Upgrading the domestic rotary drilling rig industry chain: localization of core components, with room for cost reduction

    In recent years, the domestic rotary drilling rig industry chain has accelerated its upgrading, with core breakthroughs focused on the localization and replacement of core components. This not only solves the pain point of import dependence, but also provides solid support for the reduction of host costs and the improvement of cost-effectiveness, promoting the dominant position of domestic models in the market and injecting new momentum into the development of the industry.

    The localization of core components is the core lever for upgrading the industrial chain and the key breakthrough point for cost reduction. In the past, the core hydraulic components, high-end engines, and precision electronic control systems of domestically produced rotary drilling rigs relied heavily on imports, especially the main pump of Rexroth and high-end models of Cummins, which not only had high procurement costs but were also affected by supply chain fluctuations, indirectly pushing up the price of the main engine. Nowadays, domestic component companies are accelerating technological breakthroughs, and core components such as hydraulic main pumps, slewing supports, and drill rods are gradually achieving independent mass production. Some domestic components have approached the level of imports in terms of performance and stability, and the procurement cost is 30% -50% lower than similar imported products.

    The promotion of localization of core components has directly driven the steady decrease in the cost of domestic rotary drilling rig hosts, further highlighting their cost-effectiveness advantages. Previously, due to the premium of imported components, the core components accounted for over 60% of the cost of domestically produced medium-sized rotary drilling rigs (torque 200-300kN · m); With the implementation of domestic substitution, this proportion has dropped to 45% -55%, directly driving down the price of the host by 15% -25%. At present, the quotation for domestic medium-sized models is only 1.8-4.5 million yuan, and for large models it is 4.5-70 million yuan. Even if some imported core components are selected, the total investment is far lower than that of imported models of the same level - the quotation for imported medium-sized models is generally between 7-12 million yuan, and for large and super large models it is as high as 12-20 million yuan or more, and upgrading the core configuration requires paying a high premium.

    In addition to the decrease in host procurement costs, the localization of core components has also significantly reduced the subsequent holding costs of equipment. In the past, the delivery cycle of imported components was long (usually 1-4 weeks), with high maintenance labor and accessory costs, and long-term maintenance costs; The domestic core components and accessories are well stocked, with a wide coverage of after-sales outlets. Maintenance personnel can quickly come to the site for handling, parts replacement is timely, downtime losses are small, and maintenance costs are 40% -60% lower than imported components. In the second-hand market, the residual value of domestic models is more in line with domestic demand. Models with 3-5 years of age are priced at about 40% -70% of new models, while imported models have large fluctuations in second-hand residual value and high maintenance costs for accessories, further widening the holding cost gap between the two.

    At present, there is still room for improvement in the localization of core components of rotary drilling rigs, which also means that there is still potential for cost reduction. At present, some high-end hydraulic components and precision electronic control systems of ultra large models still rely on imports. If these parts achieve independent breakthroughs, it is expected to further reduce the cost of ultra large domestic models by 10% -15%. At the same time, with the increase in domestic component production capacity and the maturity of technology, economies of scale will further dilute production costs, coupled with supply chain collaborative optimization, the cost-effectiveness advantage of domestic rotary drilling rigs will continue to expand.

    The core value of upgrading the industrial chain is not only cost reduction, but also the comprehensive improvement of the competitiveness of domestic rotary drilling rigs. The localization of core components has solved the bottleneck problem, allowing domestic models to meet the needs of mainstream pile foundation engineering such as housing construction, bridges, and high-speed railways, as well as gradually break through to high-end engineering fields such as ultra hard rock and ultra deep piles. In the future, with the continuous iteration of core technologies and the deepening of localization substitution, domestic rotary drilling rigs will achieve the goal of "performance benchmarking imported, cost advantages, and convenient after-sales service", further seize global market share, and promote the high-quality development of the entire rotary drilling rig industry.