"Advantages and Applications of Forging Steel Balls: Why the First Choice for Mine Grinding?"
Shandong Ningyang Steel Ball Industry: The Transformation and Upgrading Path from "Manufacturing" to "Intelligent Manufacturing"
The Advantages of Industrial Clusters are Highlighted, with Production Capacity Leading the Nation
As the "Hometown of Steel Balls in China," Ningyang County's steel ball industry started in the 20th century. After years of development, it has formed an industrial chain cluster covering wire drawing, cold heading, hard grinding, quenching, spheroidizing, and precision grinding. Currently, Ningyang County produces 670,000 tons of carbon steel balls, bearing steel balls, and stainless steel balls annually, with a production capacity exceeding 65% of the national total. The products cover more than 30 series and hundreds of specifications, and are exported to over a dozen countries and regions. This industrial cluster was successively recognized as a "Shandong Province Transformation and Upgrading Demonstration Industrial Cluster" in 2018 and a "Shandong Province Characteristic Industrial Cluster" in 2021, becoming an important pillar for regional economic development.
Digital Empowerment Drives Intelligent Manufacturing Upgrades
To promote high-quality industrial development, Ningyang County leads with the digital economy and vigorously promotes the digital transformation of the steel ball industry. A local investment of 15 million yuan has been made to build the "Steel Ball Industry Brain," using technologies such as big data, cloud computing, and the Internet of Things to construct three major systems: digital empowerment, intelligent operation, and industrial ecology, achieving rapid order response and efficient production organization. At the same time, service providers such as CITIC Cloud Network and Inspur Industry have been introduced, launching the "Cloud Connected Steel Balls" digital economy headquarters project, creating a dedicated "Industrial Taobao," opening up raw material procurement and product sales channels, and helping enterprises "buy globally and sell globally." In addition, the region has built the first fully intelligent digital production line in China, and newly installed AGV intelligent logistics and WMS intelligent warehousing systems. This can save 6 million yuan in labor and handling costs annually.
Leading projects drive green and intelligent transformation
Recently, the largest intelligent production line for the reform of rolling stock (steel balls) basic materials in China, invested and constructed by Chenxin Mining Group, was ignited and put into operation in Ningyang County. Relying on the technological advantages of Luoyang Bearing Research Institute and the design capabilities of the 10th Research Institute of China National Machinery Industry Corporation, this project optimized the layout of process equipment and the quality control system, further enhancing the technical service level of the local steel ball industry. The Ningyang County Basic Parts Industrial Park and Advanced Green and Intelligent Manufacturing Demonstration Factory, where the project is located, have achieved a significant increase in per-mu efficiency by eliminating "small, *tered" enterprises and replacing them with modern industries, providing a model for the transformation of traditional manufacturing.
Quality management and environmental governance are carried out simultaneously
While the industry is rapidly developing, Ningyang County emphasizes the parallel progress of quality and environmental protection. Local enterprises strictly implement a tripartite acceptance mechanism involving purchasers, custodians, and professional technicians. Special materials such as steel balls must pass professional testing before they can be stored. In response to environmental issues, regulatory authorities have increased enforcement efforts. In 2023, a steel ball factory was fined 410,000 yuan for failing to operate pollution treatment facilities (induced draft fans, spray towers, UV photocatalytic equipment), prompting the enterprise to implement its main responsibility for environmental protection. Power Guarantee Supports the Sustainable Development of the Industry
To meet the growing electricity demand of the steel ball industry, local efforts were made to promote the commissioning of the 110 kV Yuehe Power Transmission and Transformation Project. This further enhanced the power supply reliability of the steel ball industrial park in the Gangcheng area, providing strong electrical energy support for the expansion and efficiency improvement of the industrial cluster.
In the future, the steel ball industry in Ningyang County will continue to focus on intelligent manufacturing as the main line, deepen digital empowerment and green transformation, and promote the "small steel balls" to roll out into a broader global market.
