Abstract: The mainland is a major exporter of springs, with a year-on-year increase of 14.06% in spring exports of 315,100 tons in 2023, while the import volume will be 23,900 tons, a year-on-year decrease of 14.57%. The imported springs from mainland China are mainly high-end products, so the average import price of springs is significantly higher than the average export price, and it shows an upward trend. Mainly due to the improvement of the quality of domestic springs, some medium and high-end products have been gradually localized, and imported products are concentrated in high-precision spring products.
1. Definitions and Classification
A spring is a mechanical part that uses elasticity to work. Parts made of elastic materials are deformed by external force and return to their original shape after the external force is removed. Springs can be roughly divided into coil springs, disc springs, scroll springs, leaf springs, air springs, and rubber springs. As an important component in the industrial system, springs have the characteristics of wide use, many categories and large demand. Different industries and products have different requirements for the size, elasticity, corrosion resistance and many other indicators of the spring.
Second, industry policies
1. Competent authorities and regulatory system
The competent authorities of the spring manufacturing industry are the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The National Development and Reform Commission, as the macroeconomic regulation and control department of the national economy, is mainly responsible for promoting the strategic adjustment of the economic structure, formulating and organizing the implementation of national economic and social development strategies, medium- and long-term plans, formulating industrial policies, and guiding the direction of industrial investment. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology is mainly responsible for the management of the industrial industry, formulating and organizing the implementation of industry plans, industrial policies, industry technical specifications and standards, guiding industry quality management, industry technological innovation and technological progress, and monitoring and analyzing the operation of the industrial industry.
The industry organizations of the spring manufacturing industry are mainly China Machinery Industry Federation, China Machinery General Parts Industry Association and other related industry associations, which mainly play the role of self-discipline and standardization; China Machinery Industry Federation is a bridge and link between the government and enterprises, and its main responsibilities include organizing the formulation of industry planning, industry standards and technical specifications, participating in industry quality certification and supervision and management, promoting scientific and technological progress in the industry, carrying out scientific and technological exchanges in the industry, and organizing industry training. China Machinery General Parts Industry Association is a self-regulatory organization formed by the mainland fasteners, gears, electric drives, chain drives, springs, powder metallurgy, transmission connections, industrial Internet and other industries, which is mainly responsible for the investigation of industry reform and development, making suggestions for the government to formulate policies, organizing revisions, formulating standards, organizing quality supervision, and providing technical advice, market research, asset evaluation, personnel training and other services. The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) is a self-regulatory organization for automobiles, parts and automobile-related industries, with policy research, information services, standard formulation, trade coordination, industry self-discipline, exhibition services, international exchanges, and industry training as its main functions.
2. Industry-related policies
Springs are basic components that carry key functions such as shock absorption, cushioning, energy storage, and positioning, providing stable and reliable performance for various equipment and machines. With the technological progress and industrial upgrading, the application field of springs continues to expand, and the requirements for its performance and quality are also increasing, and the development level of springs directly affects the quality and efficiency of the entire industrial chain. In recent years, the state has successively introduced a number of policies to guide and support the quality development of the basic parts industry. In December 2023, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and other departments jointly issued the "Guiding Opinions on Accelerating the Transformation and Upgrading of Traditional Manufacturing Industry", which clearly supports enterprises to focus on weak areas such as basic components, accelerate breakthroughs and industrial applications, and strengthen the basic support system of traditional manufacturing industry. In the "Implementation Opinions on Promoting the Innovation and Development of Future Industries" issued in January 2024, the state once again emphasized making up for shortcomings such as basic components and consolidating the foundation for future industrial development. As an important basic component, springs are widely used in various industrial fields, and their importance is constantly highlighted. Under the guidance of the policy, the company will accelerate technological upgrading and promote the transformation and upgrading of the spring industry.
3. Industry barriers
1. Technology and talent barriers
Spring is one of the important parts of automobiles, machinery and other products, which has an important impact on the quality of downstream products. Spring production has high requirements for manufacturing accuracy and strength, which requires enterprises to have strong product technology. In addition, advanced manufacturing technology, stable and timely supply, and strong synchronous development capabilities are important criteria for spring downstream application manufacturers to select parts suppliers, and it is difficult for new spring manufacturers to make breakthroughs in a short period of time. After years of technology accumulation, enterprises in the industry have cultivated a group of high-quality R&D personnel and experienced technicians, and the industry's technology and talent barriers are high.
2. Scale and financial barriers
The production and manufacturing of springs requires continuous investment in equipment and capital, which is capital-intensive. Some downstream application manufacturers such as automobiles usually have higher requirements for the production scale of primary and secondary suppliers, and spring manufacturing enterprises need to meet the supply requirements of millions of pieces per year; at the same time, spring manufacturers also need to achieve a certain production scale in order to ensure their own profit margins, and use economies of scale to achieve profitability. On the other hand, the market has constantly put forward new requirements for the performance and quality of spring products, which requires enterprises to increase capital investment and be equipped with more advanced and sophisticated production and testing equipment.
3. Customer authentication barriers
Spring is an important component in industrial production, and the selection of downstream application manufacturers for their suppliers usually has the characteristics of stability and long-term, and the relationship between the two parties is interdependent and long-term cooperation. Establishing a stable supply relationship often requires a rigorous and long-term certification process. In particular, spring suppliers in high-tech fields such as automobiles first need to pass the quality management system review organized by international organizations, national or regional associations, and become candidate parts suppliers after obtaining relevant quality management system certification, and then need to conduct a series of audits. The rigorous and long-term certification process of the customer poses a high barrier to new entrants in the industry.
Fourth, the industrial chain
1. Analysis of the industry chain
The raw materials for spring production are mainly steel and copper. Among them, spring steel is the most important steel product in the production of spring products, which belongs to special steel and has excellent comprehensive properties. The midstream is the manufacture of springs. The downstream applications are very wide, from all kinds of transportation equipment, large machinery to all kinds of daily household appliances and daily necessities, all kinds of machines are equipped with springs. Especially in aerospace, rail transit, automobiles, construction machinery, robots and other application fields, there are more stringent requirements for the use environment and performance indicators of spring products.
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