have been frequent innovative achievements in the industry, and the market pattern has also been constantly evolving.
Galvalume Steel, with its unique coating structure, is becoming a new favorite in fields such as construction and home appliances. The combination of 55% aluminum, 43.4% zinc and 1.6% silicon in the coating endows the steel plate with outstanding corrosion resistance, and its service life can be several times that of traditional galvanized steel. In the construction industry, its outstanding thermal reflectivity reduces building energy consumption, aligning with the current green and energy-saving trend, and is widely used in structures such as roofs and walls. In early 2024, several domestic steel mills, such as Jinguang Holding Group, successfully trial-produced the aluminized zinc S550GD+AZ product, with a tensile strength exceeding 560MPa. This filled the gap in the high-strength steel market and was mainly applied in the field of light steel villas, promoting the development of building structures towards lightweight and high strength. Meanwhile, Xintian Gang Cold-Rolled Thin Plate Co., LTD., an enterprise in Tianjin Port Free Trade Zone, has overcome technical difficulties and produced 185-gram thick zinc-coated aluminized zinc products per square meter, filling the market gap in Tianjin. The first batch of nearly 200 tons of products was all exported to Australia, demonstrating the strong demand for this material in the international market.
Galvanized Steel, a widely used traditional metal material, is also constantly being upgraded. With the development of industries such as construction, automobiles and power, higher requirements have been put forward for the quality and performance of galvanized steel. The project of Xinjiang Tiandi and Metal Products Co., Ltd. with an annual production capacity of 620,000 tons of high-quality galvanized sheet and strip and galvanized steel pipe has been put into operation. Its intelligent galvanizing production line can produce 160 meters of finished steel strip per minute, and the service life of the new galvanized products has been extended by more than twice. With a total annual production capacity of 1.32 million tons, the company has become the top producer and seller in the national thin-walled galvanized pipe industry. In the field of automotive steel, since the research and development of galvanized automotive high-strength steel by Jiuquan Iron and Steel Group in 2021, it has formed two major varieties and eight grades of products. In 2023, the annual production and sales volume reached over 16,000 tons, with a 100% product qualification rate. Relying on stable quality and excellent service, its market share has been increasing year by year.
Aluminum Coil/Pipe/Plate, with its characteristics of light weight, high strength and corrosion resistance, plays an irreplaceable role in industries such as aerospace, transportation and packaging. In the aviation field, the application of aluminium alloy materials has significantly reduced the weight of aircraft, improved fuel efficiency and flight performance. In the field of transportation, aluminum alloys are widely used in the manufacturing of car bodies and rail vehicles. The rapid development of new energy vehicles has further driven a sharp increase in the demand for high-performance aluminum alloys. In the packaging industry, aluminum foil has become an ideal choice for food and medicine packaging due to its good barrier properties and recyclability. Many domestic aluminum processing enterprises have been continuously increasing their investment in research and development, improving the precision and performance of their products. Some enterprises have already acquired the ability to produce high-end aluminum alloy materials for aviation, gradually breaking the technological monopoly of foreign countries.
Stainless Steel has always occupied an important position in fields such as high-end manufacturing, architectural decoration and medical devices with its excellent corrosion resistance, high-temperature strength and aesthetics. In the field of architectural decoration, the luster and texture of stainless steel enhance the overall aesthetic appeal and grade of buildings. In the medical industry, stainless steel is used to manufacture surgical instruments, implants, etc. due to its biocompatibility and corrosion resistance. With the advancement of technology, new types of stainless steel materials are constantly emerging. For instance, duplex stainless steel combines the advantages of austenitic and ferritic stainless steel and is widely used in harsh environments such as petrochemicals and Marine engineering.
Prepainted Steel is highly favored in fields such as construction and home appliance shells due to its rich colors, good decorative properties and corrosion resistance. Its application in the exterior walls and roofs of buildings not only beautifies the appearance of the buildings but also reduces the later maintenance costs. In the field of home appliances, color-coated steel sheets have dressed up refrigerators, washing machines and other appliances in a fashionable coat, meeting consumers' dual demands for beauty and durability. The steel plate processing industry in Guan County has formed an industrial chain of "cold rolling - zinc plating (aluminum) - color coating", with nearly 40 large-scale enterprises, an annual production capacity of 16 million tons, and an output value of nearly 100 billion yuan, accounting for 13% of the national capacity. It is striving to build a nationally renowned steel plate processing base in the direction of green, intelligent and high-end development.
From the perspective of the market pattern, Asia, as the global manufacturing center, has a strong demand for various metal materials. The infrastructure construction and manufacturing development in countries such as China and India have continuously driven market growth. The industrialization process of emerging economies is accelerating, and the market potential in Africa, South America and other places is gradually being released. Enterprises in the industry enhance their competitiveness through technological innovation, brand building and expansion of sales channels. Enterprises with strong R&D capabilities launch differentiated high-end products, while some enterprises focus on the mid-to-low-end market by virtue of their cost advantages.
However, the development of the industry has not been smooth sailing. Fluctuations in raw material prices, stricter environmental protection policies and trade frictions in the international market have brought pressure to the production and operation of enterprises. In response to this, enterprises have taken proactive measures, establishing long-term cooperation with suppliers to stabilize the supply of raw materials, increasing investment in environmental protection technology research and development to meet environmental protection requirements, and expanding diversified markets to reduce trade risks.
Looking ahead, with the advancement of technology and the pursuit of high-performance materials by various industries, the metal materials industry will continue to innovate and develop in the direction of high performance, lightweight, and environmental friendliness. Smart materials, recyclable materials and materials with special functions will continue to emerge, further promoting the upgrading of the industry. In terms of the market, the market share of emerging economies is expected to expand, and the industry concentration may increase due to corporate mergers and acquisitions and reorganizations. The metal materials industry will continue to play an important role in global economic development.
