China recently entered a new technological era when it rolled out the world's largest diameter vertical shaft boring machine. "Qiming," the gigantic piece of equipment was jointly developed by the China Railway Tunnel Bureau Group Co., Ltd. and China Railway Engineering Equipment Group Co., Ltd. (CREG), and successfully launched in Zhengzhou, Henan province.

Equipment manufacturing is the central pillar of a country's manufacturing industry. Over the past 11 years, Henan has taken an innovation-focused approach to accelerate the development of new-quality productive forces, and promoted the transformation of manufacturing towards a distinctive path focused on intelligence, quality and branding.

From manufacturing to intelligent manufacturing

From comprehensive mining to intelligent mining, and from production-oriented enterprise to technology service-oriented enterprise, the innovation transformative path of Zhengzhou Coal Mining Machinery Group Co., Ltd. is clear.

In 2020, the first complete set of intelligent fully-mechanized mining face became operational, marking an equipment breakthrough. In 2021, China's first complete set of such equipment supplied by a single manufacturer reached full production capacity and was exported to Türkiye, opening up the international market. Meanwhile, in 2023, a super large 10-meter tall hydraulic support shielded by two protective columns was put into use, setting a global record.

Innovation knows no bounds. Zhengzhou Coal Mining Machinery Group Co., Ltd. officially announced its transformation from a traditional equipment manufacturer to a provider of intelligent industrial solutions in April.

The transformation of enterprises reflects the leap of cities. Zhengzhou, where the company's headquarters are based, has been focusing on its "Strong Manufacturing City" goal, laying out future industries, seizing the opportunity in emerging industries, integrating traditional industries, and building a modern industrial system.

Currently, Zhengzhou is the world's largest production base for iPhones and intelligent connected buses, and the country's largest production base for gas sensors, super-hard materials, new refractory materials, aluminum plates, cold chain food and in vitro diagnostic products.

Shifting from speed to quality

Since its establishment in 1954, the Luoyang Bearing Group Co.,Ltd has manufactured a full range of bearings, with nine major types and over 30,000 specifications — from robot and new energy vehicle bearings with inner diameters of only a few centimeters, to shield machine and wind turbine bearings with outer diameters of several meters, every progressive advancement embodies the development of "Made in China."

Today, the output value of high-end bearings accounts for 70 percent of the total output value of the company.

The advancement of the company reflects the transformation of a province. In recent years, Henan has focused on breakthroughs in key core technologies and integrated innovative resources such as promoting the alignment of provincial laboratories with national strategic scientific and technological forces. The local government encourages enterprises to increase investment in R&D and purchase R&D equipment through tax incentives and financial subsidies, so as to enhance the innovation capacity and core competitiveness of the industry.

Upgrading from products to brands

At present, CREG's products have been exported to 34 countries and regions, and its production and sales volume have ranked first in the world for eight consecutive years. The company has become a pioneer and leader in the "going global" vision of China's equipment manufacturing industry, with the key being in its commitment to establishing its brand through setting high standards.

CREG has promoted the inclusion of six English versions of national standards into its international bidding and tendering system, to enhance the brand's global recognition and the competitive advantage of the enterprise.

The export of shield machines to global markets is just a microcosm of the rapid transformation of manufacturing in Henan. "Made in Henan" focuses on major national projects such as the Shenzhou spacecraft,  domestically-built aircraft carriers, and the C919 large aircraft. This has lead to a large number of equipment manufacturing brands in Henan dominating the industry through independent innovation.

Henan plans to further intensify the cultivation of strategic emerging industries and the implementation of the industrial foundation reconstruction project, focus on a modern industrial system, strengthen the integration and innovation of industries, academia and research, enhance the supply of high-level scientific and technological achievements, actively integrate into the constructions of a national technology transfer system, all contributing to Henan's strength and goal of building a world-class science and technology powerhouse and promoting high-quality development of the manufacturing industry.