Fasteners, often referred to as standard components in the market, are a general term for mechanical parts used to securely join two or more components into a single unit. These essential elements are widely applied across various industries, including machinery, equipment, vehicles, ships, railways, bridges, buildings, tools, and instruments. According to Luo Baihui, Secretary General of the International Model Association, with the continuous growth of China's manufacturing industry, fasteners have become one of the products with high import and export volumes, aligning with international standards. This development holds significant practical and strategic importance, helping Chinese fastener companies expand globally and actively participate in international cooperation and competition.
Each type of fastener has specific specifications, dimensions, tolerances, weights, performance characteristics, surface conditions, marking methods, and packaging requirements, which are regulated by several national and industry standards. Different systems, such as the English, German, and American standards, are commonly used to ensure consistency and compatibility in global markets.
The machinery industry is one of the largest consumers of fasteners. However, due to a late recognition of the importance of basic mechanical components, China has long faced challenges such as weak infrastructure and limited investment. As the level of mainframe technology improves, the gap between mechanical basic components and advanced systems has become increasingly evident. Although the government has provided some support in areas like technology introduction, equipment upgrades, and R&D, there remains a significant gap compared to foreign standards. This is reflected in low product diversity, unstable quality, high early failure rates, and poor reliability.
As key basic components in the machinery industry, fasteners are constantly facing higher demands. Luo Baihui pointed out that while common standard fasteners are oversupplied domestically, high-end types—such as high-temperature, special-shaped, titanium-plastic composite, and specialty fasteners—are still in short supply and rely heavily on imports. The National Machinery Bureau has classified "common standard fasteners" as restricted development products, while "high-strength shaped fasteners" are encouraged for development. With the improvement of China’s industrialization and technological progress, the use of high-strength fasteners is gradually increasing.
During the 12th Five-Year Plan period, the number of construction machinery products such as loaders, excavators, and road rollers is expected to reach 6 million units, with an annual sales volume of about 50,000 units. Based on this, the annual demand for high-strength fasteners is estimated to be around 20,000 to 30,000 tons. Fasteners, as fundamental components in equipment manufacturing, play a crucial role in all aspects of national economic construction. While maintaining cost advantages, the industry must rely on new strengths such as technological innovation, quality enhancement, and improved cost-performance to achieve sustainable development. By 2015, the total output of the industry is expected to reach 7.5 to 8 million tons, with exports showing an upward trend. The average annual export growth rate during the 12th Five-Year Plan is projected to be 8% to 10%, with total exports reaching 30 billion yuan by 2015.
Domestic fastener manufacturers should look ahead, as major national projects like high-speed rail, aerospace, highways, and airports offer opportunities to move toward high-end markets. For example, Boeing plans to add 3,400 aircraft over the next 20 years. The National Development and Reform Commission has invested 800 billion yuan to build rail transit in six cities. With 36 urban rail projects planned, the new rail mileage is expected to reach 6,560 kilometers, creating a demand for rail fasteners worth 5.5 to 7 billion yuan. These large-scale projects will significantly boost the demand for high-end fasteners such as high-strength and titanium alloy components, making it possible for the industry to shed its "low-end" label.
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