Hose clamps, though small and inexpensive, are the "gatekeepers" of the manufacturing industry. Their quality is directly related to the rigor and safety of industrial manufacturing.
"Small hose clamps, big industry." Yanzhuang Town, in the southwest of Jinghai District, is home to a cluster of nationally renowned hose clamp companies, making Jinghai a key player in the national fastener industry.
Led by Tianjin Kainuo Industrial Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Kainuo Industrial"), over 80 local hose clamp manufacturers are working together, their products selling well both domestically and internationally, with an annual output value exceeding 1 billion yuan. This once agricultural township is now writing a new chapter in industrial upgrading through a specialized and clustered development model.

Ten percent of sales are allocated annually for the research and development of new equipment.

Entering the Kainuo Industrial production workshop, the company's Quality Director, Ma Shuzeng, was monitoring production progress. A large piece of machinery operating next to him caught the reporter's attention. Ma Shuzeng told reporters that this piece of machinery, called a fully automatic hose clamp production line, was independently developed and designed by the company. It integrates the stamping, forming, and welding processes of hose clamp production into a single machine, significantly improving production efficiency, product consistency, and stability, while reducing labor costs.

Automated production lines like this are not uncommon at Kainuo Industrial. Currently, the company's automation rate has reached 80%, with daily output ranging from 1.2 million to 1.5 million units.

"We allocate approximately 10% of our total sales annually to the research and development of new equipment," said Ma Shuzeng. Currently, the company has developed 40 to 50 types of automated production lines, including German-style automated production lines, high-strength automated production lines, and grooved automated production lines, all of which are unique in the market.
Hose clamps are critical fasteners for pipe connections and are used in a wide range of applications, including vehicles, ships, construction, and engineering machinery. While seemingly small, their quality is directly related to the tightness and safety of connections in oil and water systems.

With the continuous development of my country's high-end manufacturing industry, the requirements for hose clamp materials are becoming increasingly stringent. To this end, Kainuo Industrial, in collaboration with high-end domestic research institutes such as FAW Research Institute, Sinotruk Research Institute, and Weichai Power Engine Research Institute, has developed new, more stable materials, such as high-nickel alloys, breaking the foreign monopoly.
"304 stainless steel, for example, can only withstand temperatures around 400°C. However, some new energy vehicles powered by natural gas or hydrogen are now required to withstand temperatures of 800 to 1200°C. Therefore, we have developed new materials with even higher corrosion and high-temperature resistance, which is absolutely leading the industry," said Ma Shuzeng.

From a university-run factory to a "National High-tech Enterprise," "Tianjin 'Specialized, Precision, Specialized, and Innovative' Little Giant Enterprise," and "Top 100 Science and Technology Innovation Enterprise," Kainuo Industrial has evolved from a passive development strategy focused on sales and technology to a proactive approach focused on tapping potential in "specialization" and focusing on "innovation." From annual sales of tens of millions of yuan in the 1990s to over 500 million yuan today, from relative obscurity to the renowned "TJBC" brand, through over 30 years of dedication and perseverance, Kainuo Industrial has accumulated a rich technical foundation and extensive production experience in the fastener industry, making it a leader in the sector. The company ranks first in terms of scale and market share among its peers nationwide and among the top three in the international market.

Many major domestic enterprises, such as Weichai Power, Sany Heavy Industry, and SAIC Motor, have long-term procurement of its products, and its products have also been involved in the construction of major domestic projects such as the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube. Furthermore, international giants such as Saint-Gobain, General Electric, and Volvo have also listed Kainuo Industrial as a key supplier. Its products are exported to over 80 countries, including Russia and France, resulting in a market share of half the domestic and international market share.

Ma Shuzeng stated that the company intends to continue its innovative breakthroughs in new materials, new equipment, and new fields. Through these three areas, it aims to capture more market share and support its sustainable and healthy development.

Leading enterprises drive the convergence of upstream and downstream industries.

Kainuo Industrial has continuously forged ahead on the path of innovation and development, laying a solid foundation for the development of the hose clamp industry in Yanzhuang Town. Small and medium-sized hose clamp companies in the town have also capitalized on this momentum, continuously focusing on intelligent manufacturing and innovative R&D. Tianjin Yijiaxiang Fastener Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as "Yijiaxiang") is one such company.

Yijiaxiang General Manager Sun Hongbang explained that the company, drawn to Yanzhuang Town's existing cluster advantages and relatively well-developed supply chain, plans to relocate its factory from the Ziya Economic Development Zone back to Yanzhuang Town in 2023.

"Yanzhuang Town has numerous hose clamp companies, allowing them to learn from and compete with each other, improving their products. Furthermore, the town now has more supporting enterprises, such as steel cutting plants, screw factories, and carton factories, which can reduce transportation costs," said Sun Hongbang.

Currently, Yijiaxiang has three automated production lines and over 30 pieces of automated equipment. Its products are exported to 95 countries, including Germany, Japan, and Pakistan. Its output value reached over 20 million yuan in the first half of this year. In 2019, the company also registered the "Theone" brand overseas, demonstrating its determination to move away from OEM manufacturing.

"The company will further optimize its management structure, improve its technical and human resources departments, and integrate its human resources to achieve a transition from empirical production technology to standardized production technology, thereby acquiring the technical capabilities required for independent research and development," said Sun Hongbang. At the same time, the company will promote its brand through multiple channels to enhance its visibility, break away from the OEM model and current status quo, and forge ahead on the path from "Made in China" to "Smart Manufacturing in China." At Tianjin Baoren Metal Products Co., Ltd., not far from Yijiaxiang, the production line is running at full capacity, with coils of steel strip being cut into strips by slitting machines. According to General Manager Guo Baoren, the company manufactures steel products, primarily serving local hose clamp and auto parts manufacturers. The company can tailor steel thickness, width, and hardness to meet customer requirements.

"I initially established the company because I saw the growth of the hose clamp industry in Yanzhuang Town, providing supporting services for these companies. Currently, we supply raw materials to 60 or 70 hose clamp companies in the town," Guo Baoren said. The concentration of hose clamp companies has attracted upstream and downstream businesses to join forces, allowing small hose clamps to generate significant growth.

Targeted support provides a "bottom line" for businesses.

The hose clamp manufacturing industry in Yanzhuang Town began in the early 1990s. Over the past decade, with the continuous transformation and upgrading of various hose clamp companies, and the continuous optimization of industry technology and production processes, market share has steadily increased year by year.

Currently, hose clamps produced in Yanzhuang Town account for over 50% of the domestic market and over 30% of the international market. The growth and development of the hose clamp industry is inseparable from targeted government support. In recent years, Yanzhuang Town has focused on hose clamp manufacturing, promoting technological upgrades and product innovation among hose clamp companies. The town has encouraged more companies to increase investment in technological transformation, supported the introduction of automated production lines, and secured relevant policy subsidies. At the same time, efforts have been intensified to cultivate hose clamp companies.

Currently, the town has fostered 10 innovative small and medium-sized enterprises, 13 high-tech enterprises, 4 specialized and innovative small and medium-sized enterprises, and one specialized and innovative "little giant" enterprise. The development of hose clamp companies has enhanced the resilience of the town's industrial economy and ensured the steady growth of its industrial economic indicators.
"In the first half of this year, we established the Tianjin Jinghai District Hose Clamp Association and applied for a municipal-level hose clamp specialty industry cluster," said Li Jun, Party Committee Member and Deputy Mayor of Yanzhuang Town. In the future, Yanzhuang Town plans to guide companies from a dispersed layout to clustered functional areas through spatial optimization, supporting services, and innovative mechanisms, thereby forming a hose clamp specialty industry cluster. By leveraging the advantages of agglomeration, the town will promote the sustainable development of the hose clamp industry, standardize the market environment, strengthen industry self-discipline, enhance corporate social responsibility, and enhance the core competitiveness of the industry and its companies, ultimately making Yanzhuang Town's hose clamps a global force.