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Innovation-Driven Development, Setting Sail for New Horizons—A Review of NHI's Achievements in Mining Equipment Since Mixed-Ownership Reform
Since completing its mixed-ownership reform in 2019, Northern Heavy Industry Group Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “NHI”) has steadfastly implemented the core strategy of “innovation-driven, technology-led” development. In the field of large-scale mining mills, it has continuously deepened research and development, breaking technical barriers and expanding markets through technological breakthroughs and quality excellence, delivering remarkable development achievements.
In terms of market expansion, leveraging its profound technical accumulation and precise market positioning, NHI has secured over 150 orders and delivered more than 400 mill units since its reform. Its core product portfolio covers a full range of mining equipment including ball mills, SAG mills, and spiral vertical mills. These products have not only established a solid presence in the domestic market but also successfully expanded overseas, gaining a reputation for “China-made, NHI-made” quality in the global mining equipment sector. From serving the largest Sino-Ecuadorian joint venture project to supporting large-scale gold mining development in Laos, NHI’s “national heavy equipment” has become a vital link connecting domestic and international mineral resource development.
Technological innovation serves as NHI’s core engine for advancement. As a century-old enterprise, it has reinvigorated its innovation capacity post-reform, continuously breaking international technical monopolies in large mining mills. It now possesses R&D and manufacturing capabilities for Φ4.0-12.2m SAG mills, Φ2.4-8.2m ball mills, and 100kw-4500kw spiral vertical mills. In the large SAG mill segment, it achieved multiple specification breakthroughs from Φ6.4m, Φ7.9m to Φ8.8m, propelling domestic mining equipment toward global high-end markets. The Φ9.15m×5m SAG mill custom-built for a Laos project adopted a domestically pioneering “dual-drive” variable frequency drive solution, filling a domestic technical gap. The successfully developed Φ7.9m×4.8m SAG mill and Φ6.4m×9.7m overflow ball mill, exported to Africa, represent China’s largest-scale mining mills exported in recent years, showcasing world-class expertise in ultra-large crushing and grinding equipment.
The spiral vertical mill series stands out as a shining example of NHI’s technological innovation. China’s first domestically developed large-scale spiral vertical mill, the MLL1200, won the Third Prize of China Machinery Industry Science and Technology Progress Award and was included in the Heavy Machinery Industry’s Specialized and Innovative Achievement Directory. The world’s largest spiral vertical mill, the MLL3360, signifies NHI’s international leadership in this field. The subsequent MLL3000, currently China’s largest domestic model of its kind, secured a three-unit supply contract, achieving large-scale application. These mills adopt a lightweight design philosophy, reducing energy consumption by 30%-50% compared to traditional equipment. With a maximum feed size of 6mm and a minimum discharge size of 0.02mm, they enhance grinding efficiency while supporting green mine development, earning high user approval.
In the wave of intelligent and green transformation, NHI leads the industry. Its self-developed “SAG Mill Grinding and Classification Intelligent Control Platform” integrates IoT, big data, and AI technologies, significantly improving production efficiency and resource utilization while reducing operational costs and safety risks. The world's first permanent magnet semi-direct drive spiral vertical mill maximizes energy-saving advantages. Additionally, the microwave rock-breaking tunnel boring machine co-developed with Northeastern University achieves 2-3 times the efficiency of conventional models, revolutionizing hard rock cutting and mechanized/intelligent mining in metal mines.
Market recognition stems from robust capabilities and comprehensive service guarantees. Post-reform, supported by Fangda Group, NHI has implemented all-staff marketing, established regional offices around key clients and areas, and provided integrated “full-service” solutions combining technology, business, and after-sales support, regaining broad market trust. The company actively explores the “product + service” model, hosting industry exhibitions and overseas agent conferences, securing overseas pellet plant project orders, and forming a balanced development pattern across domestic and international markets.
From a century-old factory to an innovation pioneer, NHI has taken mixed-ownership reform as an opportunity to embed the “innovation-driven, technology-led” strategy into its development strategy, continuously breaking industry records and technical barriers in large mining mills. Moving forward, NHI will leverage Fangda Group’s industrial chain advantages, deepen industry-university-research collaboration, and drive equipment manufacturing toward high-end, intelligent, and green transformation. With more “national heavy equipment,” it will help elevate China’s equipment manufacturing industry to the mid-to-high end of the global value chain, injecting sustained momentum into high-quality industry development.