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syjx@shengyangringrollingmachine.com
2026-02-13
If we talk about Chinese CNC ring rolling mills, a bunch of stereotypes immediately arise. Many still believe that these are just cheap copies that do not maintain accuracy. But over the past seven or eight years, the picture has changed a lot - and those who did not notice simply did not work with normal suppliers. Yes, there are different levels, but now we can already talk about a segment of equipment that really competes not only on price.
Previously, about ten years ago, the main problem was in the component base. They installed cheap ball screws, servos of dubious origin, and the assembly was often carried out haphazardly. The result is backlash and floating accuracy, especially when rolling rings with complex profiles. I myself saw how on one of these mills, during a month of work, I had to adjust the guides three times.
Now many serious factories, especially in Shandong and Jiangsu, have completely switched to imported components - Hiwin, THK, Siemens or Fanuc for CNC systems. This changes things immediately. But it is important to understand: not every manufacturer who writes “high quality” on their website actually does so. They often save on little things - for example, on the spindle cooling system or on feedback sensors.
Here, for example,Shandong Shenyang Mechanical Equipment Co.,Ltd(their website ishttps://www.shengyangjxgroup.ru). They position themselves as a high-tech enterprise. From experience, I can say that their HX-50C series mills for rolling bearing rings are quite strong machines. Not without its flaws, of course, but the basic design was done correctly: a massive frame, good rigidity. True, in the first deliveries there was a problem with the software - the interface for setting rolling modes was made inconvenient, but then, it seems, they improved it.
Price, of course, is the main argument. But if you take a machine for mass production, then you need to consider not the purchase cost, but the cost of ownership. And here Chinese manufacturers began to offer interesting options. For example, many now provide not just a guarantee, but a full package of technical support - including remote diagnostics and on-site operator training. This is no longer the 2010s, when after shipment they could simply stop answering your letters.
The key point is adaptability. European machines are certainly more accurate and reliable, but they are often hard-wired. for a specific technical process. ChineseCNC ring rolling millsThey are often designed with possible modifications in mind. Do you need to change the roll configuration for a new ring size? Often this can be done by your own mechanics, without calling an engineer from Germany at great expense. I know a plant in the Moscow region that saved money on just this - they took a machine from Shengyang, and then they themselves modified the equipment for three new profiles.
But there is also a downside. This flexibility sometimes means that the overall kinematic design is not fully optimized. There may be slightly higher vibration at certain speeds, or more frequent calibration may be required. This is not fatal, but requires the technologist to have a deeper understanding of the process.
I’ll tell you about one of our experiences to make it clearer where the pitfalls may be. We once ordered two mills for rolling large-diameter rings (from 800 mm). We chose a manufacturer not from the top 3, but a smaller one, based on a recommendation. The price was very attractive. The mills arrived and were installed.
The problems started at the fine-tuning stage. It turned out that the CNC system, although based on Fanuc, had greatly reduced functionality - several critical cycles were missing to compensate for the elastic deformation of the frame under heavy load. The manufacturer said: “Everything can be done with a macro program?” Theoretically, yes. In practice, our programmers spent two months writing and debugging these algorithms, and during this time a simple line cost more than the savings on the purchase.
The conclusion is simple: with Chinese machines you cannot save at the technical specifications stage. It is necessary to specify all technological requirements in as much detail as possible, including specific rolling modes, positioning accuracy after each pass, and requirements for the measurement system. And be sure to request test rolling at the manufacturing plant with your samples of workpieces.
The trend now is integration. A simple CNC machine is no longer enough. Buyers want a ready-made technological module: machine + automatic loading/unloading system + built-in dimensional control (often based on laser scanners) + software for data collection and tool wear prediction. Chinese manufacturers caught on to this very quickly.
At the last exhibition in Shanghai I saw howShandong Shenyang Mechanical Equipment Co.,Ltddemonstrated a fully robotic ring rolling cell. There was their machine, a robotic arm, and a machine vision system for sorting. All this was controlled from one remote control. The level of performance was close to Japanese solutions, and the price was one and a half times lower. Of course, mass implementation of such systems takes time, but the direction is obvious.
Another point is service logistics. Previously, spare parts could take three months. Now many large manufacturers, including the mentioned Shengyang, have created spare parts warehouses in key regions, including Russia. This greatly reduces the risk of long downtime.
So is it worth considering Chinese manufacturers for serious production? My answer is yes, but wisely. If you need a machine for responsible, high-precision mass production, where every second of downtime is a huge loss, you may want to look towards European or Japanese brands. Their reliability has been tested for decades.
But for most tasks - serial and small-scale production of rings, including complex-profile ones, development of new products where flexibility is needed - modern ChineseCNC ring rolling millsrepresent an excellent ratio of price and functionality. The main thing is to carefully choose a supplier, do not chase the lowest price, personally visit the factory, look at the assembly and, preferably, communicate with other customers.
After all, equipment is just a tool. Its effectiveness depends 90% on the people who work on it and who maintain it. And a competent engineer or technologist will be able to get the most out of a Chinese machine tool if it was originally designed without fundamental errors. Now there are more and more such offers on the market.
