Market recovery
According to data from Vcustomer HVAC network, the growth rate of the centrifuge market in the first half of 2018 was 6.89%, with a slight increase compared to the same period. Analyze the reasons for the market recovery, including the significant increase in the number of projects in the third and fourth tier market complexes, the development of projects in sub sectors such as data centers, rail transit, and airports, the replacement of some screw machines by small-scale centrifuges, the popularity of magnetic levitation centrifuges in the market, the endless emergence of new centrifuge products, and the recovery of industrial projects, among other factors.
Among them, mainstream brands and upstream and downstream enterprises in the industrial chain have always attached great importance to their layout in the centrifuge field. Taking the 2018 China Refrigeration Exhibition as an example, Macwell launched a new refrigerant two-stage compression magnetic levitation centrifugal unit, York showcased YZ variable frequency magnetic levitation centrifugal chiller, Gree pioneered magnetic levitation variable frequency centrifugal chiller, Haier applied magnetic levitation air conditioning to the heating field, globally released air-cooled heat pump magnetic levitation central air conditioning, and Tianjia brought a full liquid water cooled magnetic levitation centrifugal unit. In addition, brands such as Danfoss, Hanzhong, Gree, and York have also launched a series of maglev compressors.
In terms of brand, the centrifuge brand pattern remained stable in the first half of 2018, with American brands still occupying the dominant position. The market share of ethnic brands represented by Gree, Midea, and Haier has increased, further competing for market share from American brands. Among them, Gree has won many domestic centrifuge projects, Midea has made achievements in industrial fields such as rail transit, commercial real estate, and hospitals, and Haier's magnetic levitation products focus on typical transformation projects.
Whether we can seize opportunities depends on perseverance
Centrifuges are a highly competitive product in the central air conditioning industry. Previously, their core technology had been monopolized by five American brands, Johnson Controls York, McVeil, Carrier, Trane, and Dunham Bush. Domestic brands of large central air conditioning were in a weak position in the domestic market. As a leading product in the central air conditioning industry, the application proportion of centrifuges in large-scale projects can even largely reflect the domestic investment in social aspects and market trends. Therefore, there has always been a saying in the industry that "centrifuges win the world".
It is gratifying that in recent years, national brands represented by Gree and Midea have overcome difficulties in the core technology field and achieved very good results. Midea Central Air Conditioning took the lead in solving the low energy efficiency problem of small cooling capacity (250-600RT) chillers in 2016 through more than ten international cutting-edge technologies such as variable frequency direct drive technology, horizontal opposed compressor technology, single shaft direct drive technology, and full falling film heat exchange.
In the field of magnetic levitation centrifuges, Gree has independently developed magnetic levitation bearing technology, which not only improves the energy efficiency of the unit, but also achieves significant energy-saving. Gree's magnetic levitation variable frequency centrifugal chiller is precisely applying this technology. It is worth mentioning that all centrifuge products, including Gree permanent magnet synchronous variable frequency centrifuges, photovoltaic direct drive variable frequency centrifuges, ice storage dual working condition centrifugal units, and nuclear water cooled centrifugal chillers, currently use Gree's self-developed and produced centrifugal compressors, and to some extent, achieve industrial chain integration.
However, overcoming difficulties in the core technology field is a hard work that requires a persistent attitude, and more importantly, perseverance. Driven by the policy of replacing coal with electricity in the past two years and the explosion of the home decoration market, many brands have also chosen to shift their direction. It is understandable to conform to the market and trends, but sailing against the current without advancing or retreating. It is a pity to give up the breakthrough progress made through hard work. The emphasis on performance or long-term development reflects the pattern of brands and entrepreneurs. National brands can break the technological monopoly of foreign brands in the core technology field of centrifuges, which is not easy to come by. We hope to have more and more national brands like Gree, always maintaining their own research and development pace, and further mastering the discourse power of the pyramid tip. (Written by Zhao Qiuyue)
Reprinted from Xinhua Network
