CNC machine tools have become the core of China's industry still needs time

As an important part of industrial automation and digital factories, CNC machine tools are widely used in automobile manufacturing, metal processing, aerospace and other fields, and are the cornerstone of industrial modernization. The technical capabilities of CNC machine tools reflect the core competitiveness of a country's manufacturing industry.

The annual German Industrial Fair opened in Hanover, Germany, at the end of April this year. The Hanover Industrial Fair, which is about to enter the 70th anniversary, has become the largest international industrial event of its kind. This year, the German Industrial Fair will focus on Industry 4.0, highlighting the leading product achievements in industrial automation, digital factories, industrial parts and other industrial fields. As an important part of industrial automation and digital factories, CNC machine tools are widely used in automobile manufacturing, metal processing, aerospace and other fields, and are the cornerstone of industrial modernization. The technical capabilities of CNC machine tools reflect the core competitiveness of a country's manufacturing industry.

As the world’s largest manufacturing country, China’s CNC machine tool industry has experienced rapid development in recent years. In 2014, the output reached 391,000 units, an increase of 65% over 2010. However, compared with leading countries such as Germany and Japan, there is still a big gap. Functional components, automated tools, and numerical control systems rely on foreign technology support. For example, 90% of domestic high-end CNC systems in 2014 still need to rely on imports. The technological R&D and breakthrough in the field of CNC machine tools have become important tasks for the “Made in China 2025” strategy. This article through the boring patent application data, perspective the global CNC machine tool technology competition pattern, try to explore the development of China's CNC machine tool industry.

With the advent of the Industry 4.0 era, CNC machine tool technology has entered a new round of renewal cycle, and the industrial structure is facing reshuffle.

As of December 2016, the number of global applications in the CNC machine tool sector reached 10,708. From the point of view of the application trend, there has been an explosive growth since 2006, and reached a peak around 2012. At present, the number of patent applications for numerically controlled machine tools has entered a phased fall. In 2016, it has experienced a significant decline. With the advancement of Industry 4.0, CNC machine tool technology has entered a new round of updating cycles, and the upgrading of technology will inevitably lead to a reshuffle of the industrial structure.

China has become the largest patent producer but its international competitiveness is insufficient

In the new round of technological updates, major industrial countries in the world are actively developing technologies and patents. At present, China, Japan, the United States, and Germany are the major producers of patented CNC machine tools. The patent output of the four countries exceeds 85% of the total patents. Among them, China has become the largest patent-exporting country, with 6,586 patent outputs, accounting for about 60% of the total number of applications. Judging from the acceptance of patents, China, Japan, and the United States are the regions where the most technologically competitive CNC machine tools currently compete.

Although China’s patented output is huge, it has only a small amount of external output, with only 26 items, and its international competitiveness in technology is weak. In contrast, the number of Japanese patents exported was 1,121, of which 82 were exported to China (4.06% of total output), 247 were exported to the United States (12.24% of total output), and 224 were exported to Germany (first output). Total 11.10%), its technical capabilities show strong international competitiveness. In addition, the U.S. and German CNC machine tools have a relatively large amount of patent output, which is 506 pieces and 220 pieces respectively, and also shows strong international competitiveness.

Japan, Germany's technological precipitation highlights the spirit of craftsmanship, and China’s technological accumulation is still shallow

Judging from the trend of patent applications in various countries, the patents for Japanese and German CNC machine tools have maintained relatively stable output since the 1970s. On the one hand, they reflect the long-term accumulation of CNC machine tool technologies in these two countries. The continuous R&D and improvement of technology in Japan and Germany highlights the spirit of craftsmanship that Japanese and German companies are pursuing in technology. The patent application for CNC machine tools in China was mainly concentrated after 2005. Thanks to the “11th Five-Year Plan” period, the state promoted the upgrading and development of the manufacturing industry, and the technology of CNC machine tools has therefore developed rapidly. However, compared with the precipitation of technology in Japan and Germany for more than 40 years, China’s technological accumulation is lacking and its foundation is still shallow.

High relevance of key technologies and technological breakthroughs require full breakthrough

The patents of CNC machine tools mainly include control technology, processing technology, machine tool parts, and related accessories. From the perspective of the number of patent applications, the numerical control machine tool technology focuses on three major aspects: control technology (2827 pieces), processing technology (3505 pieces) and machine tool parts (3286 pieces).

From the standpoint of patent application status of control technology, processing technology and machine tool component technology, these three key technologies have obvious correlations, and the correlation coefficient is about 0.95. Due to the high degree of relevance of various types of technologies, the development of key technologies requires full breakthroughs to achieve coordinated development.

The technological research and development capabilities of Chinese enterprises need to be strengthened, and the transformation capability of the technology industry needs to be improved.

Among the top 20 patent applicants in the world, there are 11 Japanese companies and 4 Chinese companies (universities). Compared with Japanese companies, the technical strength of Chinese companies has obvious disadvantages, and the technological research and development capabilities of enterprises need to be strengthened. In addition, from the top 20 Chinese patent applicants, Chinese universities and scientific research institutes have strong knowledge and technological output capabilities, but they have not been truly translated into industrial results. It is necessary to strengthen industrial and academic cooperation and upgrade the transformation capabilities of technology industries.

Conclusion

As an important development field of Industry 4.0, CNC machine tools have become key competitive areas in major industrial countries. With the support of national strategies, China's CNC machine tools industry has shown rapid development in recent years, and the momentum of technological catch-up is irresistible. In the new round of industrial development cycle, China is expected to increase its technological R&D to realize the industry's turning overtaking. However, the technological advantages of German and Japanese companies are the result of decades of continuous improvement and continuous precipitation. The disadvantages of Chinese companies are not changed overnight. Chinese companies only use the same craftsman spirit to maintain the pursuit of high-end craft for decades. The eagerness of technology can create a strong enterprise competitiveness, continue to move toward high-end industries, and occupy a favorable position in the new round of industrial competition.