Aviation Manufacturing Experts Converge in Jingdezhen for Cutting-Edge Machining Forum
On October 11, 2025, the historic porcelain capital of Jingdezhen, China, played host to a high-profile industry gathering focused on pushing the boundaries of advanced machining technologies. Themed "Intelligent Manufacturing: New Momentum for New Growth," the forum brought together more than 100 specialists from aviation companies, research institutions, and machine-tool manufacturers to exchange insights on next-generation CNC processes, smart production systems, and pathways to greater industrial independence.
Organized by the National Defense Science and Technology Industry High-Efficiency CNC Machining Innovation Center, the event was co-hosted by Metalworking Magazine under the China Machinery Industry Information Institute, Changhe Aircraft Industries Group Co., Ltd. (Changfei), and Beihang University. The proceedings were moderated by Wang Guangping, secretary-general of the Innovation Center, and Wang Jianhong, marketing director of Metalworking Magazine.
In his opening remarks, Innovation Center Council Chairman Xiong Xiyao highlighted a directive from China's top leadership during a visit to Changfei two years earlier, stressing that aviation equipment represents a critical pillar of national manufacturing and requires relentless innovation, especially in mastering core technologies. He noted persistent vulnerabilities in domestic high-end CNC systems, precision machinery, and key components, urging deeper collaboration across industry, academia, and end-users to shift China from catching up to leading the field.
The day featured six in-depth technical presentations that spanned the full spectrum of challenges in aerospace component production.
Beihang University's Professor Du Hanheng explored ultra-precision machining of micro-nano structures, detailing their transformative potential in extreme-temperature cooling, 3D imaging, fluid transport, structural coloration, defense systems, new-energy vehicles, and myopia prevention. His team has developed an advanced fast-tool-servo system with bandwidth exceeding 3,000 Hz, stroke over 20 μm, and sub-5 nm resolution, paired with closed-loop control strategies that achieve full domestic autonomy. Practical breakthroughs include novel textured surfaces, energy-field-assisted turning processes, and functional applications such as optical anti-counterfeiting gratings and flexible thermal armor for aerospace heat management.
Hong Peiqiang from Xiamen Golden Egret Special Alloy showcased tool innovations driving dramatic efficiency gains in aircraft structural components. New cutter designs for aluminum alloys boosted metal removal rates from under 500 cm³/min to as high as 860 cm³/min, slashing roughing times by more than half. In titanium alloys, proprietary "Silver Sparrow" coatings and specialized geometries extended tool life by 42–85% while tripling removal rates in demanding scenarios.
Cai Jing, general manager of Ningqing Aerospace Technology, outlined the company's high-speed machining ecosystem, including joint laboratories with leading universities and Siemens. Its latest gantry machines deliver accelerations up to 0.4 g and remove over 4,000 cm³/min of aluminum, outperforming competitors by up to 83% in rocket panel production. Specialized equipment for titanium and composites has been deployed on major programs like the C919 and ARJ21 airliners, as well as large-diameter aerospace shell sections.
Professor Fang Zhenglong of Beihang addressed precision gear manufacturing for high-performance reducers vital to aerospace, new-energy vehicles, and robotics. His team overcame interference-free tool design, complex tooth-generation modeling, and surface integrity challenges, enabling fatigue-resistant gears with significantly enhanced mechanical properties now produced on domestic integrated machining platforms.
Zhou Xiao from Hainr Automation Technology presented rapid-change fixture systems that dramatically improve line flexibility and repeatability. Evolving from traditional collets to hexagonal and rubber designs, these modular solutions maintain micron-level accuracy during high-speed swaps and support automated production across aviation and automotive projects worldwide.
Huang Kanghua, chief manufacturing engineer at Changfei, shared strategies for controlling deformation in large, thin-walled helicopter and UAV structures. Through partnerships with Tsinghua University, the company has developed residual-stress prediction models, in-process measurement techniques, and adaptive machining systems that substantially reduce distortion and ensure consistent part quality.
In closing, Secretary-General Wang Guangping described the forum as a vital platform for cross-sector collaboration, turning individual breakthroughs-from nanoscale features to multi-meter airframe components-into systemic advances that strengthen China's manufacturing base. Held in a city synonymous with centuries of craftsmanship excellence, the event underscored a broader message: China's aerospace sector is harnessing intelligence and partnership to reach new heights of technological sovereignty and global competitiveness.