Introduction

At the beginning of the 21st century, high-end electro-permanent magnet technology was monopolized by Japan, Germany, and other countries. A single imported unit cost up to 4 million yuan, creating a significant bottleneck for China's steel and machinery industries. By 2025, China's domestic market share of electro-permanent magnets exceeded 90%, with prices dropping to less than 1 million yuan, and products were exported to more than 20 countries. Behind this dramatic change lies over a decade of technological breakthroughs and collaborative innovation between Hunan Qianhao Magnetic Electric and Tianjin Steel Pipe Group and other companies.

Breakthrough: From Electromagnet Sales to Independent R&D of Electro-Permanent Magnets

In 2002, in Yueyang, Hunan, Wang Meiqian, founder of Qianhao Magnetic Electric, started by selling traditional electromagnets. She keenly identified an industry pain point: traditional electromagnets had high energy consumption and poor safety, while electro-permanent magnets, with their "energized for 3 seconds, permanent magnetic adsorption" feature, could significantly improve industrial efficiency. However, at that time, domestic electro-permanent magnet technology was completely blank. Imported equipment was not only expensive but also suffered from long repair cycles and low efficiency due to technological blockades.

"We decided to bet our entire fortune on tackling this tough nut," Wang Meiqian recalled. Qianhao Magnetic Electric formed a research and development team, starting with the neodymium iron boron permanent magnet material formula, and overcame core technologies such as magnetic circuit design and demagnetization control. In 2011, the company launched its first domestically produced electro-permanent magnet lifting device, at a price of only one-quarter that of imported equipment.

Verification: Tianjin Steel Pipe's "Breakthrough Battle"

Could domestically produced equipment replace imports? Tianjin Steel Pipe Group became the first company to "try the waters." In 2006, the two parties collaborated on a six-month test: Qianhao's electro-permanent magnet lifting device demonstrated amazing efficiency in steel pipe handling—increased adsorption force by 30%, reduced energy consumption by 70%, and eliminated the safety hazards of traditional electromagnets caused by power outages because it did not require continuous power supply.

"This equipment not only saved tens of millions of yuan in procurement budget but also enabled a qualitative leap in production line efficiency." said the technical director of Tianjin Steel Pipe. This successful verification marked the official breaking of the international monopoly by domestically produced electro-permanent magnets and the beginning of large-scale application.

Advancement: From Import Substitution to Global Leadership

Qianhao Magnetic Electric did not stop there. In 2012, the company developed its first "magnetic mold," reducing mold replacement time from 2 hours to 3 minutes, widely used in the automotive and aviation fields; in 2022, it obtained 15 electro-permanent magnet patents and passed EU CE certification, with products exported to Japan, Germany, and other traditional technological powers.

Data shows that the price of domestically produced electro-permanent magnets has dropped from 4 million yuan for imports to less than 1 million yuan, with a domestic market share exceeding 90% and a global market share of 85% (China Rare Earth Association 2025 report). Qianhao Magnetic Electric has also taken the lead in formulating two industry standards, driving Chinese manufacturing from "following" to "leading".

Win-Win: A Model of Industrial Chain Collaborative Innovation

"Without the trust and support of Tianjin Steel Pipe, there would be no Qianhao today." Wang Meiqian emotionally stated at the 2023 industry summit. Over the past ten years, the two parties have worked together from equipment procurement to joint R&D, jointly formulating testing standards for electro-permanent magnet lifting devices, and promoting technological iteration. Tianjin Steel Pipe, through the application of domestically produced equipment, has reduced annual maintenance costs by 60% and production energy consumption by 95%, becoming a benchmark for green transformation in the steel industry.

Conclusion

From the commissioning of the first domestically produced electro-permanent magnet lifting device in the Tianjin Steel Pipe workshop to Qianhao Magnetic Electric becoming a hidden champion in the global electro-permanent magnet field, this journey demonstrates how Chinese industry has broken monopolies through "technology + cooperation." As Wang Meiqian said: "True breakthroughs are not about defeating opponents, but about making partners stronger because of you." This silent industrial revolution continues.