China - December 13, 2024 Chinese bearing production hub shifts gears toward intelligent manufacturing (Voice_over) At this factory in Wafangdian, precision and technology come together. Bearings, essential for reducing friction and enhancing efficiency in machinery, are now tailored for some of the world's most advanced systems, like railways, wind power, and mining. (Sound_bite) Zhang Xinghai, General Manager, ZWZ Bearing, Wafangdian, Liaoning Province: "We have invested 344 million US dollars over the past five years in factory renovations and digitalization. We have largely adopted intelligent manufacturing in the production of rollers, utilizing robots, digital analysis, and automated assembly to ensure product quality." (Voice_over) Wafangdian has been a cornerstone of China's bearing industry for decades. Now, it's aiming for making another breakthrough in high-speed railway bearings. (Sound_bite) Zhang Xinghai, General Manager, ZWZ Bearing, Wafangdian, Liaoning Province: "In passenger train bearings, high speed trains traveling at speeds of 160 km/h or above currently rely entirely on imports. Domestic bearings are primarily used in trains operating at speeds below 140 km/h." (Voice_over) But this will change starting in 2025, as bearings produced in Wafangdian will be used in high-speed passenger trains. This further demonstrates the precision and reliability of the bearings manufactured here. (Sound_bite) Zhang Xinghai, General Manager, ZWZ Bearing, Wafangdian, Liaoning Province: "Our company has a history of 86 years. The heritage of Wafangdian manufacturing is incomparable to any other region." (Voice_over) Wind power is one of the fastest-growing renewable energy sources in China. This wind farm in Wafangdian generates 700 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually. Locally manufactured bearings ensure these massive turbines can withstand harsh offshore winds. (Sound_bite) Liang Pengyuan, Director, Regional Operation and Maintenance Center, New Energy Division, Liaoning Branch, China Datang Co.: "Our annual operating profit is approximately 14 million US dollars, with around 2 million US dollars contributed toward local tax revenue. Our Zhenhai Wind Power Project is currently ranked No. 1 in the Dalian region for annual power generation." (Voice_over) In 2023, Wafangdian stood tall as the only county in Northeast China with an annual GDP exceeding 100 billion yuan, approximately 14.3 billion US dollars. Bearing production and green energy are major contributors to its local economy. [Restriction: No access Chinese mainland]