Build Eco‑Founding and March Toward a Foundry Power

As a fundamental sector of China’s equipment manufacturing industry, the foundry industry has always received high‑level attention and strong support from the state.

To guide the sound, orderly and sustainable development of the foundry industry, promote the optimization and upgrading of its industrial structure, curb low‑level redundant construction and blind expansion of production capacity, protect the ecological environment, advance energy conservation and emission reduction, improve the efficiency of resource and energy utilization, enhance the overall strength of China’s equipment manufacturing industry, and facilitate China’s transformation from a major global foundry nation to a foundry power, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) formulated the Access Conditions for the Foundry Industry in accordance with relevant laws, regulations and industrial policies, which was publicly announced on May 10, 2013. Foundry enterprises shall apply for access recognition in compliance with the provisions set forth in the Access Conditions.

Nevertheless, many foundry enterprises failed to attach sufficient importance to the document after its release and implementation. Among nearly 3 000 above‑scale foundry enterprises in Fujian Province, only 18 submitted applications under the Access Conditions for the Foundry Industry and met the MIIT access requirements.

“Many enterprises adopted a wait‑and‑see attitude and were reluctant to file applications. Despite persistent efforts, merely more than 30 enterprises across the province submitted applications between 2013 and 2015, of which only 18 were approved. One enterprise even missed qualification by a margin of just one yuan in output value.” According to circulars issued by the Fujian Foundry Association, enterprises showed low enthusiasm for the access application.

The Three‑Year Action Plan for Winning the Blue‑Sky Defence Battle, released by the State Council on June 27 of that year, classified the foundry industry as a high‑pollution and high‑energy‑consumption industry, leaving no room for enterprises to hesitate. The Plan sets clear targets: through three‑year efforts, the total emissions of major air pollutants will be substantially cut, greenhouse‑gas emissions will be reduced in a coordinated manner, the concentration of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) will drop markedly, heavy‑pollution days will be significantly fewer, ambient air quality will improve visibly, and public satisfaction with blue skies will be greatly enhanced. To these ends, a whole‑society participation framework shall be fostered. As a newly‑listed high‑pollution and high‑energy‑consumption sector, the foundry industry must pay close attention to these requirements and act accordingly.

Environmental governance is the responsibility of everyone. Against the backdrop of multiple industrial policies laid out in the Blue‑Sky Defence Battle Action Plan, the 2018 Annual Conference of Fujian Foundry Association was held from November 14 to 16. Renowned domestic foundry experts, officials from industry associations, as well as outstanding entrepreneurs and specialists from Fujian’s foundry sector gathered at the event. Centering on the theme “Seize Opportunities, Build Eco‑Foundry, Pursue Innovative Development”, participants conducted in‑depth exchanges to explore new ideas for industrial progress, and strove to accelerate the establishment of an efficient, clean, low‑carbon and circular green foundry system that would steer the future growth of Fujian’s foundry industry.

In his special report Molding Materials and “Zero‑Emission” Foundry Plants, Professor Huang Tianyou from Tsinghua University pointed out that national environmental‑protection requirements and regulations were becoming increasingly stringent, placing foundry enterprises in an ever‑more challenging situation. In production operations, foundry enterprises must adopt eco‑friendly molding materials, improve all environmental‑protection measures, and strive to achieve “zero‑emission”.

The measures are rigorous and requirements demanding, yet they are undeniable realities. Liu Shusheng, Director of the Science, Technology and Quality Centre of China Foundry Association and Secretary‑General of its Work Committee for Safety and Occupational Health, commented that environmental‑governance capabilities varied widely among domestic foundry enterprises. Only by earnestly strengthening comprehensive governance and adopting multi‑pronged approaches in line with the Action Plan could enterprises help secure clear blue skies.

The warm early‑winter sunshine is pleasant in southern China. In an interview with China Industry News, Zhang Libo, President of China Foundry Association, stated that in response to the industrial policies under the Blue‑Sky Defence Battle Action Plan, CFA would step up advocacy and communication with competent authorities, striving to safeguard the interests of the industry and enterprises to the greatest possible extent. He offered earnest remarks to entrepreneurs: embrace the era of pollutant‑discharge permit management, attach great importance to relevant work and take proactive action. At this critical juncture of transformation and upgrading, he called for joint efforts: through deeper‑going cooperation, pool positive momentum across the industry, pursue continuous innovation and challenge perceived impossibilities within the foundry sector.

“From the Symposium for Private Entrepreneurs to the China International Import Expo held in Shanghai, it is fully demonstrated that China’s reform‑and‑opening‑up landscape has not been disrupted by trade frictions; instead, it has been further consolidated and gained fresh impetus and opportunities. At the current stage, China’s foundry industry is in a tough phase of comprehensive transformation and upgrading, and also a pivotal period for implementing the strategy of building a manufacturing power. A new era calls for new accomplishments. Only those who stay true to their original aspiration can forge ahead; only those committed to reform and innovation can grow stronger. We shall make greater contributions to the sound and rapid development of China’s foundry industry and the early realisation of the vision for a foundry power.” President Zhang’s inspiring speech boosted the morale of foundry entrepreneurs.

Source: [China Industry News]