On October 17, TIANGONG INT'L (00826) Chairman Zhu Xiaokun and a senior technical team visited ZEEKR's Meishan factory in Ningbo, Zhejiang, which is under GEELY AUTO (00175). They received a warm welcome from the factory leadership. This visit marks the formal initiation of deep integration between two leading Chinese companies in their respective fields of mold steel materials and vehicle manufacturing, focusing on the revolutionary technology of large-scale integrated die casting. The collaboration aims to tackle manufacturing bottlenecks in the industry and lead breakthroughs in key manufacturing technologies for the Chinese automotive industry. TIANGONG INT'L, as a pioneer and authority in China’s powder steel sector, has established a comprehensive capability spanning R&D, production, sales, and service. With significant technological advancements and industry foresight, the company was recognized at the national level in 2024 and is leading the National Key R&D Program on “Key Technologies for Powder Metallurgy and Additive Manufacturing of New Die Casting Mould Steel.” This project addresses the industry's pain points related to the performance and lifespan of high-end die casting molds, aiming to develop superior die casting mold steel materials through advanced powder metallurgy and additive manufacturing technologies.
As a crucial advanced manufacturing base, the ZEEKR Meishan factory is extensively implementing the large-scale integrated die casting technology for producing large chassis components and body parts for new energy vehicles. This technology significantly reduces the number of parts, simplifies the manufacturing processes, and lightens vehicle weight while enhancing structural strength. However, it also places more stringent demands on the performance of die casting mold materials, especially regarding thermal stability and reliability under extreme conditions. This meeting effectively aligns TIANGONG INT'L’s cutting-edge material technology in powder metallurgy and additive manufacturing with the pressing demands of GEELY AUTO in large-scale integrated die casting manufacturing.
During the visit, the technical teams from both sides engaged in in-depth discussions on three key aspects:
1. Customized Material Development to Address Industry Challenges: To tackle common industry issues such as thermal fatigue cracking, erosion wear, and reduced high-temperature strength caused by the extreme high temperatures and rapid thermal cycling during die casting of large structures at the ZEEKR factory, TIANGONG INT'L will leverage its powder metallurgy technology to develop a new generation of high-performance die casting mold steel tailored for GEELY AUTO. The goal is to achieve better thermal stability, superior thermal conductivity, enhanced resistance to tempering softening, and several times the lifespan of traditional materials. This initiative will directly assist GEELY in improving die casting production yield and efficiency, while significantly reducing overall costs associated with frequent mold replacements and maintenance.
2. Additive Manufacturing Technology Empowerment for Maximizing Mold Value: TIANGONG INT'L will apply relevant results from its national key R&D project to the manufacturing and remanufacturing processes of GEELY AUTO molds. For complex internal structures that directly affect cooling efficiency and die casting cycles, such as runner and pouring cup molds, the implementation of integrated rapid formation will greatly optimize cooling performance and shorten production cycles. Meanwhile, for expensive molds showing local damage (e.g., cracking, pitting) during use, the company’s leading laser cladding and other additive repair technologies can perform precise "minimally invasive surgeries" for mold restoration, replacing the need for overall replacement, saving GEELY significant procurement costs while substantially reducing downtime and enhancing operational efficiency.
3. Comprehensive Lifecycle Technical Support and Joint Response Mechanism: The company commits to providing GEELY AUTO with comprehensive and forward-looking technical support, encompassing early-stage material selection advice, mid-stage mold material application guidance, and later-stage mold failure analysis and comprehensive solution provision. Both parties will establish a joint technical working group to collaboratively tackle various technical challenges that arise during product development and mass production, ensuring the continuous deepening and effectiveness of the partnership.
During the visit, the company team inspected the operational status of large die casting equipment in the highly automated and intelligent casting workshop of the ZEEKR Meishan factory. Both sides agreed that this cooperation extends beyond mere supply and demand; it represents a profound handshake between cutting-edge material science and advanced manufacturing processes in the upstream supply chain. It not only serves as a benchmark demonstration for the industrial application of national-level research project results but also as a critical strategy for GEELY AUTO to reinforce supply chain resilience and achieve extreme efficiency and quality in core manufacturing processes. Looking forward, this strong meeting will enable TIANGONG INT'L’s advantages in powder metallurgy materials to translate into concrete outcomes of cost reduction, efficiency improvement, and quality enhancement for GEELY AUTO in the high-end manufacturing sector. Both parties expressed their commitment to using this meeting as a new starting point, continuously exploring the unlimited possibilities of material and process innovation, and jointly promoting higher levels of autonomy and global leadership in key manufacturing technologies and new material applications within the Chinese automotive industry.