The Impact And Challenges Of The Development Trend Of The Foundry Industry On The Abrasive And Grinding Tool Industry

Overview of the Development Trends of the Foundry Industry in 2024

According to the latest industry data, the foundry industry will continue to maintain stable growth in 2024, driven mainly by the global economic recovery, continuous promotion of environmental policies, and technological innovation.

 

1. Growth in global foundry industry output value

• As an important component of basic manufacturing, the foundry industry involves multiple fields such as automobiles, aerospace, machinery, and energy. According to industry research institutions, the total output value of the global foundry industry is expected to be between 400 billion and 500 billion US dollars in 2024, an increase compared to 2023. This growth is mainly due to the rebound in demand from the automotive industry and heavy machinery manufacturing, especially in the markets of China, India, and Southeast Asia, where demand growth is particularly evident.

 

2. Promotion of Green Casting Technology

• In 2024, multiple foundries around the world have gradually adopted low-carbon casting technology, especially in the context of environmental policies and energy cost pressures, which have strengthened this trend. It is expected that by 2025, green casting technology will be more widely applied and become the mainstream of the industry.

 

3. Deepening the application of automation technology

• According to the International Federation of Robotics, the automation application penetration rate in the foundry industry has reached 25% by 2024. The popularization of automated production lines will further improve production efficiency and processing accuracy, thereby placing higher demands on abrasives and grinding tools, especially in terms of accuracy and stability.

 

The demand changes and challenges in the abrasive and grinding tool industry

With the rapid development of the foundry industry, the demand for abrasives and grinding tools is also undergoing significant changes, which is not only reflected in performance requirements, but also in environmental protection, customized services, and other aspects.

1. The demand for high-performance abrasives and grinding tools has surged

• In the fields of aerospace and high-end machinery, the application of difficult to machine materials such as titanium alloys and high-temperature alloys is becoming increasingly widespread, which has led to a significant increase in demand for high-performance ceramic abrasives and superhard abrasives (such as diamond and cubic boron nitride). This type of material places higher demands on the hardness, wear resistance, and accuracy of abrasives.

 

2. The rise of environmentally friendly abrasives and grinding tools

• With the increasingly strict environmental regulations, the demand for environmentally friendly abrasives and grinding tools from foundry enterprises is growing. Environmentally friendly products such as water-soluble abrasives, biodegradable abrasives, and low dust abrasives will become the new favorites in the market. At the same time, environmental protection measures during the production process also need to be taken seriously to reduce pollutant emissions.

 

3. Customized services have become a new focus of industry competition

• Different casting processes have varying performance requirements for abrasives and grinding tools, and companies need to provide customized solutions based on specific needs. For example, surface treatment of large castings requires efficient and stable grinding tools, while precision casting machining requires high-precision, low damage abrasive tools.

 

4. Market potential of intelligent grinding equipment

• With the advancement of intelligence in the foundry industry, the demand for intelligent grinding equipment will continue to rise. Intelligent grinding equipment such as robot grinding systems, online detection systems, and intelligent grinding software will become key technological directions in the future, driving technological innovation in the abrasive and grinding tool industry.

 

Looking ahead to 2025, the main development trends of the foundry industry

1 Green casting has become the main theme of the industry

• The increasingly strict global environmental policies require the foundry industry to undergo a green transformation. Taking China as an example, the "14th Five Year Plan for Industrial Green Development" clearly identifies industrial carbon reduction as a development focus, promotes the adoption of environmentally friendly raw materials and clean production technologies by foundry enterprises, and strives to make greater progress in emission reduction and energy conservation.

 

2. Accelerated penetration of intelligence and digitization

• The application of intelligent manufacturing and digital technology is rapidly reshaping the production mode of the foundry industry. The popularization of digital workshops, intelligent casting factories, and 3D printing technology will significantly improve production efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance product quality.

 

3. The demand for high-end castings continues to grow

• With the rapid development of industries such as aerospace, new energy vehicles, and rail transit, the demand for high-end castings will continue to grow. Especially in the field of new energy vehicles, China's sales of new energy vehicles are expected to exceed 12.86 million units in 2024, with a growth rate of 35.5%. The demand for lightweight, high-strength, and high-precision castings will significantly increase.

 

4. Further increase in industry concentration

• With the increasing pressure of environmental protection requirements and market competition, the survival challenges faced by small and medium-sized casting enterprises are also growing. It is expected that in the coming years, the industry concentration will further increase, and large casting enterprises will dominate the market.