As the Spring Festival approaches, the production workshop of Baoji Dingsheng Vacuum Thermal Technology Co., Ltd. remains bustling. Two 8-ton vacuum consumable arc furnaces (VAR), independently designed and manufactured by the company, have already been positioned at the center of the workshop, awaiting final assembly. This marks the first large-scale vacuum melting equipment manufactured by a private enterprise in Baoji, modeled after the most advanced foreign technologies.
Before the equipment is shipped and installed, Dingsheng invited a team of experts from the Baoji Titanium Industry Research Institute to inspect the manufacturing site of the 8-ton VAR furnace.
According to the project’s technical lead, international vacuum melting equipment technology has advanced rapidly in recent years, especially in terms of automation. Since 2018, the domestic titanium market has experienced rapid growth, with annual titanium demand increasing at over 20% per year. This surge has placed higher requirements on vacuum melting equipment. In 2020, domestic titanium companies actively purchased melting equipment, and many entered the smelting and processing industry. According to incomplete statistics, private enterprises in Baoji plan to add over 30 new vacuum consumable arc furnaces. However, some private companies lack knowledge about equipment and technology, focusing only on price and neglecting quality, which may create risks in future operation.
At the 8-ton VAR manufacturing site, the technical lead highlighted the arc-stabilizing coil on the furnace body, emphasizing that many companies overlook such details. The arc-stabilizing coil is critical for safety and ensures uniform composition in ingots. Since it is internal, users often cannot see it and tend to neglect it. At Dingsheng, the coil is carefully wound with over 3,000 meters of a specially manufactured continuous wire, with strict adherence to design specifications for winding method and compactness to ensure stable arc quality.
Every detail in the 8-ton VAR furnace reflects Dingsheng’s design rigor. The project lead explained that the equipment incorporates the latest international vacuum furnace technologies while integrating local practices and experience in vacuum systems, electrode lifting mechanisms, control systems, and furnace structure, making the entire system more scientific, efficient, and practical. The furnace is highly automated, with computer-controlled processes for arc initiation, melting, and shrinkage compensation, producing ingots with higher quality and consistency. Through a series of modifications, Dingsheng has achieved equipment quality comparable to foreign standards, at domestic prices — affordable, reliable, and user-friendly for private enterprises.
The technical lead also mentioned that the company designs and manufactures vacuum melting equipment, vacuum sintering equipment, vacuum welding systems, various annealing furnaces, and creep furnaces. Dingsheng has supplied many domestic large enterprises, contributing to the production of high-quality titanium materials.
Regarding cooperation with the Baoji Titanium Industry Research Institute to support local titanium enterprises, the technical lead said that since the company’s founding, the institute has provided selfless support in various aspects. Dingsheng, founded by a team of young entrepreneurs, seeks recognition from the industry and enterprises. Melting is the first and most critical process in titanium production, determining material performance. Many private melting enterprises in Baoji lack professional management and technical support. Dingsheng is committed to partnering with the institute to provide technical assistance, equipment relocation, major maintenance, and personnel training, growing together with Baoji’s titanium industry.