Recently, after seven years of construction, the Shenzhen-Zhongshan Link (hereinafter referred to as the "Shenzhong Link"), a major national project, officially opened for trial operation. This marks the beginning of a “same-city era” for Shenzhen and Zhongshan and ushers in a new phase of transportation development for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
The Shenzhong Link is a key control project of National Expressway G2518 crossing the Pearl River estuary. It is located about 30 km north of the Humen Bridge and about 31 km south of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. Starting from the Shenzhen Airport Interchange, it spans the Lingdingyang Sea westward, connects with the Nanzhong Expressway via the Wanquingsha Interchange, and lands at Ma'an Island in Zhongshan, linking with the Zhongkai Expressway. This world-class sea-crossing cluster project integrates bridge, island, tunnel, and underwater interchanges, with a total length of 24 km and approximately 17 km of bridge structures.
Huagong Tech Co., Ltd. (hereinafter referred to as “Huagong Tech”), in collaboration with Wuchang Shipbuilding Industry Group Co., Ltd. (“Wuchuan”) and CRBBG (Yangzhou) Co., Ltd. (“Yangzhou CRBBG”), provided intelligent manufacturing solutions for steel bridge structures for this globally recognized megaproject. The project realized interconnection of production base data and intelligent control of steel box girder fabrication.
Building a National Demonstration Factory for Intelligent Manufacturing
The Shenzhong and Zhongshan Bridges adopt streamlined, integrated steel box girders. The flood discharge channel’s non-navigation span bridges use continuous steel box girders. Wuchuan undertook Contract Section G03 of the project, with a total steel box girder weight of approximately 97,700 tons, making it the largest steel structure section of the entire project. To meet the extensive informatization and intelligent manufacturing demands of the bridge construction, Huagong Tech implemented a "Bridge Panel Unit Intelligent Production Line Project" for Wuchuan. This enabled automated, digitized, and intelligent steel structure fabrication throughout the entire process. The project was selected as a National Demonstration Factory for Intelligent Manufacturing and won the First Prize of Science and Technology Progress from China State Shipbuilding Corporation.
The intelligent panel production line includes a smart cutting line, smart welding line, and steel structure intelligent manufacturing information management platform. The smart cutting line utilizes Huagong Tech’s integrated welding-cutting machines, CNC cutting equipment, and proprietary nesting engine with continuous variable bevel cutting technology, achieving steel plate utilization rates over 94%.
The smart welding line incorporates vision recognition, laser tracking, robotic adaptive programming, and full-penetration U-rib welding. The ultrasonic flaw detection pass rate exceeds 98%. After delivery, the R&D cycle was shortened to 45–75 days, energy consumption per unit was reduced by nearly RMB 100,000, and production capacity increased by about 30%.
CH Series Large-format Laser Cutting Integrated Line
This system uses multiple sheets of the same material and thickness for continuous laser trimming and laser welding. The finished panels are then cut in a single process based on design patterns. The system includes an automatic loading manipulator, shuttle table, full-travel dual-drive cutting-welding head, auto-positioning and clamping mechanisms, and an adjustable roller bed. With fiber welding and cutting heads, it achieves cost-effective, high-quality, and high-yield production, ideal for long-format, large-area thin sheet components.
The integrated information management platform combines PDM, ERP, MES, and LES systems. It supports full digital model management, decision-making, manufacturing integration, and materials control. Through network deployment and centralized control rooms, it connects design to process and process to production. Real-time visibility via centralized and mobile terminals enhances transparency, real-time data collection, and production monitoring, greatly improving both efficiency and quality.
Empowered by 5G: Building an Intelligent Steel Bridge Factory
The Shenzhong Link is China’s second world-class “super project” after the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. Its main span, the Shenzhong Bridge, is the world’s tallest and longest-span offshore steel box girder suspension bridge.
Yangzhou CRBBG, a key contractor for Section G04 (total length: 3,753 m; weight: ~90,000 tons—equal to 13 Eiffel Towers), faced enormous scale and strict quality control demands. In response, Huagong Tech and Yangzhou CRBBG jointly developed China’s first 5G-powered intelligent manufacturing plant for steel bridges, setting a new benchmark for transportation infrastructure.
The smart factory features four production lines—cutting, welding, total assembly, and coating—plus an integrated smart control system. With a 5G+MAC high-precision network and intelligent equipment, it enables real-time data collection and human-machine coordination, meeting the industry's needs for multi-spec, mass-customized manufacturing.
Huagong Tech’s CNC laser-marking and plasma-edge-cutting machine supports +45° to -45° bevel cutting. Its advanced diagnostic and connectivity features ensure stability under high-load conditions. The plant also pioneered full-penetration robotic welding for orthotropic bridge deck panels, achieving a 96% pass rate for U-rib weld seams, continuous robotic welding from flat to vertical, improved weld strength, and extended bridge lifespan.
WALC Series Large-format Precision Laser Bevel Cutting Equipment
This domestically developed metal sheet processing system uses high-power fiber lasers, a self-developed five-axis CNC system, and proprietary software. It supports aluminum, stainless steel, carbon steel, and non-ferrous metals, performing both flat and beveled one-pass cuts. Widely used in bridge, shipbuilding, special vehicles, construction machinery, and infrastructure sectors, it features:
(1) Proprietary bevel software with precise corner algorithms and five-axis linkage;
(2) One-pass cuts for various bevel types (V/Y/K), reducing cost and increasing efficiency;
(3) Customizable sizes for ultra-large workpieces;
(4) Lightweight gantry, modular design, integrated exhaust, and energy-saving capabilities.
With the Greater Bay Area riding the wave of development, Huagong Tech will continue advancing intelligent manufacturing in the bridge industry, increase R&D in laser intelligent equipment and digital industrial software, and work with partners to expand the application of intelligent manufacturing solutions across sectors—fueling the development of a strong transportation nation.
