Dalian Rubber & Plastics Machinery Co., Ltd. recently announced that its domestically developed large-scale plastic granulator will enter trial production at the company’s new plant in May this year. However, despite these advancements, high-end molding machines remain scarce in China’s domestic market, with imported products still dominating the sector.
The trend in the industry is clearly moving toward large-scale precision. According to recent reports, China has produced several plastic granulators with an annual output of 70,000 tons through international collaborations, but none have achieved full success. Today's large-scale pelletizing systems require a capacity of over 50 tons per hour, translating into an annual output of 300,000 to 400,000 tons — a challenge that remains difficult to overcome. Currently, only a few global companies, such as Japan’s Kobe Steel, Japan Steel, and Farrell, have successfully designed, manufactured, and commissioned such advanced units.
Compared to foreign counterparts, China’s plastic granulator technology lags behind. While the country has absorbed some imported technologies and completed design drawings for polypropylene mixing extruder units with an annual output of 70,000 to 100,000 tons, these innovations are not yet widely applied. The design and manufacturing level of China’s extrusion granulators still differ significantly from those of foreign manufacturers, and large- and medium-sized polyolefin equipment continues to rely on imports.
In recent years, China’s plastics machinery industry has seen rapid and sustained growth. This is evident in both import and export figures, showing not only a significant increase in production but also a marked improvement in quality and technology. China is now a major manufacturer and consumer of plastics machinery, though it is not yet a true powerhouse in this field.
There are currently around 400 plastics machinery manufacturers in China, mostly located in economically developed regions like the Pearl River Delta and the Yangtze River Delta. However, areas such as Tibet, Xinjiang, Qinghai, Ningxia, and Hainan still lack any local production facilities. Despite the growing market, China still imports about 50% of its plastic machinery, highlighting the ongoing reliance on foreign technology.
Breaking through technical bottlenecks will take time. Large-scale granulation units used in ethylene projects, precision injection molding machines for electronics, and large-scale blow molding machines for automotive and packaging industries are still largely imported. The reason lies in the relatively weak foundation of China’s press manufacturing industry.
While there is a gap between China’s plastic machinery and that of advanced countries, especially in areas like precision injection molding and large-scale granulation, many domestic machines are just as capable as their imported counterparts. However, the market still relies heavily on imports due to trust issues and the need for high-precision solutions. To address this, the industry must continue improving its innovation and management practices. Companies are striving to meet international standards and compete globally.
China’s plastics machinery industry ranks among the top 190 sectors in the broader machinery industry. With an annual production capacity of around 200,000 sets, China leads the world in this area. In Ningbo alone, more than 100 injection molding machine manufacturers operate, including Haitian Group, whose machines are exported to over 30 countries, including the U.S. and Europe. Sales from these machines reach over $200 million annually.
Looking ahead, China’s plastics industry is still in a phase of rapid growth. It is estimated that by 2010, the country’s plastics machinery production could reach 500,000 units. For now, general-purpose plastic machinery faces overcapacity, and companies undergoing technological upgrades should focus on increasing high-efficiency, high-precision equipment and enhancing R&D capabilities.
In short, while progress is being made, the path to becoming a true leader in plastics machinery requires continued effort, innovation, and investment. As the saying goes, without a diamond drill, it’s hard to work with porcelain — and the industry still has a long way to go.
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