The automotive gear industry uses a lot of C steel
In recent years, Wang Shengtang, the Secretary-General of the China Gear Professional Association, highlighted a critical issue during an automotive gear industry development strategy seminar. He stated that there is still a significant gap between China and global standards in terms of product quality within the automotive gear sector. According to Chang Shuguang, a senior expert from the China Gear and Gear Steel Quality Monitoring Trade Collaboration Network, the root cause lies in both economic pressures and outdated production practices.
Over the past decade, the price of automotive gear steel in China has surged by more than 60% since 2003. Meanwhile, vehicle manufacturers have been continuously lowering the prices of gears and related components, reducing annual pressure on suppliers by over 10%. This squeeze has made life increasingly difficult for Chinese automotive gear companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which are struggling to survive. Many of these smaller firms resort to using low-cost, low-quality steel to cut costs, further compromising product quality.
Currently, SMEs account for over 70% of the total output in China’s automotive gear industry. As a result, the use of low-priced, substandard steel is widespread. Internationally, automotive gear steel is categorized into three types—A, B, and C—with significant differences in performance. For example, Class C steel gears have a fatigue life of around 300,000 cycles, while Class B can reach up to 1.9 million cycles. In contrast, China’s automotive gear industry predominantly uses Class C steel, with only 25% of medium and heavy-duty gears utilizing Class B. This reliance on lower-grade materials is a major bottleneck in the country's efforts to build a strong and competitive gear manufacturing sector.
To address this issue, the China Gear and Gear Steel Quality Monitoring Trade Collaboration Network has proposed a series of measures aimed at improving procurement standards and ensuring better quality control. These include implementing unified technical requirements for gear steel, certifying steel suppliers, and organizing joint bidding processes to secure better pricing and quality. The network also emphasizes the importance of adhering to international standards, such as those governing hardenability, oxygen content, and non-metallic inclusions.
By standardizing procurement practices and promoting collaboration among SMEs, the industry aims to enhance overall product quality and competitiveness. Additionally, the network works closely with the National Gear Product Quality Supervision and Inspection Center to monitor compliance and ensure that all steel products meet strict market access conditions. These steps are crucial for aligning China’s gear industry with global standards and building a sustainable, high-quality automotive supply chain.
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