Innovation in the aluminum processing industry requires a combination of punches

At present, the aluminum processing industry should "play to its strengths and avoid its weaknesses", and consolidate the foundation for the continuous improvement of the aluminum processing industry. The lack of independent innovation capability is the fundamental reason for the "large but not strong" aluminum processing industry in China. From the perspective of production scale and variety categories, China's aluminum processing industry is already at the world's leading level. However, due to shortcomings such as insufficient independent intellectual property rights and core key products, China is only a major aluminum processing industry country, not yet a strong aluminum processing industry country. Adhering to independent innovation and improving technological innovation capabilities is the "winning weapon" for the sustained and positive development of China's aluminum processing industry, and achieving the transformation from large to strong.

Experts believe that the insufficient independent innovation capability of the domestic aluminum processing industry is reflected in areas such as aluminum extrusion materials, aluminum plate strips, and aluminum foil materials.

In terms of aluminum extrusion materials, a few fields still lack high-end aluminum extrusion materials with special properties and special certification requirements; In terms of aluminum plate and strip, China has achieved mass production of third-generation aluminum alloy products and mass supply of fourth generation products in the aerospace industry. Foreign countries have begun to supply fifth generation aluminum alloy products and develop sixth generation aluminum alloy products, but there is still a gap between the two; In the field of automotive lightweighting, there is a certain gap between domestic high-end automotive panels and foreign ones in terms of yield, quality consistency, and stability; In terms of aluminum foil materials, there is a gap between battery foil and foreign countries in terms of yield, quality consistency, and stability, and explosion-proof aluminum foil is still in the process of localization. Overall, there are common problems in China's aluminum processing industry, such as the predominance of foreign alloy grades, low yield rates, insufficient quality consistency and stability, low domestication rates of key equipment components, and insufficient reserves for refinement and new product research and development.

The insufficient ability of independent innovation is also manifested in the following aspects: enterprises lack the concept and methods of independent innovation; The influence of quality brands is insufficient, and there are not enough companies with influence and advantages internationally; The industrial structure layout needs to be optimized, and homogeneous competition among products in various regions of China still exists; The development momentum and forward-looking layout are insufficient, and the technology for recycling and reusing scrap aluminum lags far behind its foreign counterparts.

To fill the gap of insufficient independent innovation capability, precise efforts are needed to form a "combination punch". In the view of Wang Qiang, General Manager of the Technology Department of China Aluminum Group High end Manufacturing Co., Ltd., firstly, efforts should be made to deeply integrate the industry, build specialized and large-scale production enterprises and business models, and achieve business efficiency and technological leadership; Secondly, we need to build a coordinated innovation technology research and development platform, deeply integrate advantageous resources within the industry, and achieve a control mode that combines industry, academia, research, and application; Thirdly, we need to establish a digital and intelligent R&D management platform to improve R&D speed and capabilities, and achieve overtaking on the curve; Fourthly, we need to coordinate the research and development of fundamental and cutting-edge common technologies in the industry, and create a source of original technology; The fifth is to innovate incentive policies and optimize talent introduction and training models, and cultivate a strong R&D atmosphere.