1. Types of Screws and Performance Differences
?
1.1 Classification of Linear Motion Screws: Linear screws are essential precision transmission components that can convert rotational motion into linear motion with high accuracy. They are mainly categorized into trapezoidal Lead Screws, ball screws, and planetary roller screws based on their structure. ?
1.2 Performance and Market Levels: Planetary roller screws offer the best performance. Trapezoidal lead screws and C7-C10 grade ball screws are mid-to-low-end products, widely available domestically with affordable pricing. C3-C5 grade planetary roller screws and ball screws are mid-to-high-end, with less than 30% domestic production. C0-C3 grade planetary roller screws and ball screws are high-end products, characterized by high manufacturing difficulty, long certification cycles, and significant value. Only a few domestic manufacturers supply these, with a domestic market share of around 5%, while Japanese and European companies hold 90% of the market share
?
2. Emerging Sectors Driving Market Growth for Linear Screws
?
2.1 Market Growth Forecast: The rise of emerging sectors like smart vehicles and humanoid robots is driving the development of the linear screw industry. The domestic linear screw market is expected to grow from 17.3 billion CNY in 2023 to 74.7 billion CNY by 2030.
?
2.2 Growth Drivers:
? Automotive Smart Technology Upgrade: The market for automotive screws is expected to increase from 7.6 billion CNY in 2023 to 38.9 billion CNY by 2030. As automotive technology becomes smarter, the demand for higher performance and precision in linear screw sets will spur market growth.
?
? Rise of Humanoid Robots: Taking Tesla’s humanoid robot as an example, once production reaches 1 million units, the planetary roller screw market will expand by an additional 16.2 billion CNY. The continuous increase in production will keep driving demand.
?
?
? High-end Domestic CNC Machine Tools: The market for high-Precision Ball Screws used in machine tools is expected to grow from 9.7 billion CNY in 2023 to 19.1 billion CNY by 2030. The need for high-end machine tools is pushing the demand for superior product performance, thereby driving the market. ?
? Changes in Demand for Construction Machinery and High-end Manufacturing: The shift to electric and energy-efficient construction machinery presents an opportunity for planetary roller screws to replace hydraulic systems. Moreover, high-end sectors like aerospace and semiconductors are increasing their demand for advanced screws, broadening market opportunities.
?
3. Competitive Advantages and Classification of Domestic Screw Manufacturers
?
3.1 Key Competitive Factors: Reducing hardware costs is crucial for the development of line-controlled chassis and humanoid robots. Screw manufacturers that integrate into the customer’s supply chain and scale up production can reduce pricing pressures. OEMs of humanoid robots and smart cars prefer suppliers with strong, low-cost, high-volume manufacturing capabilities, giving domestic manufacturers an edge.
?
3.2 Classification of Domestic Manufacturers:
?
? Pioneers Specializing in Screws: Ball screws and planetary roller screws require long certification periods. Early movers with mature products can shorten new client certification cycles and more easily meet the growing demands of overseas equipment expansion.
?
? Companies Expanding from Gearboxes or Bearings: These manufacturers have technical advantages in screw design and processing, leveraging their expertise in previous fields to develop high-quality products.
?
? Companies with Strong Mass Production and Precision Machining Capabilities: These companies can meet large-scale production demands and establish a strong foothold in the competitive market. Companies that have already entered the automotive supply chain and cooperate well with clients will have a clear advantage.
?
4. Opportunities for Upstream Equipment Suppliers in the Linear Screw Industry
?
4.1 Current Equipment Supply Situation: Domestic supply for front-end linear screw manufacturing equipment is well-established. However, core equipment for the back-end processes, such as CNC thread grinding machines, have low domestic production rates, with high-end, high-precision thread grinders primarily relying on imports.
?
4.2 Growth Opportunities and Domestic Substitution: As the screw industry expands, there is a shortage of imported equipment capacity. Domestic manufacturers of front-end equipment are expected to see increased revenue growth, while the substitution process for back-end equipment will accelerate.
