China News Service, Loudi, February 16 (Li Zhongsheng) During the Spring Festival, locomotives on the special railway line of Valin ArcelorMittal Automotive Sheet Co., Ltd. (VAMA) in Loudi Economic Development Zone, Hunan were coming in and out, creating a busy scene. "We work as usual during the Spring Festival, and the railway was only shut down for one day on the first day of the first lunar month. However, the shipment volume on the second day of the lunar month reached 4,487 tons, and now we are shipping normally every day." VAMA Logistics Department Manager Liu Jianhui said that the company is connected to upstream production companies The "road-to-rail" trains were opened before the holiday, further reducing costs and making bulk logistics smoother.
On the second day of the Lunar New Year, VAMA substrates enter the factory and products leave the factory. Photo by Li Zhongsheng
VAMA is currently the largest Sino-foreign joint venture in Hunan Province. In recent years, benefiting from the rapid development of the new energy vehicle industry, VAMA's production and sales have increased by more than 40% annually, and operating efficiency has steadily improved. In January this year, the monthly output of the company's No. 2 galvanizing workshop production line exceeded the 50,000-ton mark for the first time, reaching 52,669 tons. Both output and quality indicators set new records, helping the company achieve a "good start" in production and operations.
February this year coincides with the Spring Festival. The company has increased its production plan by 37.5% year-on-year, and management and production personnel have scheduled their shifts as usual. "Taking into account the special nature of the Spring Festival, we have further strengthened production safety management and will also make some humane arrangements for employees." The head of the VAMA labor union said that they reasonably arrange shifts according to the actual situation of employees to keep employees in a good state On duty.
In the production workshop of Liangang Electromagnetic Materials Co., Ltd., a large crane places the finished steel coils at designated points according to the operating process, and then enters the intelligent production process through CNC operations, automatically completing processes such as pickling, cold rolling, and annealing. On one side of the workshop, equipment installation is in progress, and the company's second phase of construction is underway in an orderly manner.
It is understood that the Lianyang Iron and Steel Electromagnetic Materials Project has a total investment of 8.97 billion yuan and is divided into two phases and four steps. It is planned to be completed in May 2025. The first phase of the project was officially put into production in mid-August last year, and the second phase of the project was launched in July last year, half a year ahead of schedule. The entire project focuses on opening up the production process of high-grade, high-magnetic, and ultra-thin full-process silicon steel, which will enhance the level of silicon steel products and fill gaps in the product structure. It is a key project for Lianyang Iron and Steel Co., Ltd. to optimize its product structure, and is also the leader in building a "Material Valley" in central Loudi. project.
The factory of Lianyang Electromagnetic Materials Co., Ltd. is being built while producing. Photo by Li Zhongsheng
Talking about the project prospects, Xiao Guihua, an engineer at the company's cold-rolled silicon steel research institute, said: "We are focusing on building a high-end silicon steel brand and striving to form a central region by 2025 focusing on new energy vehicles, UHV power transmission and distribution, intelligent manufacturing and other application fields. The largest and most competitive silicon steel production base."
Benefiting from the economic recovery, seven "steel" enterprises in the "Material Valley" of Loudi Economic and Technological Development Zone will not stop production during the Spring Festival.
In recent years, Loudi has accelerated the construction of the "Material Valley", relying on the leading role of leading enterprises such as Lianyang Iron and Steel Co., Ltd. to increase scientific and technological innovation, accurately focusing on new steel materials such as silicon steel, automotive steel, and high-strength steel to strengthen and optimize traditional industries. Promote the chain extension of advantageous industries and the upgrading of traditional industries to promote high-quality development of the steel industry. Highlight the main direction of silicon steel and promote the extension of the silicon steel industry chain to the transformer, motor, and home appliance industries. In 2023, Loudi will introduce a total of 20 silicon steel industry chain projects, with a total investment of 15.75 billion yuan.
As the main gathering area for "Material Valley" enterprises, Loudi Economic Development Zone has accelerated the construction of characteristic "parks within the park" such as the Thin Plate Deep Processing Industrial Park, Silicon Steel Industrial Park, and Motor Industrial Park. The "steel chain" continues to extend, and more than 50% of the raw materials of Lianyang Iron and Steel Co., Ltd. Steel is processed here and added value is achieved. In 2023, the district will complete the industrial output value of new steel materials of 88.45 billion yuan.
If the endogenous power of the industry is sufficient, business orders are full, and economic development will be confident. It is reported that Loudi Economic Development Zone plans to maintain a high growth rate of more than 8% in main economic indicators in 2024 on the basis of total revenue from technology, industry and trade of 168 billion yuan and tax revenue of 5.998 billion yuan in 2023, of which total revenue from technology, industry and trade will increase by 10% Above, the added value of large-scale industries increased by more than 8%, the import and export volume increased by more than 8%, and the total social R&D investment increased by more than 12%. (over)