R&D capabilities add to steelmaker's strengths

By Wu Yiyao in Xiamen | China Daily | Updated: 2014-09-08 07:28

Xiamen New Steel Metal Products Co Ltd, the country's leading manufacturer of anti-corrosion steel products, has won the majority of the domestic market and is now looking to expand overseas and cooperate with engineering projects around the globe.

The company with history of 15 years has been developing at a fast pace in the past few years as the construction of China's high-speed railways has accelerated, says Zheng Jingjing, vice-president of Xiamen New Steel.

It offers a wide range of products such as anti-corrosion steels, flat wire for snow sweepers and sweeper brushes, as well as corrosion monitors.

"More than 80 percent of the epoxy coated steel products used in high-speed railway projects across China are New Steel's products. And, as China has been introducing its high-speed railway technologies to other countries and building railways outside China, we hope that New Steel's products may be used in overseas markets such as the Middle East and Africa," said Zheng.

"New Steel has developed three generations of anti-corrosion products for a wide range of projects from the rails used for high-speed trains to the cables on suspension bridges. The first generation comprises epoxy coated steel products that are widely applied in almost every project that uses concrete," says Zheng.

The second generation is galvanized steel products. Unlike conventional zinc-oxide coated steel that is coated in a galvanizing pool, New Steel's products are more environmentally friendly as the company's zinc alloy coating is applied to the steel on a belt drive.

The third generation of products combines the advantages of both, as they coated with epoxy and zinc. Steel coated with both epoxy and zinc can resist corrosion by seawater, sunlight and heat, and can aid the longevity of engineering projects with its increased protection.

Although the anti-corrosion steel products cost slightly more than non-coated products, the long-term costs of maintaining engineering projects using epoxy coated steel is far less, said Zheng.

For example, according to New Steel's research and development data, epoxy coated steel products may last for a century while conventional steel without the anti-corrosion coat needs to be maintained or replaced every 10 to 20 years.

New Steel has been development and production-oriented since it was established in 1999, and the company has invested heavily in researching and developing new products and techniques to meet the various demands of engineering projects, said Zheng.

New Steel owns six patents protected by the Patent Cooperation Treaty, marking the international reorganization of the company's inventions with various research partners from across the world.

New Steel's products for snow sweepers and snow sweeper brushes are protected in Germany and Japan with patents.

"Our research and development division is a platform that can leverage high-end human resources. Some of world's best minds are engaged in the development of our steel products and some 20 permanent researchers ensure the company is at the forefront of innovation in the industry," said Zheng.

As for the International Investment Forum 2014 in Xiamen, the Xiamen-headquartered company hopes that it may provide a platform for it to gain access to new overseas markets.

New Steel is seeking regional distributors for its products, as well as representatives from overseas engineering projects such as railways, power stations, bridges and other infrastructure.

"Current logistic technologies may significantly reduce the cost of shipping our steel abroad and building local plants may also be a choice," says Zheng.

wuyiyao@chinadaily.com.cn