Major Investment of 1.53 Billion Yuan Marks Licheng's First Breakthrough in High-End Friction Materials
01 Major Investment of 1.53 Billion Yuan Marks Licheng's First Breakthrough in High-End Friction Materials
Recently, within the New Energy Zone of Licheng Economic Development Zone, the 1.53 billion yuan brake friction material and carbonyl nano-friction material project reached a key milestone: partial production lines have successfully commenced operations. Spanning 86 mu, this new "Changzhi Smart Manufacturing" artery achieved the journey from contract signing to first product rollout in just a few months, demonstrating remarkable "accelerated" progress in industrial transformation.
02 Four Production Lines in Full Swing – What Hidden Technologies Lie Inside the Workshop?
The project, built by Shanxi Knowhow Powder-Tech Co., Ltd. , plans to include one brake pad production line, two brake friction material production lines, and two carbonyl nano-friction material production lines. Inside the now fully enclosed workshop, equipment is being installed and commissioned, with some lines already ignited for production.
The most eye-catching is the "green formulation line" using rolling mill scale as raw material. Through a four-step closed-loop process—crushing, reduction, screening, and molecular-level mixing—industrial by-products are transformed into high-performance friction materials. Complemented by internationally advanced heat treatment processes, the products promise three major advantages: shorter braking distance, lower wear, and competitive costs.
"We focus on being the 'spearhead' in our niche segment," said Wang Song, the workshop director. The first batch of products—including brake pads for high-speed trains, aviation brake discs, and new energy vehicle drive friction rings—has already obtained certifications from over 20 countries, including the United States, Germany, Brazil, and more. The facility is set to become China's largest production base for carbonyl nano-friction materials.
03 Beyond Technological Breakthrough – A Leap from Zero to One in Local Industry
Once fully operational, the project will produce 1 million sets of high-performance brake pads, 20,000 tons of brake friction materials, and 30,000 tons of carbonyl nano-friction materials annually. It is expected to generate an annual output value of 500 million yuan, tax revenue of 140 million yuan, and create 300 local jobs. More importantly, it completes a critical piece of Licheng County's advanced materials industry—providing an efficient outlet for upstream steel and chemical by-products, while supplying downstream vehicle and parts manufacturers with a stable "raw material brain."
"We used to sell ore; now we sell the 'metallic soul within the stone,'" remarked a resident enterprise executive. The launch of high-end friction materials represents a shift for Licheng from resource extraction to value creation, lengthening and refining the local industrial chain.
04 A Supportive Business Environment – What Drives the Project's Rapid Progress?
The answer lies in Licheng County's continuously optimized "policy package":
· Policy Outreach– National, provincial, and municipal funding support is provided as a clear, menu-style checklist, allowing companies to easily access available benefits.
· Precision Implementation– A "project butler" system has been established, where one dedicated team handles all approval processes.
· Service Empowerment– Dynamic management of four key resource lists (land, energy, labor, and financing) enables a "zero-run" experience for businesses.
