Adhere to the core position of innovation in the overall situation of my country’s modernization construction, take scientific and technological self-reliance as the strategic support for national development, face the world’s scientific and technological frontiers, the main battlefield of the economy, the major needs of the country, and the people’s life and health, and implement the strategy of rejuvenating the country through science and education, the strategy of strengthening the country through talents, and the strategy of innovation-driven development, improve the national innovation system, and accelerate the construction of a strong country in science and technology.

Enhance the technological innovation capabilities of enterprises. Strengthen the main position of enterprises in innovation and promote the gathering of various innovation elements to enterprises. Promote the deep integration of industry, academia and research, support enterprises to take the lead in establishing innovation consortia, and undertake major national scientific and technological projects.

From solving the “stuck neck” problem to filling the gaps in the domestic and foreign markets with products, Aerospace Sanjiang Group Aerospace Heavy Engineering Equipment Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Aerospace Heavy Industry”) has gradually realized the development technology of large-scale mining vehicles from following, running side by side to leading in some areas.

“Key core technologies cannot be obtained, bought, or begged for. We must be based on independent innovation and self-reliance.” Chairman Guo Jinsong told the Hubei Daily All-Media reporter that since its birth, Aerospace Heavy Industry has undertaken the national mission of self-sufficiency in equipment and achieved corporate development in serving the economy and society.

Super mining trucks made in Hubei replace imports

Bright yellow body, 6-meter-high front, 363-ton load. On November 6, walking into the Xiaogan Aerospace Heavy Industry Equipment Industrial Park, staff were debugging a brand-new “giant” mining truck.

“This is a hot-selling product. Its appearance has broken the situation where foreign heavy mining trucks “dominate the world.” Standing in front of a 363-ton mining dump truck, He Shi, assistant chief designer of Aerospace Heavy Industry, told reporters the story behind the development.

For a long time, the equipment used in open-pit mines and underground mines in my country, especially high-end heavy mining and transportation equipment, has almost entirely relied on imports. “The key technology of domestic equipment is ‘stuck in the neck’, and we can only be controlled by others in the market.” At that time, a foreign brand of 300-ton mining dump trucks sold for more than 30 million yuan each, and tires had to be purchased separately, each tire cost 720,000 yuan. The accessories were expensive and time-consuming, which affected the production in the mining area.

“To meet the major needs of the country, we will build an internationally renowned high-end equipment manufacturing and service park.” In 2012, China Aerospace Sanjiang Group and Xiaogan City reached an agreement to jointly build the Aerospace Heavy Industry Equipment Industrial Park to develop heavy mining engineering equipment that is “urgently needed by the country and has a gap in the market.”

According to international practice, it takes at least 5 years to develop heavy mining machinery equipment from the start of scientific research to mass production.

“We can’t wait, we can’t be slow, we must catch up with all our strength!” Aerospace Heavy Industry gathered outstanding talents from various related fields under the headquarters Aerospace Sanjiang Group, concentrated on tackling key problems, and successfully developed a 363-ton two-axle heavy-duty electric wheel mining dump truck in just one year. From then on, similar products in my country no longer rely on foreign imports.

Seizing the “unmanned transportation” trend

In the snow-covered Hulunbuir open-pit coal mine, a team of unmanned vehicles shuttled back and forth to transfer raw coal to the yard.

“This is the latest 5G+ unmanned mining truck formation, with 5 vehicles in a group. Under the remote control of the 5G network, it is responsible for transporting raw coal on a working surface.” He Shi, the technical leader of the unmanned driving project, introduced that the project won the bid in April this year, passed the national safety review last month, and is currently being tested in the mining area.

“Entering the field of unmanned driving is a major layout for us at the forefront of science and technology.” Guo Jinsong said that including the 5G+ unmanned mining truck formation, Aerospace Heavy Industry has completed multiple demonstration projects in the field of unmanned driving in mines.

It is difficult for mines to recruit workers and the labor cost is high, so unmanned driving is a rigid demand. In open-pit mining areas, heavy mining trucks run 24 hours a day, with great safety risks, and smart mines are the development trend.

Opportunities are for those who are prepared. In March this year, the National Development and Reform Commission and eight other ministries jointly issued an opinion that by 2025, open-pit coal mines must achieve intelligent continuous operation and unmanned transportation. Industry insiders said that this will create a market worth hundreds of billions of yuan.

This market worth hundreds of billions of yuan includes the transformation of existing vehicles and the development of unmanned transportation vehicles, and Aerospace Heavy Industry has completed the technical reserves.

Moving forward, turning, going uphill, loading… the 290-ton unmanned mining truck completes a whole set of actions in one go. The vehicle was transformed by Aerospace Heavy Industry, and technicians built an unmanned driving control system on ordinary mining trucks, so that mining dump trucks can achieve “loading, transportation, and unloading” completely unmanned and autonomous operation.

“This system can also realize the instant switching between manned and unmanned driving.” A relevant person in charge of Aerospace Heavy Industry revealed that next year, an unmanned mining truck without a cab will be launched, which will be more efficient and more powerful.

Research and development of 100-ton transporter rewrites history

Shangwan Coal Mine, which has been shelved for 30 years, has been put into production! Behind the smooth production of this super-large mine, the “double hundred” transporter developed by Aerospace Heavy Industry has made an indelible contribution.

Shangwan Coal Mine of Shenhua Group is located in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, with an average thickness of 7.9 meters to 9 meters. Restricted by coal mining technology, this high-quality coal field cannot be “dry and squeezed”, and the coal mine has been delayed in production.

“At that time, the largest coal mining equipment could only mine about 7 meters, and the top 1 meter of coal seam was completely wasted.” Tang Xianbing, deputy chief designer of special equipment of Aerospace Heavy Industry, said that don’t underestimate this 1 meter coal seam, which will lose hundreds of millions of yuan in a year.

In March 2017, Aerospace Heavy Industry won the bid for Shenhua Group’s 8.8-meter ultra-large mining height intelligent complete set of equipment, and developed a support transporter and a shovel transporter that can carry 100 tons (referred to as the “double hundred project”), and Tang Xianbing served as the chief designer of the project.

Shenhua’s conditions are quite “harsh”: the frame must be light and strong, and can turn freely in an underground tunnel 6 meters wide and 4 meters high; the R&D time is only 9 months, and it will be delivered before the end of the year.

After more than 8 months, the 100-ton battery explosion-proof shovel transporter and the 100-ton hydraulic explosion-proof support transporter were successfully rolled off the production line. “It has rewritten the history of 80-ton load-bearing hydraulic explosion-proof support transporters at home and abroad, and has ushered in a new era for my country’s mine green mining new energy products.” Industry experts commented.