Li Sijia, General Manager of Shanghai Jiaqiang Automation Technology Co., Ltd.
1. “Laser Manufacturer News”: Jiaqiang started as the China office of Lasermech and has developed into a professional agent for laser processing heads and automation control products. Can you introduce which brands your company is currently representing? What factors did you consider when choosing to represent these brands?
Li: Our strategic partner brands mainly include Switzerland’s RayTools, America’s LASERMECH, AheadTechs, Germany’s KUGLER, and the UK’s ULO, as well as local brand ECAT. Jiaqiang is now basically positioned to provide industry solutions for laser processing and motion control integration, whether it is cutting, welding, drilling, or overlay surface treatment, hoping to provide basic templates and customizable solutions for integrators. The supporting brands are also focused on solutions. Over the past six to seven years, we have partnered with many agents who could form a supermarket, but we still focus on a few key brands to create high-quality products.
The main consideration for choosing partner brands is their cost-performance ratio. First is performance; China has a vast manufacturing region, with significant differences in factory environments requiring high-temperature resistance for processing modules, and market prices are also challenging. We at Jiaqiang hope to become a localized supplier in China while combining advanced foreign technologies to achieve some procurement and manufacturing domestically, working with partners to create complementary products. This way, the overall solution has both cost-effectiveness and local support, and ultimately, what we provide is service.
2. “Laser Manufacturer News”: The products you represent can be used for high-power cutting/welding, as well as fine processing. Please introduce the specific application fields and power ranges.
Li: In the area of high-power lasers, we have intelligent dynamic focusing heads. So now, if we need high-speed perforation at 1000W, 2000W, or above 3000W, we need to combine many advanced intelligent controls, and we happen to have a control system based on EtherCAT bus, so together we can have a very good competitive advantage and cost-performance ratio.
For welding, we have a dynamic remote scanning welding head that can compensate for welding process errors. Additionally, we have a higher-end product—a seam tracker that can judge the melting depth of deep fusion welding in real-time, ensuring welding quality and consistency, including for automotive regulators and high-speed rail components. In laser cutting, our recent focus is on fine processing, using linear motor solutions and fully closed-loop buses, combined with fully closed-loop grating rulers to assist in applications for semiconductor micro-processing.
Laser power has reached 20,000W, and we have also produced supporting 20,000W laser heads. Although we have been in the laser processing head industry for many years, we also know what to focus on and what not to. Our main products are the BT240 and BT260 dynamic focusing heads, including some innovative custom heads, with many independent innovations in R&D, and some products developed in collaboration with foreign partners. Whether foreign products or locally produced, we must have a concept of mutual development, and the key is to provide customers with truly cost-effective application solutions.
3. “Laser Manufacturer News”: In recent years, some companies engaged in laser processing heads have emerged in China, but high-performance products are still controlled by foreign companies. How do you think this niche field will develop in the future?
Li: Industrial lasers involve a diversified product chain with many niche markets, and it is hard to cover everything in detail. Jiaqiang focuses on processing heads and solutions. We now have a cutting and welding integrated processing head designed for a specific application project. Although it is currently a niche application, it may become a significant industry in the future, like laser pipe cutting machines where the cutting head can swing, but it is not meant for flat cutting. Thus, many trade-offs exist, such as the laser power and spot size, which can all be customized. Our company has a certain capability for customized R&D, so we also hope integrators can bring us differentiated demands, and we will help you customize the laser head and operation panel, allowing you to compete with respect in service and solutions among peers.
4. “Laser Manufacturer News”: We noticed that your company operates some specially applied laser processing heads, such as 3D cutting heads, parabolic welding heads, and composite welding heads. Could you explain the advantages of a few special application products?
Li: We have now added anti-collision protection to our 3D products, and they can be designed with dynamic focusing and fully integrated motor control, eliminating the need for additional sliding tables, which is a new product of ours.
The parabolic welding head is a collaboration with Germany’s KUGLER, so the parabolic focus creates elongated and square spots for surface treatment, providing significant advantages and compatible with many semiconductor lasers, fiber lasers, and CO2 lasers using the same lenses to cover a wide range.
The composite welding head can be used for YAG lasers, replacing many traditional CMT welding solutions. Of course, we also have our remote welding head, which can perform many trajectory planning tasks and can be combined with our seam melting depth tracking, providing reliable welding solutions in fields such as new energy batteries.
5. “Laser Manufacturer News”: Your company also provides automation control solutions. Could you describe what kind of market service this specifically entails?
Li: The biggest feature of our automation solutions is our bus control. We believe bus control is the future. Although card control is prevalent now, we want to focus on doing bus control well to achieve smart devices, smart workshops, and smart factories.
6. “Laser Manufacturer News”: Based on your understanding, how is the current development level of laser processing head technology both domestically and internationally, and what is the state of market competition and development space?
Li: Domestic and foreign products each have their strengths. We need to respect our peers and innovate actively to provide good foreign products for Chinese integrators. Even foreign companies that do not develop products needed for the Chinese application market will slowly drift away from the market. Domestic companies are also growing, and if foreign companies grow too slowly, we can surpass them. However, we also need to respect rather than copy; innovation is essential. Therefore, Jiaqiang’s RayTools products are developed in partnership with Switzerland, combining joint development with local manufacturing, which should be mutual growth and development.
7. “Laser Manufacturer News”: Please summarize the achievements of your company from 2015 to 2016, and what strategies and goals do you predict for the new year?
Li: In 2015, we had a growth rate of about 40%. In 2016, we hope the market growth rate can exceed that of 2015. The domestic laser application market is accelerating its development, and this industry indeed fits the opportunity for the upgrade of China’s manufacturing industry, with many traditional processing being replaced by laser processing. We also hope to do our best to develop together with customers and suppliers, contributing to China’s manufacturing industry. Thank you!
(Source: Laser Manufacturer News)
