"Gedian-Made" Laser Equipment Powers Global Expansion of China's Shipbuilding Industry

Video Production: CRI Online Hubei Channel

Recently, at HGTECH's Smart Manufacturing Industrial Park in the Gedian Economic and Technological Development Zone, Hubei, HG FARLEY LASERLAB's large-format, high-power laser bevel cutting machines were undergoing final testing in preparation for shipment overseas. The equipment is capable of processing heavy-duty marine steel plates ranging from 20 to 100 millimeters in thickness.

China's second domestically built large cruise ship recently completed sea trials, with HGTECH equipment deployed across critical stages including inkjet coding, marking, scribing, cutting, welding, and cleaning. According to a spokesperson from HG FARLEY LASERLAB, the company's equipment is utilized in the construction of nearly all vessel types, including oil tankers, bulk carriers, container ships, and inland new-energy vessels. The company also delivers turnkey smart factory solutions through HG CYBER, having successfully executed multiple projects valued in excess of 100 million yuan.

The global shipbuilding sector is currently riding an upward cycle, with backlogs at domestic shipyards extending well past 2030. Capitalizing on this strategic window, HGTECH is leveraging its "Gedian-made" equipment to help propel Chinese shipbuilding onto the world stage.

Upon entering shipyard facilities, raw steel plates must undergo inkjet coding, marking, and scribing. When supply chains for imported equipment in this process faced constraints in 2023, domestic shipyards teamed up with HGTECH to achieve full localization through joint innovation. Today, approximately 90% of Chinese shipyards use this integrated system; a single multi-nozzle unit can process a 50-meter hull plate in just 10 minutes—reaching up to 70 plates daily—while automatically applying QR codes and specialized characters.

In cutting technology, mainstream laser power was limited to 6 kW 15 years ago, leaving thick-plate fabrication largely reliant on plasma and flame cutting. Today, laser power has surged to 60 kW with double the precision; a single laser unit can replace three plasma cutting systems while slashing consumable costs to roughly one-fifth. After adopting HGTECH equipment, German customers noted that Chinese equipment is on par with local technology.

To meet the tailored needs of different shipyards under a bespoke approach, the company customized 55-meter optical fibers for a client's 100-meter gantry track, seamlessly linking shipyard design, nesting software, and ERP systems. Standard cutting machines can be manufactured in as little as two weeks, ensuring rapid response to customer orders. In the third quarter of this year, the company completed phased deliveries of 200 laser bevel cutting units.

Gedian's well-established industrial ecosystem underpins this high-efficiency delivery model. When HGTECH first set up operations in 2008, local outsourced manufacturing was virtually non-existent; today, 80% of customized, non-standard parts can be procured within a 10-kilometer radius.

As global demand for vessel fabrication accelerates, HGTECH equipment is rapidly expanding its footprint across international markets. In 2025, the company's overseas revenue surpassed 2 billion yuan, accounting for 14% of its total revenue, with a target to elevate that share to 35% by the mid-period of the 15th Five-Year Plan. To support its overseas operations, the company operates 4 international R&D hubs, 7 major overseas subsidiaries, and more than 40 sales and service centers, providing 24/7 localized support to customers across more than 90 countries and regions.

Shipped from Gedian, batches of marine laser equipment are continually being commissioned in shipyards worldwide. Powering this momentum is the self-reliant innovation and technological upgrading of China's marine equipment manufacturing industry.