In Yongnian District, seemingly inconspicuous fasteners have "bolted" together a specialized industrial cluster worth over 50 billion yuan. As the "Fastener Capital of China," Yongnian accounts for 58.2% of China's and 28.2% of the global fastener output, with over 30,000 product specifications exported worldwide. In 2024, its export value exceeded 1.8 billion yuan. However, the path to industrial scale expansion has not been smooth, facing bottlenecks such as shortages of high-end equipment, insufficient industrial chain coordination, and homogeneous competition.

The rise of Guozhi Technology (Hebei) Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Guozhi Technology") and the birth of the "Yonggu'an" shared intelligent manufacturing digital service platform have injected strong momentum into the digital transformation of Yongnian's fastener industry cluster. From filling the gap in high-end equipment to building an industrial sharing ecosystem, this development path of clustering and collaborative upgrading is revitalizing Yongnian's fastener industry in market competition.

**Breaking the Mold: The Emergence of a Chain Leader** In 2018, Guozhi Technology was established to address the shortage of high-end cold heading machines. Over seven years, it evolved from a single equipment manufacturer to a national high-tech enterprise integrating R&D, production, and services. By 2024, it was recognized as a national "Little Giant" enterprise by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Today, Guozhi Technology not only independently develops large high-end intelligent cold heading machines but also produces high-end fasteners for export to Europe and the U.S. Its breakthroughs in cold heading technology have improved efficiency by over 7%, solving traditional production issues of high energy consumption and low efficiency.

**Transformation: From Informal Sharing to Ecosystem Building** As competition intensified, Yongnian's fastener industry faced challenges such as limited order channels, inconsistent raw material quality, and uneven capacity allocation. Guozhi Technology realized that only by leveraging modern technology could the industry achieve high-quality growth. Transitioning from a pure equipment provider to a digital service platform, it integrated industrial chain resources to create a shared manufacturing ecosystem.

**Innovation: Empowering the Entire Industrial Chain** In April 2024, Guozhi Technology invested over 20 million yuan to launch the "Yonggu'an" shared intelligent manufacturing platform, attracting 40+ enterprises and 1,000+ devices. The platform features three core functions: 1. **Production Equipment Management**: Connects devices via IoT for real-time monitoring. 2. **Online Transactions**: Integrates upstream and downstream resources for seamless order matching. 3. **Shared Manufacturing**: Uses AI for precise resource allocation, reducing costs.

For example, Hebei Beiyi Fastener Manufacturing Co., a platform adopter, secured a 1,200-ton order for railway nuts thanks to unified quality standards. Participating firms reported 20% higher sales, 2% lower procurement costs, and significant logistics savings.

**Upgrading: From Manufacturing to Intelligent Manufacturing** Guozhi Technology’s production director, Wu Yaheng, emphasized that digitalization goes beyond equipment upgrades—it enables smarter decision-making through AI and big data. The platform’s industrial AI base has transformed traditional production lines, ensuring traceability and higher product quality. An integrated environmental monitoring system also optimizes VOC emissions for greener production.

**Talent Development and Market Expansion** The platform doubles as a vocational training hub, addressing SMEs' talent shortages. By standardizing skills and operational protocols, it fosters a skilled workforce. Meanwhile, Yongnian’s fastener companies are expanding globally, leveraging the platform’s supply chain integration. At the 2025 Yongnian Fastener Expo, buyers from 43 countries placed orders worth 138 million yuan.

**Vision: A Global Fastener Hub** From informal networking to digital collaboration, Yongnian’s fastener industry exemplifies China’s manufacturing transformation. With government support and market-driven strategies, the district aims to become a global center for fastener talent, technology, logistics, and R&D. Guozhi Technology’s CEO, Zhang Yanling, envisions consolidating 6,000 local firms into a "super factory" through intelligent resource allocation, ultimately establishing Yongnian as the "World Fastener Distribution Center."

**Reporter’s Notes** The "Yonggu'an" platform’s end-to-end digital management—from production control to quality tracking—has given each fastener a "digital ID," marking Yongnian’s leap from manual workshops to smart manufacturing. This journey, from low-end OEM to global supplier of "industrial staples," reflects the resilience and innovation driving China’s county-level industrial upgrades.