ABB Decodes New Pathways for High-Quality Development in the Steel and Non-Ferrous Metals Industry
Time:2026-05-12 Browse: 0
Amid the global energy transition and the wave of high-quality manufacturing development, the steel and non-ferrous metals industry is accelerating its shift from scale expansion to quality enhancement, and from traditional manufacturing to green, intelligent transformation. ABB has long been committed to the steel and non-ferrous metals sector, providing full-process solutions to help customers tackle development challenges and seize market opportunities. Recently, Jiang Haibo, Head of ABB’s Metals and Power Conversion Business in Asia, shared insights from a global perspective on industry trends and ABB’s practice of leveraging technological innovation and localized capabilities to upgrade customer value.
1. Insights: Dual-Carbon and High-End Trends Drive a New Cycle of High-Quality Development
Jiang Haibo believes that the global metals industry is currently facing several key challenges:
Artificial intelligence and power upgrades are driving surging demand for silicon steel, copper, aluminum, and other metals.
Balancing energy and material supply has become a core focus.
Decarbonization in the steel sector is a mandatory requirement, with upstream iron-making emissions under global scrutiny; low-carbon development is inevitable.
Over the past two decades, China’s steel and non-ferrous metals industry has developed rapidly, ranking among the top globally in production capacity. However, most products have been concentrated in infrastructure and construction sectors. With the explosive growth of new industries such as electric vehicles, renewable energy, aerospace, and next-generation information technologies, market demand is shifting toward high-end products like silicon steel and ultra-thin stainless steel, driving the industry toward diversified and high-value growth.
Jiang notes that as China embarks on its “15th Five-Year Plan,” the steel and non-ferrous metals industry has entered a new stage of high-quality development, centered on high-end, intelligent, and green transformation. Future competitiveness will hinge on the ability to align with national strategic demands and shift from “scale leadership” to “quality and value leadership.” Accelerated product iterations and imminent green transformation make digital and automated full-process technology systems key enablers for carbon reduction and differentiation through enhanced product quality and technological value.
2. Breakthroughs: Enhancing Value as the Core of China’s Industry Competitiveness
After years of accumulation, China’s steel and non-ferrous metals sector has achieved remarkable improvements in overall competitiveness and now plays a significant role in the global market.
Key advantages include:
Advanced technical capabilities within domestic engineering enterprises, benefiting from the country’s massive industrial scale.
Mature and comprehensive supply chains, ensuring efficiency and quality.
High market acceptance of new technologies and solutions, driving rapid industry upgrades.
Amid industry transformation, rapid market shifts pose challenges, requiring enterprises to quickly adapt and leverage new technologies, solutions, and process innovations to gain sustainable competitive advantage.
As Jiang puts it, “Pain points are the points of breakthrough.” Customers now prioritize tangible value—energy reduction, efficiency, and quality improvements—over superficial concepts. ABB’s role is to turn these pain points into opportunities for technological and process upgrades, delivering high-value, customized solutions that address real industrial challenges.
3. Empowerment: Green and Intelligent Dual-Engine Driving Sustainable Development
Faced with stricter emission targets and urgent industrial upgrading needs during the “15th Five-Year Plan” period, Jiang emphasizes that the deep integration of green and intelligent technologies is no longer optional—it is essential for industry survival and competitiveness.
Low-Carbon Transformation:
Decarbonizing upstream iron-making is critical, with hydrogen metallurgy being a current focus.
Optimizing processes, improving energy efficiency, and adopting clean energy such as green electricity and green hydrogen are vital for comprehensive industry decarbonization.
ABB’s Key Technologies:
High-Power Rectifiers: Core equipment for green hydrogen production, supporting hydrogen metallurgy, electrolytic aluminum, and electrolytic copper processes globally.
Electromagnetic Stirring Technology: Enhances smelting efficiency, reduces energy consumption, and improves product quality.
Intelligent Manufacturing:
ABB integrates process models, energy management, and data analytics to optimize full-process production.
This boosts energy efficiency, resource utilization, operational stability, and safety.
Data-driven solutions enable traceable, quantifiable carbon footprints, supporting industry compliance with China’s dual-carbon strategy.
4. Three Decades of Localized Full-Chain Service Capability
With over 30 years in the Chinese market, ABB’s steel and non-ferrous metals team has built R&D, engineering, service, and sales capabilities, playing a vital role in driving industry upgrades.
R&D Team:
Independently develops process models and automation libraries.
Excels in high-end products like silicon steel, ultra-thin strips, ultra-wide aluminum plates, and specialty wires.
Creates smart manufacturing solutions tailored for local market needs.
Sales Team:
Transitions from “selling products” to “providing customized solutions,” connecting customer needs with ABB technology.
Engineering Team:
Capable of full-process design, commissioning, and delivery of large, complex projects.
Supports both domestic and global projects, forming a key part of ABB’s worldwide engineering capacity.
Service Team:
ABB’s earliest localized division, providing full-lifecycle services from field maintenance and spare parts supply to digital value-added services.
Ensures stable and efficient production operations, setting industry benchmarks.
5. Strategic Outlook: Shaping the Future of the Industry
Looking ahead, ABB’s localized system is prepared to move from “adapting to the market” to “leading demand.” Leveraging global technology and full-chain local capabilities, ABB aims to co-create high-end, intelligent, and green processes and best practices with Chinese customers, defining new pathways for high-quality development in the steel and non-ferrous metals industry.
From global energy transition to the upgrading of China’s manufacturing sector, the steel and non-ferrous metals industry stands at a historic new starting point. ABB will continue to intensify technological innovation and local investment, empowering industrial upgrades with green and intelligent core technologies, and work hand-in-hand with Chinese industry customers to seize opportunities and build a sustainable, high-quality industrial future.
About ABB Metals and Power Conversion Business:
ABB’s team combines electrification, automation, and digitalization expertise to optimize production, enhance quality and safety, and promote sustainable development. With a global perspective connecting R&D, front-end engineering, products, and services, ABB is committed to shaping a smarter, more sustainable future for the steel and non-ferrous metals industry.
