Recently, Jiangsu Yangzi Hongyuan Shipbuilding Co., Ltd. brought its processing workshop, block workshop, and pipe outfitting workshop fully online; these three major workshops are currently working at full speed to fulfill shipbuilding orders.
Yangzi Hongyuan Shipbuilding’s processing workshop has replaced basic and auxiliary processes with machinery; currently, the workshop’s automation rates stand at 75% for material cutting and 30% for welding.
On the T-profile production line, the entire process—from laser cutting to positioning, assembly, welding, and straightening—is fully automated and integrated into a seamless, one-step forming operation. Furthermore, fumes generated during production are immediately captured via ductwork and treated on the spot, ensuring a green, pollution-free manufacturing environment.
The small-scale robotic assembly and welding line revolutionizes the traditional manual assembly and welding paradigm, employing advanced visual positioning, laser vision tracking, and intelligent control technologies to automate the welding of workpieces. The entire production line achieves a more than twofold increase in operational efficiency, thereby realizing highly efficient and intelligent manufacturing.
This CNC marine plate rolling machine represents the largest-scale intelligent marine plate rolling machine currently available in China; with a maximum processing length of 21 meters, it is capable of meeting the rolling and bending requirements for high-strength plates—such as those used for hulls and decks—of ultra-large vessels.
On the flat-panel assembly line, once a steel plate enters the production line, the process proceeds seamlessly through automatic splicing, submerged arc welding, robotic assembly of T-shaped support frames, and automatic flipping for welding. Intelligent software coordinates all processes to ensure efficient collaboration, completely eliminating downtime between steps, with an automation rate of 65%.
Marine piping and fittings come in a wide variety and require a high degree of machining precision. In the piping workshop, the introduction of automated machining equipment—such as laser pipe cutters—has improved machining precision to ±0.1 millimeters, with a product yield rate consistently exceeding 99%, thereby laying a solid foundation for the overall quality of the vessel.
It is reported that the three main workshops are equipped with a total of 16 intelligent production lines, which provide digital support for lean manufacturing through the integrated application of technologies such as 5G industrial internet and shipbuilding techniques.
Currently, construction of the coating workshop, water-related infrastructure, and supporting projects within the plant is proceeding at an accelerated pace, with full completion and commencement of operations expected by the end of 2026. At that time, the facility will have an annual production capacity of approximately 800,000 deadweight tons and an annual output value of no less than 10 billion yuan. Yangzi Hongyuan Shipbuilding has already scheduled production for its first batch of new ship orders, with deliveries planned in phases between 2028 and 2029.
Yangzi Hongyuan Shipbuilding is targeting the emerging market for high-tech, high-value-added vessels. With the commissioning of its three major workshops as a starting point, the company is committed to establishing a world-class demonstration zone for the high-quality development of clean energy gas-powered ships. Through digital, networked, and intelligent upgrades, it aims to foster new productive forces in the shipbuilding industry.