Innovative manufacturing companies thrive in Tongzhou

Tongzhou district in Nantong, Jiangsu province, has recently seen a surge in innovative manufacturing companies, with Nantong SK Seiko Precision Machinery Co Ltd standing out as a shining example.

Specializing in the research and manufacturing of bearings, the company has achieved precision in production processes down to the micron level.

Bearings, often referred to as the joints of industry, are widely used in computers, 5G base station cooling fans, and medical devices, among other fields. SK Seiko has taken the lead in mass-producing high-end bearings with an inner diameter of 3 millimeters in China. The company is also the only company in the country to master the technology for producing bearings with an inner diameter of just 1 millimeter.

According to Dai Hui, the manager of the company's business division, over 90 percent of the equipment used to produce their high-end bearing products is self-developed. He added that the company's investment in research and development equipment and personnel has been increasing year by year. From 2022 to 2023, the proportion of investment designated for R&D increased by around 20 percent.

SK Seiko has now achieved self-sufficient production and has obtained nearly 60 patents. They have established partnerships with research institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Metal Research, Tsinghua University, and Nantong University for collaborative research and development.

Utilizing digital technology to enhance quality and efficiency, the company reported a 9 percent growth in sales in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period last year.

From producing fewer than 500,000 sets annually in 2003, the company's annual output has now soared to 300 million sets, making it the leading bearing manufacturer in China.

Bearings produced by Nantong SK Seiko Precision Machinery Co Ltd. [Photo/WeChat account: wxtzfb]