In the precision workshop of the electronics manufacturing industry, a tinning machine from Zhongli Technology is operating smoothly. The robotic arm accurately grasps components, immerses them in molten tin, and when lifted, the pins are coated with an even and shiny layer of tin. Behind this seemingly simple action lies a twenty-year-long technological journey. From relying on imports to independent innovation, from catching up through imitation to achieving local leadership, the evolution of Chinese tinning equipment serves as a microcosm for observing the transformation and upgrading of Chinese manufacturing.
Tin plating, the process of immersing electronic component pins in molten tin to enhance solderability and corrosion resistance, is a crucial step in ensuring the reliability of circuit boards. In the 1990s, domestic tin plating equipment was almost entirely reliant on imports from Europe, the United States and Japan. High costs, slow after-sales response, and technical parameters controlled by others became constraints on the cost and efficiency of China's electronics manufacturing industry. Companies such as Zhongli Technology and a number of other local enterprises began their challenging independent research and development in this market niche.
The initial approach was imitation. Engineers disassembled imported equipment, mapped out the parts, and attempted to replicate its mechanical structure and control logic. However, while the form is easy to mimic, the essence is difficult. The 'know-how' in key processes such as temperature control accuracy, oxidation resistance of solder, and uniform flux spraying in imported equipment is far beyond simple replication. Early domestic machines often suffered from uneven solder layers, cold solder joints, and wire tip issues, with yield and stability forming insurmountable gaps. This forced Chinese enterprises to shift towards deeper exploration of principles and independent technological development.
True breakthroughs begin with a relentless focus on fundamental processes. The R&D team at Zhongli Technology discovered that the advantages of imported equipment do not stem from a single groundbreaking technology, but from the optimisation and system integration of hundreds of subtle process parameters. For example, the temperature fluctuation in the tin bath must be controlled within ±1℃, which involves the layout of heating elements, thermal field simulation, PID algorithm calibration, and comprehensive management of workshop environmental temperature and humidity. The uniformity of flux spraying is closely related to nozzle dynamics, fluid simulation, and real-time visual feedback. They started from basic disciplines such as materials science, fluid mechanics, and automatic control, establishing their own process database and mathematical models. After thousands of experiments, they gradually mastered core technologies such as precise temperature field control, dynamic tin oxidation prevention, and adaptive process parameter adjustment, achieving a leap from "mimicking the form" to "mimicking the essence".
With industries such as 5G, new energy vehicles, and aerospace setting nearly stringent requirements for electronic reliability, the tinning process faces new challenges. The pitch of component leads is becoming increasingly small, and traditional dip tinning easily causes bridging; new packaging materials are more sensitive to temperature; environmental regulations require the elimination of lead-containing solder and certain fluxes. Market demands are driving innovation and upgrades. Zhongli Technology is shifting its R&D focus towards intelligence and greening: integrating machine vision systems to monitor the quality of the tin layer in real time and automatically compensate process parameters; developing selective and precise tinning technologies for micro-pitch components; and introducing specialised machines suitable for lead-free high-temperature solder paste and environmentally friendly water-based fluxes. Its latest equipment can achieve digital twin and cloud optimisation of process parameters, predicting maintenance needs through big data analysis, transforming passive maintenance into proactive management.
Nowadays, Zhongli Technology's tin-plating machines not only have a steadily increasing market share domestically but have also begun to be exported to Southeast Asia, Europe, and other regions, competing alongside international brands. Its growth trajectory reflects a typical path of upgrading within Chinese manufacturing: from setbacks in technology acquisition through the market, to reverse engineering and learning based on internal needs, then focusing on fundamental research to achieve breakthroughs in principles, and ultimately engaging in forward-looking innovation for future industries. The tin-plating machine encapsulates not merely a layer of metal tin, but also Chinese engineers' pursuit of craftsmanship, understanding of system innovation, and their enduring determination to ascend within the global industrial chain.
Under the workshop lights, the molten tin still gleamed with a gentle metallic sheen. Within that steadily flowing shine, there is a reflection of Chinese manufacturing, growing stronger in structure and radiant in spirit. Every piece of Chinese equipment heading out into the world speaks silently.