Baiyin City, located in central Gansu Province, derived its name from mineral deposits and was established as a city due to industrial enterprises. The Baiyin nonferrous metal deposit is primarily composed of copper and sulfur, accompanied by precious metals such as gold and silver. Following the founding of the People's Republic of China, the development of the Baiyin deposit was included among the 156 key projects of the First Five-Year Plan. Leveraging its abundant nonferrous metal resources, Baiyin once achieved national leadership for 18 consecutive years in copper and sulfur output, production value, and tax profits. In recent years, adhering to the strategy of "strengthening the city through industry and innovation, achieving new breakthroughs in implementing the national Yellow River strategy," Baiyin has accelerated its transformation and upgrading in areas such as technological research, intelligent and digital transformation, and industrial cluster development. In the first quarter of this year, the added value of industries above a designated scale in Baiyin increased by 13.1% year-on-year. These enterprises achieved operating revenue of 36.985 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 31.7%, with total profits reaching 1.776 billion yuan, surging by 438.1%. In recent years, Baiyin has cumulatively implemented 274 major industrial projects, with completed investments totaling 54.926 billion yuan. Transitioning from a reliance on a single copper industry to multiple industrial clusters, from traditional smelting to high-end manufacturing, and from manual operations to smart factories, Baiyin is accelerating its transformation, with high-quality development gaining momentum.
In recent years, Baiyin has intensified efforts to tackle key core technologies, empowering traditional industries to enhance quality, efficiency, and upgrade their operations. In the workshop of Changtong Wire and Cable Co., Ltd., ultra-fine cables ranging from 0.012 mm to 0.1 mm in specification are on display. Some are used in new electronic products like heat-resistant motors and automotive relays, as well as electronic coils, micro relays, and precision electronic instruments, while others are applied in high-precision electronic products such as hearing aids and cardiac pacemakers. The company is a domestic enterprise that independently researches, develops, and produces ultra-fine wires, holding one-tenth of the national market share for ultra-fine wires below 0.1 mm. Beyond ultra-fine wires, the company also supplies special cables for the national "artificial sun" nuclear fusion device. "The smallest wire diameter we produce is 0.012 mm, only one-fifth the thickness of an adult's hair," said Wu Chengru, deputy general manager of the company. The process involves drawing copper rods from 8 mm down to 12 microns through over 30 stretching stages, each requiring precise die configuration, with all dies developed independently by the company.
"After the fourth-generation 'Baiyin Furnace' commenced operation in September 2023, the comprehensive energy consumption for producing one ton of copper dropped from 300 kg of standard coal to below 210 kg, meeting the national first-grade standard. As energy consumption decreases, competitiveness increases," said Wu Kefu, chief engineer at Baiyin Nonferrous Group Co.,Ltd.'s copper company, pointing to data on the large screen in the production control center. This furnace, named after the enterprise and utilizing the "Baiyin Copper Smelting Method," represents the nation's only fully independent intellectual property in copper smelting technology. Evolving from an initial annual output of 30,000 tons to a fourth-generation single-furnace capacity of 200,000 tons over more than 40 years of iterations, this technology has reached advanced domestic levels. "We have achieved major breakthroughs in key core technology research, developing a process for separating complex and refractory tailings, reducing zinc content in tailings to below 0.15%. We have also successfully solved the industry challenge of floating oxidized copper ore, becoming the first domestic enterprise to master this technology," said Li Zhilei, general manager of Baiyin Nonferrous Group Co.,Ltd. The enterprise places scientific and technological innovation at the core of its development, continuously increasing R&D investment. By 2025, it had obtained 206 authorized patents, undertaken 8 provincial-level major scientific research projects, and completed 86 research projects through open solicitation, with the supporting and leading role of technological innovation in industrial development continuously strengthening. "In Baiyin City, 47 enterprises above a designated scale are engaged in R&D activities. Cumulatively, 3 national-level enterprise technology centers, 3 technological innovation demonstration enterprises, 5 national-level 'little giant' specialized and sophisticated SMEs, and 75 provincial-level specialized and sophisticated SMEs have been cultivated," said Zhang Weimin, deputy director of the Baiyin Municipal Industry and Information Technology Bureau. Guided by the development of the Lanzhou-Baiyin National Independent Innovation Demonstration Zone and the Lanzhou-Baiyin Science and Technology Innovation Reform Pilot Zone, Baiyin focuses on building innovation platforms, nurturing innovation entities, accelerating the transformation of achievements, and turning the "key variable" of technological innovation into the "greatest increment" for economic development.
At the Northwest Lead-Zinc Smelting Plant of Baiyin Nonferrous Group Co.,Ltd., a new zinc ingot melting and casting production line operates efficiently. From feeding to skinning, and from casting to offline processes, manual operations are scarcely visible, replaced by robots, automatic conveyor belts, and unmanned transport vehicles. "The current working environment is a world apart from the past," remarked Li Xiaohui, equipment head of the melting and casting workshop at the Northwest Lead-Zinc Smelting Plant. Previously, workers endured high-temperature exposure on the production line. Now, they primarily interact with robots, AGVs, and automatic control systems, ensuring smooth system operation. It was reported that due to aging equipment, high sensor failure rates, and unstable operation of linear casting machines, zinc ingots often had surface ripples and poor finish. Simultaneously, manual skinning, feeding, and hoisting involved high labor intensity, with workers long exposed to molten zinc at 480°C to 500°C in harsh conditions. "The old production line required 106 workers per major shift. Now, including maintenance shifts, only 48 workers are needed in total, a reduction of over half. More importantly, labor intensity has significantly decreased," said He Huayuan, deputy director of the Northwest Lead-Zinc Smelting Plant. The comprehensive automation transformation project for the production line was fully operational on October 22, 2023. Currently, the highest daily shift output has exceeded 580 tons, with annual production capacity stabilized above 150,000 tons.
At Northwest Copper Processing Co., Ltd., digitalization is reshaping the entire business model. Reportedly, transitioning from an annual output of 10,000 tons at the old plant to a 150,000-ton capacity at the new plant, and from manual operations to automated production lines, this copper processing base, established during the First Five-Year Plan period, has achieved the "acceleration" of "commencing and commencing production within the same year" through digitalization. In recent years, Baiyin has vigorously promoted "intelligent transformation, digital transition, and network connectivity," with the integration of digital and real economies fully unfolding across the city. Online assessment coverage for 301 enterprises above a designated scale in the city has reached 100%. Six enterprises, including Baiyin Nonferrous Group Co.,Ltd., Gansu Rare Earth, and Yinguang Juyin, have obtained national certification for the integration of informatization and industrialization management systems. One national 5G fully connected scenario, one national intelligent manufacturing demonstration scenario, three provincial-level smart factories, and nine digital workshops have been established. "Intelligent transformation, digital transition, and network connectivity" are equipping more traditional enterprises with "smart brains."
Dongfang Titanium Industry is a private enterprise producing titanium dioxide, and its development in Baiyin has achieved recycling at multiple levels. "We have formed supporting relationships with over 160 surrounding enterprises, establishing 'internal enterprise circulation, park-level medium circulation, and regional large circulation'," said Ren Fengying, Party Committee Secretary and Deputy General Manager of Gansu Dongfang Titanium Industry Co., Ltd. The company's transformation and upgrading represent a "cross-border breakthrough" based on green development. Dongfang Titanium Industry Co., Ltd. is located in the Yindong Industrial Park of the Baiyin High-tech Industrial Development Zone, organically linking multiple industries such as waste sulfuric acid, titanium dioxide, and lithium iron phosphate. By-products from upstream production are directly converted into core raw materials for lithium iron phosphate, achieving thorough utilization and recycling of industrial resources. "In 2025, the driving effect of the circular economy was fully unleashed. The company completed an annual industrial output value of 3.691 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 15.34% from 3.2 billion yuan the previous year. In the first quarter of this year, the company's growth momentum remained strong, achieving an industrial output value of 1.066 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 19.24%," Ren Fengying stated. Relying on the circular economy model, the enterprise has completed a crucial leap from traditional titanium dioxide chemicals to the new energy materials track, with product value-added increasing severalfold. By deeply integrating the chemical industry with the new energy sector, it has revitalized existing capacity, alleviated environmental pressure, and cultivated new growth drivers.
Jingyuan Coal Industry Group Liuhua Chemical Co., Ltd. is a comprehensive state-owned chemical enterprise mainly producing various basic chemicals such as synthetic ammonia, urea, methanol, nitric acid, and nitro compound fertilizers. In recent years, as winter natural gas resources have become increasingly tight, the company once faced difficulties. "Right next door is Gansu Yinguang Chemical Industry Group Co., Ltd. By connecting pipelines, concentrated nitric acid is supplied 'through the wall,' reducing logistics costs and significantly lowering transportation risks. After evaluating 15 to 20 plots, we ultimately chose Baiyin precisely because of the industrial support here," said Zhou Cheng, chairman of the company. In June 2020, they relocated to the Yindong Industrial Park of the Baiyin High-tech Industrial Development Zone. The coal resources within the park enabled the company to switch from a natural gas route to coal chemical production, significantly reducing costs. The enterprise also formed industrial chain cooperation with over a dozen upstream and downstream supporting companies in the park, fostering a favorable industrial ecosystem. After relocation, Liuhua Chemical Co., Ltd. added more than ten product varieties, forming a richer product structure. Subsequently, it will gradually introduce fine chemical products such as high-nitrogen water-soluble fertilizers and urotropin, fully extending the industrial chain and enhancing added value along the "coal-chemicals-fine chemicals" path.
In recent years, Baiyin has focused on 12 key industrial chains and 42 sub-chains, strengthening leading enterprises, supplementing chains, and gathering clusters, with cluster effects blossoming in multiple fields. Over 60% of the 400,000 tons of electrolytic copper produced by Baiyin Nonferrous Group Co.,Ltd. is transformed locally. The lithium battery and biomedicine industries are growing rapidly. Baiyin City is now home to over 2,800 industrial enterprises, with the number of industrial enterprises above a designated scale increasing from 165 in 2020 to 301.
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