Recently, the 1st Iron & Steel Ecosystem Co-branding Forum hosted by China Metallurgical News was held in Zhangjiagang, Jiangsu Province. Centered on the theme of "Improve Quality & Forge Premium Brands", the forum gathered nearly 100 delegates from iron and steel enterprises, research institutions and media outlets to jointly explore new approaches to brand development, sending a clear message that brand strength fuels high-quality development. As a representative enterprise in China’s high-end special steel wire rod sector for industrial applications, Xingtai Iron and Steel Co., Ltd. was invited to participate and shared its insights and practices in brand building with industry peers.

At the forum, Chen Hongfei, Member of the Standing Committee of the Party Leadership Group of China Iron and Steel Industry Association and Party Secretary of China Metallurgical News, pointed out that China is now in a critical stage of transforming from a major manufacturing country to a country of superior quality, and the development of the iron and steel brand ecosystem has entered a new phase featuring systematic and high-quality advancement. A sound and sustainable iron and steel ecosystem relies on stable and reliable supply chains, collaborative innovation mechanisms, customer groups that embrace green and low-carbon values, as well as widespread public recognition of the green value of the steel industry. He also acknowledged that the sector still faces challenges including homogeneous brand positioning, insufficient global communication capacity and underdeveloped digital applications. He proposed that the construction of the brand ecosystem should be prioritized from the perspective of building a powerful steel nation, break down data silos to realize value co-creation, and continuously enrich brand connotations through technology-driven development, green low-carbon transition and digital transformation.

Xing Steel’s sharing of practical experience drew widespread attention from participants. Founded in 1958, the enterprise has specialized in the R&D and production of high-end industrial special steel wire rods for decades. Its product portfolio covers 18 major categories widely applied in nuclear power, new energy, high-speed rail, automotive and other sectors, with special high-grade steel accounting for 100% of its output and high-tech products exceeding 70%. Zhang Yuming, Chairman of Xing Steel, has repeatedly emphasized that technological innovation holds the key to developing independent brands and elevating brand value — a philosophy that has been fully integrated into the company’s daily operations. Adhering to the R&D guideline of "Precise Identification, Precise Definition, In-depth Analysis and Targeted Improvement", Xing Steel has established an innovation system featuring deep integration of sales, production and research. To date, the company holds 182 authorized patents, including 62 invention patents. In 2024, Xing Steel’s project titled "High-strength Ultra-clean Cold Heading Steel for New Energy Vehicles" won the First Prize at the International Quality Innovation Competition, marking the first time a Chinese steel enterprise has claimed this top honor in the event.

As one of China’s first batch of certified Green Factories, Xing Steel has cut its comprehensive energy consumption per unit product by a cumulative 12% and carbon emission intensity by 9.6% over the past three years. Currently undergoing relocation and upgrading, the new plant will adopt the world-first short-process technology of "smelting reduction plus electric furnace steelmaking". It is projected to slash sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions by 38% and particulate matter emissions by 89%, meeting Class A ultra-low emission standards immediately upon commissioning. At the end of 2025, hot rolling trials on the new plant’s large coil rolling line were successfully completed. The newly imported German KOCKS three-roll reducing and sizing mill enables dimensional precision of special steel products to be controlled within ±0.1 mm. On the service front, the company has built a closed-loop service system covering demand diagnosis, collaborative R&D and process optimization. Over the past three years, it has customized and developed 227 special steel grades for downstream clients, helping them cut average production energy consumption by 22% and boost material utilization rate by 20%. Xing Steel has pioneered a linked service system connecting sales, production and research, and commits to responding to customer requests within 2 hours and resolving on-site issues within 5 days for clients located within a 200-kilometer radius.