From "Choke Point" to Global Front‑Runner: A Chronicle of China's Press Equipment Technology Breakthroughs in 2026

From "Choke Point" to Global Front‑Runner: A Chronicle of China's Press Equipment Technology Breakthroughs in 2026

2026 is proving to be a landmark year for China's press equipment industry, marked by a dense wave of technological breakthroughs. From large‑scale stamping lines with 100% domestically produced core components, to the launch of ultra‑large intelligent multi‑station stamping lines that break foreign monopolies, and to new benchmarks in hot‑forming intelligent production systems — Chinese press equipment manufacturers are making a historic leap from "import substitution" to "global leadership" through sheer engineering excellence.

1. JIER Machine‑Tool Group: Overcoming 40+ "Bottleneck" Technologies, Achieving 100% Domestic Core Components

Stamping is the first step in automotive manufacturing — sheets of metal are fed into large stamping lines to produce body panels such as doors, hoods, and trunk lids. A single large stamping line stretches nearly 100 meters in length and stands close to 20 meters high, comprising multiple presses and feeding robots operating in full automation.

At JIER Machine‑Tool Group, the team led by Wang Chuanying, Executive Deputy Director of the National Key Laboratory of Metal Forming High‑end Equipment and Advanced Technology, has overcome more than 40 "bottleneck" technical challenges over the years. This R&D team of over 80 members, with an average age of just 32, has achieved dual breakthroughs in both "stamping quality" and "stamping speed":

• Stamping quality – development of a new‑generation servo press that uses a servo motor to directly drive the transmission system, enabling flexible control of forming speed to suit different material characteristics, thereby significantly improving part quality.

• Stamping speed – development of an anthropomorphic feeding robot with high flexibility and speed, capable of carrying loads up to 140 kg, achieving up to 20 parts per minute in coordination with the press.

The team has also made substantial progress in localising key functional components. High‑power servo motors used in large stamping lines have long relied on imports, and imported products could not be customised — forcing manufacturers to modify press structural designs to fit imported motor parameters, resulting in complex transmission systems and high production costs. Wang's team leveraged their role as industry chain leaders, collaborating with upstream suppliers on dedicated servo motor development. The result is a domestically produced motor perfectly matched to servo press requirements — with significantly improved compatibility, shortened transmission chains, and one‑third of the original redundant gears eliminated, substantially boosting overall operational efficiency.

Today, the new‑generation large stamping lines developed by the team achieve independent control over key technologies and 100% domestic core components. They have not only been selected for the "Foundation for a Strong Nation – China Manufacturing '14th Five‑Year' Achievements Exhibition", but have also been exported overseas as complete sets. Wang Chuanying notes that China's high‑end equipment manufacturing sector is transitioning from "import substitution" to "global leadership". "During the import substitution phase, we solved the problem of going from zero to one. But global leadership requires us to address the challenges of 'good quality, stable performance, and trouble‑free operation for ten or twenty years'." JIER's large stamping lines have earned recognition from overseas customers primarily because the equipment is reliable and stable, with an operational availability rate of 96%.

2. Yangli Group: China's First 3,750‑Ton Ultra‑Large Intelligent Stamping Line Delivered

In May 2026, Yangli Group officially delivered its independently developed TL4‑3750 ultra‑large intelligent multi‑station stamping line. With a maximum production efficiency of 30 parts per minute, this is the first domestically produced ultra‑large‑tonnage intelligent multi‑station stamping equipment with the highest reported tonnage and production speed in China.

The line completes five core production processes simultaneously on a single press, with operating speeds of 10 to 30 strokes per minute, boosting overall efficiency by 2 to 3 times compared with conventional tandem lines. The system comprises a twin‑blank automatic destacking unit, a 37,500 kN multi‑link multi‑station press, a servo three‑axis multi‑station NC transfer system, an automated quick‑die‑change system, an end‑of‑line automatic belt conveyor, an intelligent visual recognition and tracking system, and an adaptive servo control system.

The core technology for large multi‑link multi‑station presses has long been monopolised by a few overseas players. Yangli's R&D team forged a new path through "uncharted territory", overcoming complex force‑analysis challenges in the eight‑bar linkage system to deliver a main frame with high resistance to eccentric loads, meeting the highest international standards. The delivery of this line marks the first time China has produced an ultra‑large multi‑station press, providing strong support for the independent and controllable supply chain of China's automotive and high‑end manufacturing sectors.

In real‑world applications, the line demonstrates ultra‑high processing accuracy and structural strength. Production tasks that previously required two 1,600‑ton lines can now be handled through common‑die designs enabling simultaneous processing of two product variants — significantly improving efficiency while reducing manufacturing costs.

3. General Technology Group: 20,000 kN Hot‑Forming Intelligent Line Sets New Benchmark

In June 2026, General Technology Group launched its independently developed 20,000 kN servo‑flexible intelligent hot‑forming line, mainly used for hot stamping of new energy vehicle structural components. The line consists of a 20,000 kN servo mechanical press and a servo transfer robot, integrated into a unified control system.

Key achievements of this line include:

• Comprehensive production efficiency reaching 1.5‑2 times that of conventional hot‑forming lines.

• Hydraulic components reduced by nearly 60%, lowering equipment failure rates at the hardware level.

• Press slide repeat positioning accuracy of ±0.01 mm.

• Production energy consumption reduced to 40% of that of traditional hydraulic presses.

• Operating noise below 80 dB, significantly improving the workshop environment.

The line has overcome multiple industry‑wide technical bottlenecks, setting a new benchmark for domestic hot‑forming intelligent equipment.

4. Hefei Metalforming: High‑Speed Synchronous Lines Delivered in Batches

In May 2026, Hefei Metalforming successfully delivered multiple high‑speed synchronous stamping lines. Each line centres on multiple mechanical presses, integrated with linear 7‑axis robots and an in‑house intelligent control system, achieving fully automated, continuous closed‑loop operation from blank destacking, automatic loading, multi‑process stamping, to intelligent unloading.

Compared with traditional 6‑axis robot stamping lines, this new line offers comprehensive improvements:

• Production efficiency – stable stamping cycles of over 12 strokes per minute, with overall efficiency increased by more than 20%.

• Energy consumption – continuous press operation reduces total energy use by 30%.

• Footprint – parallel linear workpiece transfer design minimises floor space.

• Flexibility – supports quick die change and automatic gripper switching, adaptable to single‑part, twin‑part, and mixed‑model production.

5. CCMT2026: Four Trends Define the Industry's Future

From April 21 to 25, 2026, the 14th China CNC Machine Tool Exhibition (CCMT2026) was held in Shanghai. In the metal forming equipment section, multiple leading domestic forging press manufacturers showcased cutting‑edge achievements in servo‑driven, intelligent, and green technologies, revealing China's latest breakthroughs toward high‑precision, servo‑integrated, energy‑efficient, and automated forming systems.

Yangli Group exhibited the SSP1‑200 gantry single‑point servo press, equipped with an in‑house servo system supporting 7 freely switchable stamping modes, slide accuracy of ±0.01 mm, and energy savings of 20%‑50% across the series. Yangzhou Forging Press displayed the 85/160 open‑back press meeting JIS Class 1 precision. Yawei showcased a fully automatic servo stamping line capable of bending 980 MPa high‑strength steel at a cycle rate of 6 spm.

6. Outlook: From "Being Able to Make It" to "Making It Better and More Reliable"

From JIER's large stamping lines with 100% domestic core components, to Yangli's ultra‑large multi‑station line breaking foreign monopolies, to General Technology's new benchmark in hot‑forming intelligent systems — 2026 is witnessing a concentrated series of technological advances that are rewriting the narrative from "import substitution" to "global leadership" for China's press equipment industry.

As Wang Chuanying observed, the industry's greatest challenge now is the transition from "being able to make it" to "making it better and more reliable." His team, with an average age of 32, is now focused on building a forward‑design system for high‑end machine tools, insisting on original design from the ground up, with no reverse‑engineering or copying of existing products.

Looking ahead to the 15th Five‑Year Plan period, China's press equipment industry will continue to deepen core technology research and promote collaborative development along the industrial chain. The journey from "being able to make it" to "making it better and more reliable" is far from over — it is accelerating.