Solidly walk the path of casting, intelligently refine at a new speed
The foundry industry is the fundamental industry of manufacturing, and also the basic guarantee for the innovative development of numerous host products and high-end technological equipment. It plays an indispensable role in the development of the national economy. During the 40 years of reform and opening up, China's foundry industry has achieved breakthroughs in various aspects such as structural optimization, transformation and upgrading, and improving quality and efficiency. The foundation of transformation has been laid, and openness has taken off. Jinding Industrial Co., Ltd., a member unit of the Shandong Equipment Manufacturing Industry Association located in Zoucheng City, Jining, is a historical witness to the achievements of reform and opening up.
Jinding's intelligent workshop relies on intelligent equipment, and Jinding employees have overcome the work mode of pure physical labor
For traditional manufacturing, people's impression is dirty, messy, and dusty, but in the workshop of Jinding Industrial Co., Ltd., it is a different scene. Workers dress neatly, parts are arranged in an orderly manner, and the production line is high-end and advanced. The dirty and tiring production line that used to work continuously for eight hours has now developed into a green and intelligent workshop
Reform brings about significant breakthroughs
Old Zoucheng people all know that Jinding Industrial Co., Ltd. was formerly known as Zouxian Chengguan Agricultural Tool Factory, which was born in 1966. In 1978, the main business shifted to professional casting, and since then, the company has experienced several major turning points.
After the relocation in 1983, the company mainly focused on producing iron pots. At that time, the iron pots made were well-known throughout the country, and the products radiated to all parts of the country. "Zhang Hongbin, the general manager of Jinding Industry, recalled the era of making iron pots with great emotion. The most glorious period can be said to be the time when iron pots were made. At that time, frontline grassroots employees could earn a maximum income of more than 1000 yuan. In 1992, the enterprise became the first standardized joint-stock reform enterprise in Jining, and was reorganized from "Zou County Jinding Casting Pot Factory" to "Shandong Jinding Industrial Co., Ltd.
Although cast iron pots are profitable, enterprises have begun to realize that the low profit, simple process, and low threshold iron pot industry can no longer meet the long-term development of enterprises. It is urgent to transform into products with higher added value.
In 1998, the company made a big move in product transformation and equipment upgrading.
“投资了4200万元引进建成德国AGM潮模砂自动化铸造生产线，这条生产线当时在国际上很先进。”张洪彬坦言，在1998年，4000万元并不是一个小数目，但假如当时不上这条生产线，金鼎这个企业如今是否存在都很难说。通过不断了解前沿行业信息，企业逐步有了淘汰民用产品的打算，同时，他们也渐渐发现，围绕铸造线做文章、逐步打开国际市场才是出路。
技术激发发展活力
随着市场经济的发展，强烈的市场冲击成为企业考虑何去何从的重要因素。一个个大胆的想法和一项项高起点的举措应运而生，让这家企业走上了求生之道和变革之路。
2001年，企业进行了公退民进式的深化股权改革，成为完全的民营企业。
“2007年之前，受限于设备和检验手段，一些铸件内部的缺陷检测不到，等零件漂洋过海到了国外客户手里，对方二次精加工后就发现了问题，这样的零件就废掉了，对我们来说损失很大。”张洪彬说，为了避免这样的情况，企业2007年投资了数控加工，由初级产品转向精加工成品，满足客户的需求，同时筹建了树脂砂生产线并投产，年铸造总产能增至25000吨。
随着国际市场的扩大，企业原有的三条铸造线实现全面升级，并引进意大利自动化生产线及主工序配套担纲设备。2015年又投资1100多万元引进具有国际领潮水平的德国3D砂型大型打印设备，为客户产品快速开发、自我研发及工艺模拟优化提供了高端基础平台。
金鼎铸造生产目前具备五种主要工艺
转型升级未来可期
传统制造是先制造模具，再实行验证后才能发现产品的缺陷，这是成品率不高的一大原因，新技术由传统的先制造模具再实验转变为了用电脑把产品模拟制造出来，先实验，再生产，提高了成品率。
“像这个涡轮是山推的，推土机上的配件，企业的诉求就是不断改变工艺把这个气孔的宽度、长度进行改进，如果是开模具的话，需要反复尝试，仅改工艺整个下来就要耗费半年的时间，而3D打印一个星期就能提供三、四种工艺的改变。”负责3D打印技术的胡兴旺介绍，相比于传统技术，3D打印技术主要用于新产品的快速开发、模拟工艺优化验证以及直接小批量、高端、复杂产品的生产。
2015年引进具有国际领潮水平的德国3D砂型大型打印设备 打印砂型
胡兴旺向大家展示了一个挖掘机上的缸盖砂型。“这个产品是美国卡特的，如果传统开模具，这个缸盖至少需要两三个月的时间才能确定完工艺，而3D打印一星期就可以解决。”他介绍，厂家发过来图纸后，由企业进行评审，加工处理后进行打印，而打印机最大的优点就是无论什么样的结构什么样的产品都不是问题。像这样的3D打印设备，国内拥有的企业并不多。
2015年至今，企业新增近十家高端客户，而这很大一部分得益于3D打印技术。目前，企业已经拥有了一批如卡特彼勒、通用、福特、维斯塔斯、歌美飒等国际知名高端客户，年铸造能力突破73000吨。
52年的企业发展见证历史变革，改革开放带来的发展机遇让这家民营企业越过大洋，走向世界。张洪彬说，能够发展成为一个集绿色铸造、高端加工、部装和研发于一体的现代化大型制造企业是金鼎的愿景，企业会牢牢抓住国家带来的每一次发展机遇，站在新的起点上，向更高的目标进发。
Corporate Correspondent/Photography Editor/De'an
