Smart manufacturing is driving transformation in the steel structure industry.

　　This year’s GDP figures are the worst since the U.S. financial crisis erupted in 2014, and they may reflect the emergence of the largest asset bubble in nearly a decade. At a recent high-level economic forum, some experts predicted that China’s economy will successfully bottom out within the next two years. This is a highly significant assessment from policymakers, indicating that we are likely to remain on a downward‑trending path over the next two years.
　　
　　China now has an oversupply of virtually everything. Take manufacturing: in almost every sector, the largest production facilities are located in China—steel‑structure plants spanning 200,000 or even 300,000 square meters are already commonplace. From home appliances and smartphones to steel structures, our production capacity is severely overbuilt—this is what we call “big but hollow” industry. When we talk about “Made in China,” it essentially boils down to two factors: cost and scale. In essence, “Made in China” represents a grand triumph of cost efficiency and sheer scale. Yet today, both cost advantages and economies of scale are facing mounting crises.
　　
　　So, how can we carve out a path to vitality by moving beyond the trade-offs imposed on environmental protection? In my view, Chongqing’s steel‑structure enterprises must prioritize enhancing their core competitiveness, steadily intensify efforts in scientific and technological innovation, and leverage smart manufacturing to drive transformative changes in production methods. They should adopt collaborative design, large‑scale personalized customization, precision supply‑chain management, and full‑lifecycle management for steel‑structure construction projects, while emulating the German steel‑construction industry’s unwavering commitment to quality and its meticulous attention to every detail. Germany enjoys an outstanding reputation in precision metalworking, mechanical engineering, and other fields—qualities that Chinese manufacturers, as major industrial powers, would do well to emulate.
　　
　　In addition to its advanced automated CNC equipment for steel‑structure fabrication, German steel construction exhibits characteristics that set it apart from the Chinese market. First, their fabricated steel structures predominantly utilize hot‑rolled H‑beams, angle sections, channel sections, square bars, and other standard profiles; welded BH sections are relatively rare, and welded cross‑sectional or box‑type members are even less common. The economical cross‑sections of hot‑rolled profiles significantly reduce the need for preliminary cutting, assembly, and welding, so workshops typically do not require plate‑to‑bar straight‑cutting lines, and BH‑assembly‑and‑welding production lines are seldom employed, thereby enabling green manufacturing. Second, German steel structures rely exclusively on high‑strength bolts for on‑site joint connections, eliminating the need for open‑flame welding at the construction site and embodying an assembly‑based approach. This not only drastically cuts on‑site labor but also simplifies packing and transportation; however, to ensure adequate bolt‑hole yield, stringent precision is required in hole‑drilling. By contrast, China’s steel‑structure industry uses fewer standardized profiles, with on‑site joints often employing a mix of bolting and welding, which increases the workload of shop‑fabrication and in‑house assembly‑welding, driving up overall costs. Third, the German steel‑construction sector places great emphasis on the seamless integration of structural design, detailed detailing, production management, and automation of workshop‑fabrication equipment. Through the research and development of specialized management software, they continuously enhance the environmental sustainability of steel‑structure manufacturing and deliver value‑added services to clients.
　　
　　The rise and fall of the world’s major powers has repeatedly demonstrated that without a robust manufacturing sector, there can be no national or ethnic strength. Building a manufacturing base that is globally competitive is an indispensable path for China to enhance its overall national strength, safeguard its national security, and become a world power.