On the land of Yueyang, Hunan—a region that has long been a symbol of China's industrial glory—a revolution in magnetic technology is reshaping the global landscape of industrial equipment. Once hailed as China's "Magnetic Capital," Yueyang's electromagnet industry has weathered half a century of ups and downs. Now, thanks to the pioneering efforts of companies like Qianhao Magnetic Electric, the industry has successfully made a technological leap—from traditional electromagnets to electro-permanent magnets—breaking foreign monopolies and paving the way for domestically produced alternatives.

I. The Legacy and Struggles of Yueyang, the "Magnetic Capital": From Glory to Rebirth

Yueyang's magnetic industry began in the 1960s. In 1967, Yueyang County Electric Motor Factory successfully produced the first batch of five electromagnets, marking the industry's debut. By 1972, the Yueyang Regional Electric Motor Factory was established, focusing exclusively on the production of lifting electromagnets. Over time, it grew steadily to become Asia's largest specialized manufacturer of electromagnets, with its products exported to more than ten countries, including Japan and the United States. In 1987, the factory's pioneering electromagnetic stirring technology earned the Ministry of Metallurgy's Science and Technology Achievement Award, cementing China's position among the world's leading nations in electromagnet technology.

However, with the transition to a market economy, the drawbacks of traditional electromagnets have gradually become apparent: they rely on continuous electricity, carry the risk of power outages, and require costly maintenance. During the state-owned enterprise reforms in the 1990s, although the Yueyang Electromagnet Factory experienced significant challenges, it inadvertently paved the way for the rise of private enterprises. In 2005, Comeda Electric was established, inheriting the technical expertise from the original factory; by 2010, Zhongke Electric went public, accelerating the localization of electromagnetic stirring equipment. Yet, core areas such as permanent magnet technology remain monopolized by companies from Germany, Japan, and other countries.

II. Qianhao Magnetics & Electronics' Path to Breakthrough: Three-Generation Technology Inheritance and Patent Innovations

1. Technological Enlightenment: From Tianjin Steel Pipe to Independent Innovation
Wang Meiqian, Chairwoman of Qianhao Magnetic Electric, comes from a family with three generations dedicated to magnetic-electric technology. She has personally witnessed the entire journey of Yueyang's electromagnet industry—from its golden age to its ongoing transformation. Back in 2002, while working in lifting electromagnet sales in Tianjin Steel Pipe, she was struck by the remarkable efficiency and safety of foreign electric permanent magnet lifting devices, sparking her determination to develop a similar innovation. Soon after, she promptly established "Yueyang Qianhao Mechanical & Electrical Technology Development Co., Ltd." Unlike conventional electromagnets that rely on continuous power supply—losing their magnetic field instantly when power is cut—electric permanent magnets use pulsed currents to switch magnetic poles, eliminating the need for constant energy consumption and dramatically enhancing safety.

2. Three-Year Breakthrough: The Birth of the Rechargeable Electromagnetic Permanent Magnet
In 2010, Wang Meiqian joined forces with the core technical team from the former Yueyang Electromagnet Factory to tackle world-class challenges such as magnetic circuit design and residual magnetism control. The team pioneered a bipolar magnetic convection technology, achieving rapid magnetic field switching through instantaneous pulse currents, and subsequently secured their first patent titled "Charging-Type Electro-Permanent Magnet." In 2013, Qianhao Magnetic Electric introduced China's first 20-ton steel strip coil electro-permanent lifting device, which was successfully deployed at Wuhan Iron & Steel Group, effectively breaking the foreign technology monopoly.

3. Industry Breakthrough: From Cast Pipe to All-Scenario Coverage
In 2014, Qianhao Magnetic Electric achieved a technological breakthrough in the cast pipe industry, introducing its five-link lifting electro-permanent magnet system capable of handling ductile iron pipes weighing up to 15 tons and measuring 6 meters in length. The system features one-touch demagnetization, boosting efficiency by an impressive 300%. Since then, the product has expanded into areas such as automated production lines, machine tool clamping, and injection molding machine locking mechanisms, serving leading enterprises like Sany Heavy Industry and Gree. By 2025, over ten factories nationwide have adopted Qianhao’s solutions, giving the company a market share exceeding 80%.

III. The Technological Revolution: How Electric Permanent Magnets Are Reimagining Industrial Equipment?

1. Core Advantages: Safe, Energy-efficient, Highly Efficient

• Zero-energy maintenance : It consumes power only during the magnetization and demagnetization process, achieving energy savings of more than 95% compared to conventional electromagnets.
• Inherently Safe : Residual magnetism approaches zero, ensuring no loss of magnetism upon power failure. Equipped with the ADMS dynamic model anti-toppling system, it boasts a response time of just 0.02 seconds.
• Uniform adsorption : The honeycomb magnetic pole arrangement achieves 98.2% magnetic field uniformity, effectively preventing stress concentration, while delivering a shear force of up to 12 kN/cm².

2. Data Confirms: A Dual Leap in Efficiency and Cost

• Mold Changeover Time : Injection molding machine mold changes have been reduced from 120 minutes to just 1–3 minutes, while the 3,000-ton equipment cycle time has dropped from 4 hours to 30 minutes.
• Defect rate : Automotive parts manufacturer reduces defect rate from 10% to below 2% due to loosened molds.
• Maintenance costs : The magnetic unit boasts a lifespan of up to 15 years or 300,000 cycles, representing a 73% reduction compared to hydraulic systems.

IV. Industry Impact: From Domestic Substitution to Global Benchmark

The rise of Qianhao Magnetic Electric has propelled China's permanent magnet technology to achieve three major breakthroughs:

1. Technical Standard Development : Led the participation in drafting the group standard for the "Intelligent Steel Plate Transporter." Achieved EU CE and ISO 9001 certifications.
2. Industrial Chain Restructuring : Driving the formation of enterprise clusters in Yueyang, including companies like Zhongke, Kemeida, and Qianhao, which now hold 60% of the domestic market share.
3. Global Competitiveness : The products are exported to Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Europe, achieving import substitution in high-end areas such as magnetic molds for 3,000-ton injection molding machines.

V. Future Outlook: The Infinite Potential of Magnetic Technology

As Industry 4.0 deepens, Qianhao Magnetic & Electric is strategically positioning itself across three key directions:

• Superconducting Magnetic Technology : Developing a zero-remanence superconducting permanent magnet system to further enhance energy efficiency.
• AI Magnetic Control Platform Integrating 5G with machine vision to enable intelligent adjustment via magnetic adsorption, as well as the integration of an unmanned overhead crane system.
• Green Manufacturing : Developing recyclable magnetic materials to reduce lifecycle carbon emissions.

From the legacy of Yueyang as the "Magnet Capital" to Qianhao Magnetic Electric's groundbreaking innovations, China's magnetic technology is leveraging the "electric permanent magnet revolution" as its pivotal force, driving the global upgrade and transformation of industrial equipment. In this quiet yet profound technological shift, Qianhao Magnetic Electric has not only filled a critical domestic gap but is also reshaping the future of the global magnetic industry with a "China Solution."