Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tiangong International (00826) visited Geely Auto's Geely Maoshan factory, officially starting the process of deep integration of "large-scale integrated die-casting" technology.

On October 17, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of TIANGONG INT'L (00826), Zhu Xiaokun, along with the senior technical team, visited the Geely Auto (00175) subsidiary Jike Meishan Factory in Ningbo, Zhejiang, and received a warm welcome from the factory leadership. This visit marks the official start of the deep integration of advanced materials and technology in the revolutionary field of "large-scale integrated die-casting" between the two Chinese companies, which are leaders in the fields of tooling steel materials and vehicle manufacturing globally, aiming to jointly overcome manufacturing bottlenecks in the industry and lead the Chinese automotive industry in autonomous breakthroughs in key manufacturing technologies. As a pioneer and authority in the field of powder steel in China, TIANGONG INT'L has built a complete chain of integration capabilities from research and development, production, sales to services. With deep technological accumulation and industry foresight, the company received national recognition in 2024 and undertook the national key research and development project "Research and Application of Key Technologies for New Die-Casting Die Steel Powder Metallurgy and Additive Manufacturing." This project targets industry pain points in the performance and lifespan of high-end die-casting dies and aims to develop die-casting die steel materials with superior performance through advanced powder metallurgy and additive manufacturing technologies. The Jike Meishan Factory, as an important advanced manufacturing base, is applying the cutting-edge technology of "large-scale integrated die-casting" on a large scale for the production of components such as large chassis structures and body parts for new energy vehicles. This technology greatly reduces the number of parts, simplifies the manufacturing process, reduces the weight of the vehicle, and improves structural strength, but it imposes more stringent requirements on the performance of die-casting die materials, especially in extreme conditions. During this meeting, the precise connection between the advanced materials technology in powder metallurgy and additive manufacturing of TIANGONG INT'L and the urgent needs of GEELY AUTO in large-scale integrated die-casting manufacturing was carried out. During the visit, the two technical teams carried out in-depth and practical exchanges on the following three key aspects: 1. Customized material development to address industry challenges: In response to the common industry challenges faced by the Jike factory in die-casting large structural components due to thermal fatigue cracks, erosion and wear, and a decrease in high-temperature strength caused by extreme temperatures and rapid thermal cycling of the metal liquid, the company will fully utilize the advantages of powder metallurgy technology to develop a new generation of high-performance die-casting die steel tailored for GEELY AUTO. The target material will focus on achieving higher thermal stability, superior thermal conductivity, stronger resistance to quenching loss, and a lifespan several times longer than traditional materials. This move will directly help Geely improve the yield and efficiency of die-casting production while significantly reducing the comprehensive costs associated with frequent mold changes and maintenance. 2. Empowering additive manufacturing technology to maximize die value: The company will apply the relevant results of the national key research and development project to the manufacturing and remanufacturing processes of GEELY AUTO molds. For molds with complex internal structures directly related to cooling efficiency and die-casting cycles, such as shot barrels and sprue sleeves, achieving their integrated rapid formation will greatly optimize cooling efficiency and shorten production cycles. At the same time, for in-service molds that are expensive and suffer local damage during use (such as cracks and pits), the company's leading laser cladding and other additive repair technologies can achieve precise "microsurgery" and functional reconstruction of the molds, saving GEELY AUTO a significant amount of procurement costs and greatly reducing downtime, improving operational efficiency. 3. Full-cycle technical service, co-building response mechanisms: The company is committed to providing GEELY AUTO with a comprehensive and forward-looking technical support system, covering material selection and application guidance in the early stage, to mold failure analysis and comprehensive solution provision in the later stage. The two parties will establish a joint technical working group to jointly address various technical challenges that arise during product development and mass production, ensuring the continuous deepening of cooperation and tangible results. In the highly automated and intelligent die-casting workshop of the Jike Meishan Factory, the company's team conducted on-site inspections of the operation of large die-casting equipment. Both parties agreed that this cooperation goes far beyond simple supply and demand transactions and represents a deep "handshake" of advanced material science and advanced manufacturing processes in the upstream of the industrial chain. It not only serves as a benchmark demonstration of the company's industrial application of national-level scientific research project results but also represents an essential layout for GEELY AUTO to enhance the resilience of its supply chain, pursue ultimate efficiency and quality in core manufacturing processes. Looking ahead, through this strong meeting, the cutting-edge advantages of TIANGONG INT'L in powder metallurgy materials will be effectively transformed into concrete results of "cost reduction, efficiency increase, and quality improvement" for GEELY AUTO in the high-end manufacturing field. Both parties expressed their commitment to use this meeting as a new starting point to continue exploring the unlimited possibilities of materials and process innovation, working together to promote China's automotive industry to achieve a higher level of autonomous and globally leading control in key manufacturing technologies and the application of new materials.