Amid the wave of manufacturing upgrading, black round-head standard threaded screws, known as the "invisible skeleton of industry", are currently facing dual opportunities of demand expansion and technological innovation. Data shows that the domestic market size of round head screws is expected to reach 1.8 million tons in 2025. Among them, the black standard thread category, due to its strong adaptability, has seen a continuous increase in demand share in fields such as automobiles and construction, becoming the core force supporting industry growth.
The explosive growth of the new energy vehicle and high-end equipment industries has become the main engine driving demand. Black round-head threaded screws, due to their excellent fastening performance, are indispensable in key links such as battery pack assembly and motor fixation, accounting for 35% of the total screw demand in the automotive field. With the increasing penetration rate of new energy vehicles, the demand for high-precision customization of such screws has grown by 25% year-on-year. Some leading enterprises have launched super-corrosion-resistant models, which have broken through international technical barriers.
The upgrading of the construction and electronics industries also contributes to the increment. In the field of prefabricated buildings, the demand for black round-head threaded screws has increased by 15% year-on-year due to their convenient installation. The demand growth rate in the interior decoration sector has reached as high as 22%, and the demand for environmentally friendly coating products has increased by more than 18% due to their compliance with green building standards. In the electronics sector, smart home technology has driven a sharp increase in the demand for miniaturized screws, with the demand for high-precision models used in smart door locks and wearable devices rising by 35% year-on-year.
Intelligent production is reshaping the industry landscape. In October, the first high-end fastener AI smart factory in China was laid the foundation in Putuo Development Zone. This factory is specially designed for the research and development of high-end screws and adopts a "5G+AI+ industrial Internet "architecture. The AI visual inspection system controls the product accuracy at the micrometer level and increases the material utilization rate to over 95%. At present, the coverage rate of automated production lines in the industry has reached 35%, an increase of 8 percentage points compared with last year, which has pushed the first-time pass rate of black round head screws to remain stable at over 92%.
The differentiation of the raw materials market brings both challenges and opportunities. Although the price of rebar dropped by nearly 400 yuan in the third quarter, the price of special steel used in screw production remained relatively stable, supported by demand. Leading enterprises have established digital twin supply chains to achieve precise raw material scheduling and effectively hedge against cost fluctuations. At the policy level, the "14th Five-Year Plan" for intelligent manufacturing and local industrial policies have joined forces to promote the industry's transformation towards green and high-end development.
Industry experts point out that the annual growth rate of the black round head standard thread screw market will remain at around 7.5% in the next five years. Intelligent customization and green production will become the core of enterprise competition. Technological upgrades are enabling this "small part" to shoulder a heavier "big responsibility".