Bensteel Group, a heritage enterprise founded in 1905 in Liaoning Province, northeast China, is spearheading the region's move towards a modern industrial system. As the first large-scale steel enterprise to resume production since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, Bensteel has diversified its portfolio to include equipment manufacturing and engineering technology development.
In 2021, a strategic restructuring with major Chinese steelmaker Ansteel transformed Bensteel from a traditional manufacturer into a smart factory. This transformation showcases the vitality and innovation driving China’s industrial upgrade, contributing \"steel strength\" to the country’s modernization efforts.
Chinese Leadership Emphasizes High-End Manufacturing
\"The steel industry is an important basic industry of the country, and the real economy is the foundation of the national economy,\" Chinese President Xi Jinping stated during his visit to a Bensteel facility. He emphasized the importance of steering the manufacturing industry towards high-end, intelligent, and green practices.
Xi’s inspection tour of Liaoning, held ahead of the Spring Festival, highlighted the province’s potential in building a comprehensive industrial system. He encouraged Liaoning to balance the transformation of traditional industries with the cultivation of strategic emerging sectors, accelerating the development of a modern industrial framework.
China’s steel industry has historically faced challenges due to a dispersed layout and low industrial concentration, hindering efficiency and healthy growth. However, during the 13th Five-Year Plan (2016-2020), significant strides were made in supply-side structural reforms, achieving a more rational industrial structure, along with advancements in green development, intelligent manufacturing, and international cooperation.
Guidelines for High-Quality Development
Building on this progress, Chinese authorities issued guidelines in 2022 to promote high-quality development in the iron and steel sector, aiming to enhance industrial agglomeration and increase concentration by 2025. Bensteel’s transformation aligns with these goals, boasting a robust product line with over 60 categories and 7,500 specifications in car plates, and leveraging world-leading technology and equipment.
Under Xi’s guidance, Liaoning is poised to further integrate scientific and industrial innovations, developing new quality productivity tailored to local conditions. Bensteel’s success story exemplifies the dynamism and resilience driving China’s industrial modernization on the global stage.
Reference(s):
NE China builds modern industrial system for full revitalization
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