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Recently, a delegation led by the director of the Municipal Bureau of Industry and Information Technology and Commerce visited our company for an on‑site inspection. The purpose of this visit was to gain a comprehensive understanding of our company's operational status, business development progress, and future strategic plans. During the inspection, the director and his team toured our production and R&D facilities. They were given a detailed presentation on our core product lines, which include a full range of high‑performance refractories such as standard brick, anisotropic brick, castable, ramming material, spraying material, and refractory mud. These products, known for their reliability and advanced technical specifications, have been widely applied in various high‑temperature industrial sectors, and the delegation expressed keen interest in our manufacturing capabilities and quality control systems. The director and his delegation inquired thoroughly about our company's operating conditions, market share, and competitive landscape. They spoke highly of our recent achievements, particularly in technological upgrades and market expansion. At the same time, the director encouraged our company to continue deepening market cultivation, broaden our business scope, and further integrate into the local industrial ecosystem, so as to make even greater contributions to regional economic development. This inspection was not only a recognition of our company's past efforts but also an expression of high expectations for our future. All employees of our company feel greatly motivated and inspired by this visit. We are determined to live up to the trust placed in us, strive forward with renewed energy, and continue to pursue innovation and excellence. Looking ahead, we are confident that under the guidance and support of the Commerce Bureau, we will achieve even more remarkable development and create new milestones for our enterprise and the local economy.

Event date: March 2, 2024 – On March 2, 2024, Mr. Li Xin, head of the expert panel from the China Lime Association, led a delegation to Zhongding Leifa for an on‑site research and guidance visit concerning the company’s production and construction development. The delegation included expert member Mr. Wan Fujiang. They were received by company chairman Mr. Cui Huafa, technical director Mr. Liu Hongchuan, chief engineer Mr. He Mingliang, and other senior leaders. The two sides held in‑depth discussions and later posed for a group photo. During the research activity, company leaders accompanied the expert group on a tour of the testing center and the R&D laboratory. At the R&D testing facility, Mr. Liu Hongchuan presented the company’s R&D platform, major technological achievements, and the full range of testing and inspection equipment. He paid special attention to introducing the company’s core refractory product portfolio, including standard brick, anisotropic brick, castable, ramming material, spraying material, and refractory mud, highlighting their performance advantages and application scenarios. The experts showed great interest in these products. The delegation then visited the production site, where Mr. Li Xin and his team carefully listened to briefings on the enterprise’s development history, production technology, current operational status, product characteristics, and marketing strategies. Both parties reached a consensus on strengthening collaboration and pursuing joint development for mutual benefit. Through the extensive exchanges, expert Li Xin gained a deeper understanding of Zhongding Leifa’s technological innovation, market penetration, business model, and strategic direction. He offered forward‑looking guidance and constructive suggestions for the company’s future development prospects. In response, Chairman Cui Huafa stated that Zhongding Leifa will closely follow the national energy‑saving and “dual carbon” development requirements, accelerate efforts to strengthen and supplement the supply chain, and focus on building a green industrial chain covering both upstream and downstream sectors. The goal is to achieve green, intelligent, efficient, and intensive development in the high‑temperature new materials industry, thereby contributing to the high‑quality growth of the entire sector. At the same time, the company looks forward to further deepening cooperation and exchanges with the association to better leverage complementary strengths and create win‑win outcomes. This research activity provided a valuable opportunity for all participants to share information, broaden their perspectives, and gain fresh insights. Everyone expressed their commitment to closely tracking national industrial policies, strengthening brand awareness, making full use of resource advantages, developing distinctive product lines, and accelerating innovation‑driven growth. They also pledged to actively promote the construction of the new refractory material industrial cluster in Henan Province, and to contribute to writing a new chapter of high‑quality economic development for the province.

Over the past thirty years of reform and opening‑up, China's refractory material industry has achieved remarkable progress. Today, China ranks first in the world in terms of refractory production. The quality and variety of refractory products have also been greatly improved and expanded, and the technical level of refractories is rapidly approaching international standards. However, despite these advances, the industry still faces numerous problems: relatively high consumption levels of refractories; a large number of production plants with low concentration; poor stability in product quality; insufficient innovation capacity; and a tendency for R&D efforts to focus heavily on formulation, composition, structure, and performance, while paying insufficient attention to production process control and the practical application of refractory materials. At present, China's economic development has entered a transitional period. The overcapacity of downstream user industries—such as steel, cement, and glass—has led to declining economic benefits for these sectors, while environmental requirements have become increasingly stringent. These factors have created great difficulties for refractory enterprises. The reasons are multifaceted: they relate to the transformation of the national economic development model, but are also closely tied to the industry's own internal problems. For instance, the existence of a large number of small and medium‑sized enterprises indicates that the advantages of advanced technology and large‑scale production have not been fully exploited, leaving room for low‑level SMEs to survive. These issues are linked to production management, technological progress, and even the mindset of refractory practitioners, and cannot be resolved quickly overnight. This article offers only some opinions and suggestions on technology‑related issues. In the broader field of materials science, refractories constitute a small, traditional branch that has not received sufficient attention. Yet they are indispensable basic materials for the national economy. From a microstructural perspective, refractories are highly complex: they are multi‑component, multi‑particle, heterogeneous composite systems. The study and control of such structures are far more challenging than for many other materials. As a result, both the volume and depth of research on refractories lag behind other materials, and the pace of scientific and technological development in this field has been relatively slow. Looking back over the past half‑century, only two major technological innovations have significantly influenced the evolution of refractory materials. Within this context, the diversity of refractory products is a key strength. For example, products such as standard brick, anisotropic brick, castable, ramming material, spraying material, and refractory mud each serve specific high‑temperature applications. Yet the quality stability of these products often varies across producers, reflecting the gaps in process control and innovation mentioned above. To overcome these challenges, the industry must place greater emphasis on production automation, on‑line quality monitoring, and the scientific use of refractories in service. It should also encourage consolidation and the adoption of best practices, so that the technological and scale advantages can be fully realised. Furthermore, given the strategic importance of refractories to energy‑intensive industries and to national defence, the sector deserves stronger policy support and more dedicated research funding. Only by addressing the fundamental issues—both technical and managerial—can China's refractory industry move from being the world's largest to being among the world's best, contributing more effectively to energy saving, emission reduction, and high‑temperature industrial efficiency.

Field Research and Symposium (April 1–5) From April 1 to 5, a research team comprising Mr. Zhang Sen (Honorary President of Henan Refractory Association), Mr. Jin Qingguo, Secretary‑General Mr. Jia Quanli, and Professor Zheng Dama (Chengliang) conducted an on‑site investigation into the current loan and financing situation of refractory enterprises. They visited several companies, including Gongyi Tongda, Gongyi Wunai, Gengsheng International, and Gongyi Jinling. Subsequently, the team held a symposium with the Zhengzhou Industry and Information Technology Commission in Xinmi. Beyond the formal discussion, the team summarised the current situation and key issues raised by enterprise leaders. These are presented below for work reference. 1. How Should the Refractory Industry Be Viewed? Refractory materials are a traditional advantageous industry, not a surplus or overcapacity one. Historically, refractories have made significant contributions to the longevity of steel blast furnaces, hot blast stoves, converters, large‑scale cement kilns (including chromium‑free long‑life kilns), and to the application of new technologies in the petrochemical and non‑ferrous metal industries. They are not merely indispensable basic materials; they are also the supporting pillar for energy conservation across the entire high‑temperature industrial sector, playing a critical role in insulating and saving energy in furnace linings. Because different industrial systems have varied production conditions and technical requirements, the specialisation of refractory enterprises is highly pronounced. Many companies have developed distinctive features and strong technological content in their products. In fact, every industrial technological advance and every national defence or military construction project relies on refractories. Some enterprises may be small in scale, but they command a high market share for certain material types and generate excellent economic returns. In Europe, the PRE (European Refractories Producers Federation) regards refractories as a strategic industry. Therefore, in China, refractories should not be indiscriminately classified as a high‑energy‑consuming, excess‑capacity industry. The industry must coordinate with government bodies to ensure that refractory enterprises—especially those producing high‑value products—continue to receive support in R&D and financial loans, so that they can make even greater contributions to national energy conservation, emission reduction, and environmental protection. 2. What Is the Appropriate Scale for Refractory Enterprises? Refractory materials are developed with differentiation, specialisation, and refinement to meet market demand. There are numerous varieties, and no single company can produce everything. Specialisation and refinement are prerequisites for enterprise growth; once firms excel in their niches, they can complement each other in terms of market, technology, capital, management, and resources, thereby becoming stronger and larger. After expansion, management must keep pace, with a strong sense of responsibility and the ability to pool various advantages to sustain long‑term progress. However, for certain enterprises—due to specific user requirements, internal management styles, or R&D capabilities—excessive scale may be inadvisable, as it could lead to instability. The appropriate scale must therefore be determined based on market conditions and individual circumstances. It is suggested that government departments support not only large refractory enterprises (or groups) that possess unique products, comprehensive strength, and good economic performance, but also small and medium‑sized refractory enterprises that specialise in high‑tech products, characteristic products, and strong innovation capacity—even if their overall size is modest. Examples of such specialised products include standard brick, anisotropic brick, castable, ramming material, spraying material, and refractory mud, each serving specific high‑temperature applications and demonstrating the value of focused expertise. 3. Promoting Large Advantageous Enterprises and Innovative Specialised Firms Over the years, refractory enterprises have made outstanding contributions to extending the service life of high‑temperature furnace linings, as well as to energy saving and emission reduction. Nevertheless, many of these enterprises have engaged in disorderly competition, leading to operational difficulties across the industry. To address this chronic problem, two parallel measures are recommended: On the one hand, the industry should implement an admission system and resolutely eliminate enterprises that waste resources, use outdated equipment, consume excessive energy, or produce poor‑quality products. On the other hand, the industry should actively promote large advantageous enterprises and innovative specialised firms, bringing capable and practical companies to the forefront. This will help them gain better recognition and support from both government and end‑users. By doing so, Henan's refractory sector can continue to thrive, maintain its competitive edge, and contribute even more significantly to the province's economy and to the nation's broader industrial and environmental goals.

At present, industries such as steel, flat glass, cement, and electrolytic aluminium have been officially designated as high‑energy‑consuming and overcapacity sectors. Consequently, relevant policies have been implemented to restrict production, phase out outdated capacity, and ease financial pressures. As a result, the market for these industries is expected to gradually shrink. Since these sectors are major end‑users of refractory materials, financial and banking institutions have grown increasingly cautious and sceptical about extending loans to refractory material enterprises. This has led to significant financing difficulties for many refractory producers, severely hindering industry development and exerting a considerable negative impact on the local economy. In response to this situation, and in accordance with the work arrangements of the 8th session of the 6th Council, the principal leading comrades of the Association Secretariat conducted in‑depth research. Based on their findings, they issued Document "Yunai Xiemi [2014] No. 07" to the Provincial Department of Industry and Information Technology, and also submitted it to the Provincial Development and Reform Commission and the Provincial Department of Science and Technology. The document urges government departments to continue supporting the development of Henan's refractory material industry. At the same time, the Association recommended 57 products that are distinguished by their unique characteristics and strong comprehensive competitiveness. Among these recommended products are key items such as standard brick, anisotropic brick, castable, ramming material, spraying material, and refractory mud—all of which are widely used in high‑temperature industrial furnaces and have proven their reliability and performance in demanding applications. It is worth emphasising that refractory materials are essential basic materials for all industrial furnace linings. They play a vital role in industrial green production, technological advancement, energy conservation and emission reduction, as well as in national defence and military construction. Over the years, Henan's refractory industry has grown into a regionally advantageous sector, boasting complete technologies, diverse product categories, and comprehensive supporting varieties. Currently, Henan's refractory production accounts for 48% of the national total output, making an outstanding contribution to the province's economic development. Given this context, the Association strongly hopes that government authorities will continue to support refractory enterprises—especially in the areas of research and development, taxation, and funding—so as to ensure the healthy and orderly growth of Henan's refractory industry. Particular attention should be paid to large‑scale enterprises (or groups) and those specialised in producing high‑tech products with strong innovation capabilities and sound economic performance. By providing targeted policy and financial support, these leading firms can drive the entire industry towards higher value‑added and more sustainable development, ultimately benefiting both the local economy and the national industrial base.