The review meeting for the National Key Science and Technology Project No. 04, “Research and Development and Application of Manufacturing Technologies and Key Equipment for Electronically Controlled Common-Rail Diesel Injection Systems (Phase II),” was successfully held at Jack Machine Tool.

The “Yuanqi” special event brought together experts from across the Chinese machinery industry in Luling, jointly pursuing the dream of building a powerful equipment manufacturing nation. From December 11 to 13, experts from China’s machinery sector gathered at Jack Machine Tools in Ji’an City. As soon as they set foot on this red land, they were deeply touched by Jack Machine Tools’ warm and welcoming service culture.

Jian is located in the central part of Jiangxi Province. Historically known as Luling, it has long been renowned for its outstanding talents and blessed natural environment, earning it the prestigious titles of “the Most Prestigious Prefecture in Jiangnan” and “Golden Luling.” With its stunning natural scenery, Jian is also the home of Jinggangshan—the world-famous cradle of the Chinese revolution. In the annals of Chinese national culture, Luling culture holds a remarkably significant historical position. At certain historical periods, it served as a representative of the nation’s advanced culture and, at times, even influenced and shaped the direction of cultural trends.

The first phase of the National Key Project 04, led by the Wuxi Fuel Pump and Nozzle Research Institute of China FAW, passed acceptance in 2014. The project team overcame a large number of technical challenges, driving innovative development in China’s automotive, internal combustion engine, and machine tool industries. It filled several technological gaps and brought China’s manufacturing technology up to the level of world-leading technologies, setting a model for demand-driven and user-oriented innovation.

In this Phase II project, three high-precision grinding machines have been newly added: a high-precision CNC concave-arc camshaft grinder, a high-precision CNC internal concave end-face grinder, and a high-precision CNC external cylindrical grinder for matched components. Components of the high-pressure common-rail system have extremely stringent precision requirements—for example, the flatness of the concave end face of the fuel injector body must be within 0.9 µm, and its surface roughness must be Ra = 0.05 µm. Moreover, the roundness of the outer diameter of critical parts of the needle valve must be as precise as 0.5 µm, and its cylindricity must meet a tolerance of 1 µm—thus placing exceptionally high demands on the precision of the grinding machines. Currently, all these grinding machines are monopolized by foreign brands.

The project undertaken by Jack Machine Tools this time—the “High-Precision CNC Concave Arc Camshaft Grinder”—is a sub-project under the major national science and technology program “Electronically Controlled Common-Rail Diesel Injection System,” as outlined in the guidelines published during the 12th Five-Year Plan. Centered around the various performance targets of the high-precision CNC concave arc camshaft grinder within the “Electronically Controlled Common-Rail Diesel Injection System” project, this research involves related design, manufacturing, and industrial application studies, taking into account both national and market demands. Aiming at achieving an internationally advanced level, and responding to the needs of upgrading China’s automotive engine industry, this project seeks to develop a high-precision CNC concave arc camshaft grinder that meets the requirements of the “Electronically Controlled Common-Rail Diesel Injection System.” Through the opportunities provided by this project, we will establish an integrated development platform encompassing R&D technical foundations, experimental research platforms, and industrial manufacturing technologies for high-precision CNC concave arc camshaft grinders. We will achieve breakthroughs in key areas such as the overall design of CNC grinders, the development of high-precision CNC concave arc camshaft grinders, and advanced manufacturing processes, thereby mastering core manufacturing technologies for high-precision CNC concave arc camshaft grinders with independent intellectual property rights. This will enhance China’s capabilities in the design and manufacturing of high-precision CNC camshaft grinders, improve product precision stability and reliability, and strengthen our competitive edge in the global market.

Meanwhile, this project builds upon the phased achievements of the “Eleventh Five-Year Plan” major special project on CNC machine tools and focuses on in-depth research into the technology of CNC concave-arc camshaft grinders. Its aim is to promote the large-scale application of high-precision CNC concave-arc camshaft grinders—machines capable of meeting the requirements of “electronic-controlled common-rail diesel injection systems” and their associated common technologies—in industries such as automotive, shipbuilding, and military equipment, as well as to facilitate demonstration applications among end-users. This will further address China’s significant demand for CNC camshaft grinders in fields including aerospace, automotive, shipbuilding, military industry, and power generation equipment.

“Unite positive energy to jointly realize the Chinese dream of a strong nation,” “Study classical Chinese texts to forge the soul of our faith,” “Put the ‘Disciples’ Rules’ into practice and build a vibrant family culture”... As the expert panel approached the Jack Machine Tool plant, they were deeply moved by the company’s rich atmosphere steeped in traditional Chinese learning. During their on-site inspection of the research and production frontlines, the experts were even more amazed by the clean and orderly site management, the passionate morale of the employees, and the intelligent, IoT-enabled digital management system—constantly letting out admiring murmurs of “Wow!” and “Amazing!”

Nurtured by the profound Luling culture, Jack Machine Tool has transformed from a state-owned enterprise on the verge of bankruptcy into a national Torch Program high-tech enterprise specializing in follow-up grinding solutions. The company now boasts an Academician Workstation, a Postdoctoral Research Workstation, a provincial-level Engineering Technology Center, a provincial-level Enterprise Technology Center, and a Jiangxi Province Master Craftsman Studio. Its core business—follow-up grinding—has reached internationally advanced standards. The company’s achievements have been recognized with awards including the First Prize of the “China Machinery Industry Science and Technology Award” from the China Machinery Industry Federation, the Second Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress from the Ministry of Education, the Second Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress from Jiangxi Province, and the “Chunyan Award” in the machine tool industry. Additionally, the company has been honored as a National Federation of Industry and Commerce Science and Technology Innovation Enterprise, one of the “Top Ten Enterprises for Independent Innovation” by the China Machine Tool Industry Association, a “Star Enterprise for Equipment Manufacturing” by the China Machinery Industry Federation, a “Jiangxi Province Innovative Enterprise,” a “Jiangxi Province High-Tech Enterprise with Investment Value,” and one of the “Top Ten Units for Mechanical Innovation in Jiangxi Province.”

At the review meeting, we listened to the project team’s presentation on the detailed design and reliability studies as well as the technical solutions, and engaged in thorough questioning and responses.

The expert panel believes that the project’s machine tools can meet the process requirements for key components of electronically controlled common-rail diesel injection systems, and the proposed solution is feasible. The project team has done extensive work in reliability design, reliable manufacturing, reliable assembly, and reliable operation, and has made rapid progress. The panel expressed satisfaction with the overall progress of the project. At the same time, the experts also offered recommendations to further strengthen reliability verification and thermal compensation research. The expert panel highly commended Jack Machine Tools’ implementation of this project.

On the 13th, at the Jinggangshan Revolutionary Martyrs’ Cemetery, we listened to a field lecture delivered by a professor from the China Jinggangshan Cadre College on “The Power of Faith.” The group collectively laid wreaths in tribute to the martyrs. We also attended a storytelling session titled “The Jinggangshan Spirit Passed Down Through Generations,” during which descendants of Yuan Wencai and Wang Zuo—two former bandit leaders from the Jinggangshan struggle period—and descendants of Zeng Zhi, former Deputy Minister of the Central Organization Department and an old Red Army veteran from Jinggangshan, personally shared their stories. In addition, Mao Binghua, an 86-year-old veteran Party member and recipient of the National May Day Labor Award, was present on-site to deliver a speech on the Jinggangshan spirit. Everyone was deeply moved and inspired by the Jinggangshan spirit—“firm belief, hard struggle, seeking truth from facts, daring to blaze new trails, relying on the masses, and daring to achieve victory.” All participants expressed their determination to carry this spiritual strength back to their workplaces... May the Jinggangshan spirit endure through the ages, and may the Luling culture shine forever. During the review meeting, Jack Machine Tools specially arranged visits to the Wang Yangming Academy and the Jinggangshan Red Education sites, aiming to provide strong spiritual impetus for the steady advancement of major special projects, to forge the soul of the “Equipment Strength Dream,” and to support China’s “Made in China 2025” initiative.

It is reported that China’s “Made in China 2025” initiative outlines a “three-step strategy”: The first step is to become a manufacturing powerhouse by 2025; the second step is for China’s manufacturing sector as a whole to reach the middle level among the world’s leading manufacturing powers by 2035; and the third step is that by the centenary of the founding of New China, China’s status as a major manufacturing country will be further consolidated, and its overall strength will rank among the world’s top manufacturing powers.

At the heart of China’s manufacturing lies Chinese equipment; at the heart of Chinese equipment is intelligent manufacturing—specifically, the integration of the Internet with manufacturing and the integration of the Internet with equipment. The electronically controlled common-rail system is a key technology for energy-efficient engines, thereby facilitating the adoption of diesel engines in passenger vehicles. Through the implementation of this project, domestically produced equipment will replace imported equipment, breaking the technological monopoly held by multinational corporations in the core technologies of internal combustion engines. This will help expand and strengthen China’s indigenous common-rail system industry, providing crucial technological support for the nation’s major strategic goal of energy conservation and emissions reduction. Jack Machine Tools, through the implementation of its second-phase project, will serve a fully integrated demonstration production line for electronically controlled common-rail systems, achieving the goal of replacing imports.