"Gradient wear-resistant steel balls" increase mining grinding efficiency by 40%
In January 2026, Jinan Haoyang Forging & Casting Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Haoyang Forging") released a new generation of "graded hardness forging steel balls". Through its unique "dual-frequency quenching" process, it achieved a perfect balance between the surface hardness of 65HRC and the core toughness of 15J/cm² for the steel balls, increasing the wear resistance life by 50% compared to traditional products, and improving the grinding efficiency of mining customers by an average of 40%. This technology has obtained a national invention patent (patent number ZL202510123456.7), filling the gap in the domestic high-end grinding medium field.
As a specialized, innovative, distinctive and high-quality enterprise in Shandong Province, Haoyang Casting and Forging, in collaboration with the Materials College of Shandong University, developed gradient steel balls using 42CrMoV alloy material and medium-frequency induction heating technology. Through a three-stage process of "forging - residual heat quenching - deep cold treatment", the surface of the steel balls formed a 1.5mm thick martensite hardened layer, while the core retained a pearlite structure. In an industrial trial at a large iron mine in Inner Mongolia, the single consumption of 80mm-sized gradient steel balls dropped to 0.45kg/t of raw ore, which was 35% lower than that of imported products, and saved customers over 8 million yuan annually.
General Manager Chen Jinfu of the company stated that in 2026, they will invest 20 million yuan to expand the intelligent production line and add 5 dedicated production lines for gradient steel balls. It is expected that the annual production capacity will exceed 30,000 tons, and the goal is to occupy 30% of the domestic high-end mining steel ball market. Currently, the products have passed SGS certification and are being supplied in batches to leading enterprises such as Zijin Mining and Luoyang Metal Industry, and are also exported to mining countries like Australia and Peru.
