Titanium, a kind of "scientific and technological style", is a very rare metal. From the domestic large aircraft C919 to the Shenzhou series of manned spacecraft, there are "Baoji titanium" in them. In Baoji, there are more than 600 titanium-related enterprises, and about 50,000 people are "embedded" in the titanium and titanium alloy industry chain.

In 2023, Baoji titanium production and processing volume accounts for about 65% of the country and 33% of the world, and the scale of the titanium industry is the leading in the world. From January to July this year, the output value of titanium enterprises in Baoji increased by 9.7%, and the development of titanium industry has been on the rise.

However, Baoji does not produce titanium, and the nearest raw materials are supplied thousands of miles away in Panzhihua, Sichuan. Does not produce titanium, why does Baoji occupy the "C position" of the global titanium industry?

A few days ago, the reporter visited the growing "China Titanium Valley" to explore the logic of industrial development here.

A leader leads.

If you choose one of the many titanium products to show the strength of Baoji titanium industry, which one?

On June 27, at the exhibition hall of Baotian Group, he Shulin, deputy general manager of the group, pointed to a spherical behemoth and said: "this is the core component of the 10,000-meter manned submersible 'Endeavour' developed by us, which fills many gaps in domestic titanium alloy research."

Baoti Group is the main enterprise of titanium and titanium alloy industry chain in Shaanxi Province, and it is also the leading enterprise in China's titanium industry. Its titanium output ranks first in the world and its comprehensive strength ranks among the top three in the global titanium industry.

"the titanium we have developed has been applied to national key projects such as the Shenzhou series of manned spaceships, which has made an important contribution to the development of heavy weapons in our country." He Shulin said.

Aiming at the world-class, Bao Ti Group is climbing a new peak. "although the size of the company is large, the proportion of high-profit and high-tech products for world-class enterprises still needs to be improved." He Shulin said.

The research and development of first-class technology requires first-class talents. How does Baoji "introduce wisdom" for titanium industry?

Not long ago, Baoti Group took a big step forward in the construction of its R & D team. The Shaanxi Titanium-Nickel material Innovation Center, initiated by Baoti Group, has started to be built, which will provide a more flexible carrier for talent agglomeration.

"through strong cooperation between enterprises and universities, the center will form a technology-led, industry-university-research and collaborative titanium-nickel material innovation platform, and effectively promote the high-end, intelligent and green development of the titanium-nickel material industry. to create a more internationally competitive strategic emerging titanium-nickel industrial cluster." Wang Jian, general manager of Bao Ti Group, said.

Today, Baoji has three provincial-level chain main enterprises: Baoti Group, National Nuclear Zirconium Industry and Topda Titanium Industry. Among them, the national nuclear zirconium industry has developed the first approved nuclear-grade zirconium and zirconium alloy standard samples, breaking the situation of long-term dependence on imported products for nuclear-grade zirconium testing in China.

Specialize in the new dance together

In Baoji, the development of titanium industry is not one of the main enterprises in the chain, but many specialized and new enterprises blossom. These specialized and special new enterprises rely on their skills to achieve innovative development in different aspects of the titanium industry.

At the end of last year, Baoji New Titanium Cheng Metal Composite Co., Ltd. developed and produced the longest and largest blasting formed titanium steel composite plate in the world, with a width of 3.5 meters and a length of 16.2 meters.

This record is hard to come by.

"for titanium steel clad plates with larger sizes, process tests need to be carried out repeatedly for every breakthrough in length. With the help of advanced mechanical and microscopic testing means, we constantly adjust the explosive formula and process parameters, and finally form a mature and stable explosive welding process. " Yang Xueshan, the company's technical director, said.

Hard core technology is the stepping stone to the market. "We are developing marine titanium composite plates. Compared with traditional special steel, this new material is light in weight and corrosion resistant. The consumption on a large ship is more than 100,000 tons, and the market potential is very great. " Yang Xueshan said.

In addition, titanium is often used in the medical field. Due to the advantages of good biocompatibility and high strength, the market scale of medical titanium has increased greatly.

Baoji Xinnuo Special Materials Co., Ltd. is a high-end medical titanium production enterprise. Zheng Yongli, the head of the company, said that in China, one out of every four titanium implants in the medical body comes from Xin Nuo.

In order to solve the problems such as cytotoxicity of vanadium in conventional medical implanted titanium alloy and possible harm to nervous system caused by aluminum accumulation in human body, Baoji Xinnuo Special Materials Co., Ltd. has made continuous efforts in research and development. "after two years of independent research and development, the company has successfully developed biomedical titanium alloy materials with excellent comprehensive properties, non-toxic elements, elastic modulus closer to human bone tissue, low raw material cost and batch production feasibility." Ma Hongfang, deputy director of the company's enterprise technology center, said.

According to Li Jingxue, deputy director of the titanium industry development promotion center of Baoji Industrial and Information Bureau, through leading and chain development, at present, Baoji titanium industry chain has 13 national-level special new "little giant" enterprises, 51 provincial-level special new small and medium-sized enterprises, 5 provincial manufacturing individual champion demonstration enterprises, and 182 regulated enterprises.

The territory is constantly expanding.

When dealing with titanium-related enterprises in Baoji, you may hear accents from all over the country and foreign languages from time to time. With the complete titanium industry chain, Baoji has attracted businessmen from Fujian, Zhejiang and other places, as well as customers from Europe and the United States to discuss cooperation.

Fourteen years ago, Fujian businessman Wang Yongjin invested and set up a factory in Baoji and entered the titanium industry. Today, Baoji Topda Titanium Industry Co., Ltd., where he is at the helm, is the main enterprise of the titanium industry chain in the province.

"Baoji has a good titanium industry foundation, gathered a large number of related talents, but also has a very good industrial policy. We pay attention to the integration of the upstream and downstream of the industrial chain, actively pay attention to the market trend, constantly optimize the product process, and adapt to the new changes in the market. We are actively laying out the application of titanium in the field of new energy and consumer electronic products. " Chairman Wang Yongjin said.

As an important base for R & D and production of titanium and other rare metal materials, Baoji takes titanium and new materials industry as the first industry to develop. Titanium and new materials industry has also been listed in the strategic emerging industrial cluster development project for the first time by the state, and has been selected into the national SME characteristic industrial cluster.

Last year, Baoji issued the "Baoji titanium and new materials industry chain upgrading three-year action plan (2023-2025)" and to support the high-quality development of the manufacturing industry "1x 5N" series of policies, comprehensively enhance the titanium industry foundation upgrading and industrial chain modernization level.

At the same time, Baoji has established special work classes covering governments, leading enterprises, industry organizations and experts, established working mechanisms such as leadership and specialist services, organized titanium industry chain special meetings and salon activities, and coordinated with relevant departments to effectively solve the problem. Practical difficulties of enterprises.

In order to accelerate the transformation of industrial scientific and technological achievements, Baoji established the Northwest Nonferrous Metals Baoji Innovation Research Institute, held the 2022 Titanium Zirconium and Hafnium Branch Annual Meeting and Titanium Zirconium and Hafnium Industry Development Summit Forum, and the 2023 China Titanium Valley International Titanium Industry Expo to further improve the titanium industry. Ecological system, enhance China's titanium international voice.

Driven by Baoti Group, more than 600 titanium and titanium alloy processing and trading companies have settled in Baoji. The more than 300 varieties and more than 5000 specifications of titanium products produced are widely used in aerospace navigation, new energy, chemicals, medical and health and other fields are exported to more than 70 countries and regions.