Specialized, Focused, Innovative, and Niche 'Little Giants':"Strong Chain Extension Chain" has a role to play

Reporter Zhang chen

 

On January 6th, amidst the biting cold of winter in the northern foot of Qinling Mountains, a field testing site in Luanzhen, Chang'an District, Xi'an, presented a stark contrast of bustling activity. Technicians from Shaanxi Tianyi Satcom Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of the Shaanxi Investment Group (hereinafter referred to as Tianyi Satcom), intensely and orderly test-fit 800 triangular units into a 38-meter-high ivory-white large radome in pieces.

"This radome adopts high-end wave-transparent composite materials and metal skeleton co-curing molding, with high wave-transparent, high strength advantages, high frequency loss is small, reaching the domestic leading level." Vice President Ao Hongyuan proudly told reporters. Last year, Tianyi Satcom successfully entered this market segment, achieving a groundbreaking 'zero-to-one' breakthrough in the entire process from design, multi-directional simulation verification, manufacturing, high-precision field assembly, to testing for large-scale ground radar antenna radome. With the delivery of multiple 20-meter-diameter products and the development and manufacture of a 38-meter-diameter large-scale ground radar antenna radome, the company continues to deepen its expertise in this niche area, earning high recognition from the market.

Several dozen kilometers away, in Tianyi Satcom's headquarters production workshop, the production lines were running efficiently. One worker attentively monitored various parameter values on the dashboard, ensuring production quality met standards; nearby, a technician employed photogrammetry technology to measure product precision... A scene of bustling productivity. General Manager Han Hongbo shared that in 2022, Tianyi Satcom fearlessly ventured into both domestic and international markets, gathering valuable market dynamics while securing substantial orders. Despite downward economic pressure and pandemic challenges, the company's operating indicators defied the trend, achieving record-high revenue of 230 million yuan, increased YoY 17%. It successfully passed the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology's performance appraisal, maintaining its status as a National Specialized, Precision, Distinctive, Innovative 'Little Giant' enterprise and earning the honor of being named a Provincial Manufacturing Single Champion in Shaanxi.

At the start of the new year, the enterprise has achieved remarkable results in foreign trade expansion, and the domestic market has been full of good news, with orders increasing significantly year-on-year. Faced with production pressures, work teams are working at full capacity to fulfill these orders.

In recent years, the Shaanxi Investment Group has driven rapid development across its various industries by focusing on "complementing", "strengthening", and "extending" industrial chains, promoting high-quality growth within the group. In 2022, the group achieved operating revenue of 85.005 billion yuan, total profits of 7.496 billion yuan, and net profits attributable to the parent company of 3.08 billion yuan, setting historical bests for these key operating metrics.

Tianyi Satcom, rooted in "chain extension",  constantly improve the innovation ability of the enterprise, R & D and manufacturing from communication antenna to scattering communication antenna and remote sensing telemetry communication antenna field. While maintaining its world-leading technical edge in communication antenna products, the company extends its reach into the development, production, and technical services of advanced composite materials, branching into products such as large unmanned aerial vehicles, high-speed target drones, and further extending into sectors like rail transit and high-end building materials manufacturing.

Up to now, Tianyi Satcom holds over 100 granted patents, with 103 patent authorizations, including 5 invention patents, 83 utility model patents, and 10 design patents; it also possesses 5 software copyrights. In 2022, the company changed its name from Shaanxi Tianyi Antenna Co., Ltd. to Shaanxi Tianyi Satcom Co., Ltd. This 'little giant' now begins to demonstrate its significant role in the new era.

 

Tackle the problem with the spirit of "toughness" to break the situation

Zhang chen

At a recent Central Economic Work Conference, emphasized on vigorously upgrading traditional industries and nurturing strategic emerging industries, with a particular focus on strengthening weak links in the industrial chain. Clear requirements were set forth for effectively managing this year's economic tasks and accelerating the construction of a modern industrial system, centering on key manufacturing supply chains and identifying critical core technologies and component weaknesses that would be targeted for concentrated, collaborative breakthrough efforts.

During the interview, the reporter saw in the plant of the NextGen technology, several young technicians followed the master Ping Jianjian carefully debugging the reliability of radar products to verify. Ping Jianjian is the team leader of the R&D team of Tianyi Satcom, and has been engaged in the research and development of composite material molding manufacturing technology for satellite communication equipment. Within this company where the average employee age stands at just 34, the 40-year-old Ping Jianjian is considered a seasoned veteran. People who are familiar with Ping Jianjian say that he is gentle and modest in life, but has a strong "tough" spirit in work.

In the development of a vehicular antenna system for a client, the product was required to possess characteristics such as high strength, low weight, and reliable connections – features that the company's existing forming processes could not accommodate. After extensive study, this formidable task was entrusted to Ping Jianjian's team. Their ability to rise to this challenge stems from their unwavering perseverance and dedication in research and manufacturing. Since joining Tianyi Satcom, Ping Jianjian has steadily evolved into an expert in the resin-based composite material forming manufacturing, particularly in carbon fiber applications.

Confronted with this formidable challenge, Ping Jianjian led his team in an all-out effort. They delved into numerous books, researched specialized materials, repeatedly analyzed structures, and tirelessly conducted experimental adjustments until they finally developed a forming process tailored to meet the new market demands. Today, Ping Jianjian holds four invention patents and two utility model patents related to satellite communication equipment manufacturing technologies, and has been honored as a "District-Level 'Five Small' Innovation Expert."

This spirit of "toughness" and the results achieved, so that more technicians and manufacturing workers believe that focusing on the key links, and continue to deep plowing and research, innovation and exploration will ultimately be rewarded.